Sunday School Pentecost 9 (3YL)

1 Kings 3:1–14 “Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter.

Marriage for political alliance

Connection to Egypt.

Solomon brought her to the city of David until he finished building his palace, the Lord’s temple, and the wall surrounding Jerusalem. However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, because until that time a temple for the Lord’s name had not been built.

The people are worshiping God in their own way. The hope is the temple will bring purity.

Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the statutes of his father David, but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place.

Solomon’s Love for God does not entirely sanctify his worship.

He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”

Dreams in a Near East context: God’s continued use of dreams today.

And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.

Soloman acknowledges what has come so far.

5 Covenants of the Bible: Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New Covenant.

“Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted.

The task is bigger than the man: God equips the called, not calls the equipped.

When God calls you it should be scary.

So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”

Honestly, what would you ask God for? Un-sanctified?

Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to administer justice, I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again.

The irony of Soloman: Wiser than all kings, and yet his heart wanders from God.

In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.””

What it means for ancient people to have long serving Kings: Stability

Applications:

Where do we choose expediancy over God?

Do we worship God in a way that God has asked us to?

What does it mean to be New Covenant people?

What are our true desires, and what would it mean for God to sanctify them?

Are we becoming hardened to God?