Sermon Tone Analysis

Lets Look Back...

Solomon was the wisest man EVER!

How did he get so wise.

He ASKED for it.

But in nearly the same breath he violated a core principle from God.

describe the fame of Solomon chapter 11 describes his shame!

He married Pharaoh's daughter

Duet 17.17

1Kings

So Solomon just did not care what God thought about his choices...

There were many “first’s and lasts” with Solomon… He was the first and the only ( at least as far as the record goes) to marry a Sidonian.

These women were considered Canaanites.

The Canaanites were to be “destroyed” completely… but were not!

He intermarried with whoever he wanted he direct contradiction to what scripture asked of him

God had a lot to be pleased with Solomon about…but he had much more that He was not pleased about

God had a lot to be pleased with Solomon about…but he had much more that He was not pleased about

Solomon increased his horses far beyond his needs

Solomon accumulated much gold and silver

This is not 666 ounces, or pounds.

This is actually 25 tons a year!

Interestingly enough there are only two or three places in scripture where ‘666’ is found

This verse and

Rev

This leads some very well meaning people to draw Solomon and the “anti-christ” together.

Meaning they are the same person.

I think the link is weak, since 666 means something completely different in the Hebrew of the OT and in Greek or Aramaic of the NT.

Here are two instances where Solomon really thumbs his nose at God

“He must not take many wives...”

1Kings

“He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

1Kings 10

He made from this gold:

200 large shields

300 small shields

“A great throne covered with gold”

All the King’s Goblets where made of gold

All the household articles were gold - (Nothing was made of silver)

And finally

1Kings 10.

Solomon could not get enough of himself…Just ask him.

David had the prophet Nathan to speak truth to him.

Israel had the prophets that did not let them get to big for their britches.

Solomon only had his enhanced since of self brought on by his own ego and his drive for money and wealth.

Instead of seeing all these gifts and all this wealth as a “gift from God.”

I think Solomon had the idea that he somehow deserved this.

Now let’s turn if you will… to 1Kings11.

The paragraph in my bible is called Solomon’s Wives.

That is what the scripture directly addresses.

We are going to reference this plain reading of scripture along the way.

Instead of clinging to God…Solomon clung to his 700 wives and 300 concubines.

I’m sure about you …but I have enough trouble keeping up with 1 wife, little alone 700 and 300 “girlfriends” in addition.

1Kings 11.1

1Kings

(RSV)

2from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods”; Solomon clung to these in love.

In the prevailing culture and economy of the 2nd Century before Christ…marriage equalled power and access with foreign governments.

In God’s economy intermarriage turned men’s commitments, love for, devotion to Yahweh to “other gods.”

There is one of Solomon

Just as predicted as Solomon grew older

This is the final chapter of the life of Solomon…the wisest man ever, he was the son of David, a man after God’s own heart, then a son of Samuel the last of the righteous Kings.

Is this a legacy that we would want to pass down to our sons and daughters?

I hope NOT!

Solomon “clung to” “claved to” was bonded to these wives…700 of them.

Solomon’s ego, drive, desire for wealth, power, influence drove him away from Yahweh, away from God.

We, men and women in today’s culture are not immune to this behavior.

I hope that we don’t think we can manage 700 spouses and 300 “side things.”

We have ego’s.

— I’m not sure who we think is in charge of our lives.

Really??? Who do we draw near to when it gets tough… My guess our first inclination is to draw near to OURSELVES!!! “I can do this...” “I’ve got this...” “I don’t need help...”

We have drive — I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

I feel like Thomas the train engine.

I have enough money, time, talent and certainly enough in my retirement and 401K to beat anything this world can throw at me.

We have drive — I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

I feel like Thomas the train engine.

I have enough money, time, talent and certainly enough in my retirement and 401K to beat anything this world can throw at me.

Desire for wealth — If I accumulate this much money, land, wheat, water, mint, corn, grapes, apples, and hops or I make enough sales with enough customers, at this profit margin I’ve got it made, If I can teach, practice for 15 more years, I’ve got it made!

If I can payoff the house and the land, I’ve got it made.

Desire for power, influence — “I mange a staff of 23 and have an $18 million dollar budget…I’ve got it made, I can muscle anything through the process, it will add to my influence and power.”

There is NOTHING that I cannot do if I put my mind to it.”

If I close this deal, make this million, get this promotion it will give me the power that I deserve.

With all of this under my belt…Who needs God?

I’ve got this life under control… Who needs God?

I’ve made it…Who needs God?

That’s what Solomon said and did… He is what God said to Solomon

1

All is fine and good...

UNTIL THE UNTHINKABLE, UNFATHOMABLE, OUT OF CONTROL, FROM LEFT FIELD THING HAPPENS!

All of that everything means NOTHING when something like this happens… I’ll let you fill in those blanks for your particular situation.

We do not have the power, the strength, the ego, the drive, the wealth, the wisdom to overcome this world and the ruler of this world... satan!!!

I want to finish with a short study of beginning in verse 3

satan is tempting a hungry, thirsty, tired Jesus.

He is tempting him with the same temptations that I have fought and fought to keep under control in my life and I suspect you have also fought these battles in your own life like I have fought them in my life

Satan says

“ Tell the stone to become bread” — I can make something out of nothing, I can out produce anyone, out sell everyone, I can do it

The Lord says

The answer to our problem is not effort it is that there is something more important than the bread.

Luke 4

Luke 4

If you want power and influence…this is the prescription for you.

All of Kingdoms…I can give it to you.

The most influence of anyone…is yours.