1 Kings 9

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Glad to see everybody and we're going to do 1st Kings chapter 9 tonight. 1st Kings chapter 9 Lynn. I was going to do 1st Kings chapter 9 and 10. But I didn't want you to hassle me in front of everybody like you normally do.

So I decided just to do one chapter. I didn't want to overwhelm you with God's word, you know.

I love you, man. Pizza Hut by Wednesday night Target, you know that. you just are

So where in 1st Kings chapter 9? As we continue verse by verse chapter through chapter. And last week at where we left off in chapter 8 was really a high-water mark for King Solomon as you know, the heir to King David in the king over Israel at where he has finally finished building not only the temple but he's also finished building his house and tonight. It makes reference to it at least twice in chapter 9 of 20 years 20 years to decades to do this stuff, you know along with some other building projects and finally He he consecrates the temple, although we'll talk about that in a little bit too. But this is the high water mark for Solomon just dedication of the temple that was built in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jehovah. The God of the Hebrews write the existing one and we talked about a lot we talked about the posture of prayer. We saw Solomon on his knees with his hands lifted towards heaven. We saw how they sacrificed in one place that tells us that they sacrificed in uncountable number of animals there before the Lord and everybody was there in Jerusalem for the dedication and then they have like this whole second round of sacrifices and the sacrifice 100 / 140000 animals. In this space that was you know, roughly the size of a football field kind of situation and we just talked about how it would have been just this bloody mess, you know, and how that your people would have been literally covered in the blood right and how of course that prefigures the blood of Jesus Christ, you know, he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and then we left off in chapter 8 disgusting the attitude of worship there in Jerusalem in and it is real and it was the attitude of Joy it was an attitude. Oh, man, it was an attitude of gratitude, right? There's an attitude of joy and happiness and we talk just a little bit about you know, like there seems to be in this is been this way forever. There seems to be just a whole bunch of grumpy Christians. You know, especially when you talk about in a cultural context and there's been much discussion in the United States about culture cultural Christianity, you know ingrained in our society and how sometimes when you're raised in that and it's expected of you. It's like an obligation, you know, where we're out of compulsion. That doesn't lead to very joyful worship. Right? But, you know Jesus when he was instructing his disciples in the upper room discourse, you know said, look, I'm telling you guys these things so that you might have join me and your joy might be made. You know we talked about one of the marks of being a Jesus followers Joy like a real real palpable for real Joy. You know how we tell people like I love you, but I'm going to love you the hard way, right but there's no way to do that with joy, you know, there's not really like, I'm really joyful, but I'm being joyful the hard way, but the fruit of communing with the Living God And Israel was joined and they went away rejoicing. That's worship. And we get to do that to you know, the fruit of communing with the Living God. is joy and that should be something that is very reeling and very palpable and you notice I'm not telling you fabricated at all. I'm just making an observation the Bible tells us that this will come about so that's where we ended last week and this week that we pick up in verse 1 of chapter 9 we're going to do this verse by verse section by section and this roughly corresponds to the 2nd Chronicles chapter 8 and so it in your own time. If you wanted to kind of beef up your study there you could match chapter 9 with 2nd Chronicles chapter 8 as well. It says it came to pass when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the King's house and all Solomon's desire what she wanted to do. But the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time as she had appeared to him at gibeon and so we're going to polish your right after the first two verses cuz I know you guys love when I do that and I want you to consider something. The first thing that we see here is again this reference to like Solomon's words for 20 years of work, right? Like he built the temple he built his house. He's a builder Solomon had all these projects right? I don't know if you guys are project people. I'm kind of a project person Melissa's kind of a project person and had these huge projects, you know, like I'm over here trying to build a lopsided table. Meanwhile Solomon is building citadel's and right in this house that's called The Forest of Lebanon that has all these pillars in it, you know what I mean? And in this house for his wife and his house from self and all this kind of stuff and it takes forever from here to Solomon a second time. Second time as he did it give you now at gibeon we find this interaction in 1st Kings chapter 3 and it was at gibeon where stop Solomon had a famous interaction with God. This is where God of appears to Solomon in a dream and says Solomon, you know ask what should I what should I give you? And Solomon said essentially to paraphrase my own words. He says Lord, I am a novice. I am an amateur. I don't know how to how to come in or go out. I need you to give me wisdom wisdom. And the Lord says, okay, I'll give you wisdom. I'll make you wiser than anybody else in Northern or shall I be anybody else like you afterwards? In and also, I'm going to give you the other things you haven't asked for it as well. So that happens in 1st Kings chapter 3 and then 20 years later is the second time that God Appears to Solomon. and I bring that up because I want you to consider don't answer out loud. How many times has God appeared to you and your life?

Right now when we read the Bible I bring this up because when we read the Bible, sometimes we may have this like skewed view that like God is showing up and like audibly speaking to people or like visibly presenting himself in some way to people like all the time and that you and I are the ones missing out, right? As matter fact in some charismatic groups people get really depressed over this because they're in the circles were people are having these supposedly people are having these very real audible visible experiences with God or angels and stuff like that and they're not and they're like what's wrong with me and there's nothing wrong with silver 20 years and he was the king of Israel. Viera of David from God said I'm going to make him 200 Throne after use names going to be Solomon, right?

This is how God works. how many Lake tiny moments of Silence Solomon had in the interim This is what we talked about a little bit last week about this idea of a long obedience in the same direction.

to go 20 years between you know blatant communication from God and sometimes. Does communicate like that to us. But how are we going to go to 20 years? waiting Who's in charge here? Like do I get to tell God when he shows up but some people feel like they do but ultimately Solomon is subject to God's will. Until God shows up to Solomon one more time. after 20 years of waiting Now I will tell you as we said chapter 8 was telling his high water mark. And so if now we view these first two verses and we're like, oh this is it. All Solomon needed was for God to appear down one more time to carry him through the rest of his life. Right. It's like jet fuel like when God speaks clearly Shirley Solomon is going to open. But that in fact is not the case. As a matter of fact you and I can go our entire lives without ever having experienced like Solomon. Right, and we rely on the grace of Jesus Christ to carry us through. And I say that because if if we are looking for like a spiritual moment. Right if we're looking for Spiritual jet fuel it will let us down. And unfortunately, that's how some people want to live out. Their faith is from Mountaintop to Mountaintop. But looking reality is it is a marathon not a Sprint first two verses and then we actually get to find out what it is that God said 7 verse 3 and the Lord said to him. I've heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before me. I have consecrated this house which you have built to put my name there forever in my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually and in God's going to go on the speaker, but I want just address these next two verses Civil War Trump speaks to him and says like I've heard you and then he said something that's really important that we understand now Solomon was the one that that built the temple in Jerusalem. Okay, but it was his father's plan. We can go back and we can look in 2nd Samuel and we can see where David had in his heart to build a house into the Lord. Right and matter fact. He confessed that to the prophet Nathan and Nathan said go for it. And then in a in a dream God came to Nathan and Nathan. Are you put your foot in your mouth? I didn't tell David to do that nor did I tell you to tell David to do that? So you need to go back to David and tell him I said, I'm going to build a house for him. He can't build a house for me. But David had in his hard to build a house for the Lord. He passed this on the Solomon as a matter of fact David did much preparation and saving up to build a house the temple in Jerusalem.

Solomon builds it but God is the one that consecrated. God is the one who set it apart as holy. And I say that because we can't ever turn that around. I like you and I are not the people who who make things. Holy unto the Lord. He makes things. Holy unto himself. In particular he consecrated this house is Temple unto himself and he said my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually in this is really important for us to understand God's relationship with his Covenant people is real. Right, cuz God is not a liar. Brake God has a special place in his heart for his people is real and he said his eyes and his heart will be there perpetually now, let's continue but we're going to see at what many call like conditional covenants. These are if-then promises. It says in verse for now if if you walk before me as your father David walked in Integrity of heart and uprightness to do according to all that I have commanded you and if you keep my statutes in my judgments, then I will establish the Throne of your kingdom over Israel forever. Cuz I promised David your father saying you shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel. And so he was this conditional Covenant in this is the promise part. If you obey as a matter fact God tells him if you walk like your dad walk then your throne will continue to perpetuate itself. This is the blessing portion of this if that's the worst part of it is in the next couple verses and we'll get there but you find it interesting as I do that God told Solomon to walk is David font in uprightness of heart. I do because well David has kind of a mixed Legacy, right? and you know what that's really encouraging for me because when I look at David, I'm like oh, alright well Yeah. I could do that. I can be just as big as a goofball is David, but I'm not trying to defame David David love the Lord will listen David messed up. in a huge way Many times over but where was David Hart it was with the Lord. David love the Lord and when David messed up he was open to correction. He was open to having a broken heart before God. He wrote Psalm 51, you know, you just poured out his heart to God in Repentance. When he messed up, you know and sometimes that's challenging for us. We want to defend our actions. We want to rationalize Etc. We're not big on on in the Protestant Church. We're not big on confession. We're not big on like public repentance pain. I'm not going down that road, but David was

David would defame his own self and reputation abase himself in front of others. Because it's heart was towards God.

And that's what God's telling Solomon Solomon. You got to walk like your dad did okay. And I ultimately this all points us to Jesus Christ cuz look you and I were no David. Okay, we're no King Solomon. They're just humans were just humans yet and and the the fundamental 10 and stair hold true like to follow after God to have a heart that yearns for God that seeks after God and we see that really born out in the Psalms. That's where David really poured out his heart to God as well. IT services look if you do that, then I'm going to stop at your throne for you. But we know how this ends Solomon is not going to do that. In fact, he is going to violate God's law. Let's continue. It says in verse 6, but if you or your son's at all turn from following me and do not keep my Commandments in my statutes, which I've said before you must go and serve other gods and worship them. Then I will cut off is real from the land which I have given them. In this house, which I have consecrated for my name. I will cast out of my sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And as for this house, which is exalted everyone who passes by will be astonished and will hiss and say why has the Lord done dust to this land into this house then they will answer because they forsook the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and I've embraced other gods and worship them and serve them there for the Lord has brought all This calamity on then I'm so that's the tail side of the coin. Branson promised again. God is not a liar. He will keep his promises. Are you warned Solomon in no uncertain terms if you or your son's turn away from me and what was it? It wasn't if you send. That wasn't the condition the condition wasn't like if you send then I'm going to smoke you. If you serve other gods, right cuz we're all going to send David send. But God's Mercy is new every morning for David. Right, but once you turn to serve other gods.

Then I'm going to make an example out of you for my own Glory. All the people will know that I'm the God in heaven. And they're going to walk by this place that's desolated and wiped out. And they're going to talk between each other about what happened here.

And this really leads us into this discussion on like God's sovereignty, you know, like number 70 says I will cut this off. I'm the one who does this, you know. And we didn't do a discussion. Like wow.

Does God still do that kind of stuff? Yeah, I got totally. What moves all the government's on planet Earth to his own designs for his glory? And he takes very seriously the commitment between his Covenant people and himself.

But we see to hear that. This comes to pass right? This actually come to pass the people worship other gods for one reason or the other day and they ride the roller coaster of emotion, right? They really they have high marks and when we talked about all the various Kings between the northern and the southern Kingdoms in Disguise if they got good Kings and then they have a stretch a terrible Kings and I have another good King and have sort of like a spiritual Revival and then they'll go back to worshipping idols and stuff like that even to the extent that Israel began to participate in Pagan worship set up idles to other gods within the temple area here and begin to sacrifice their own children to other gods. And by sacrifice mean they killed their children. Write as a form of worship. And this just broke on tart? And God could not let that stand. And eventually they were just demolished. Wiped out and that has happened like over the Millennia, you know, and really when we consider it like like the roots of like anti-Semitism in that kind of stuff and how people are really like to ride the Jewish date. There's a strong argument to be made for like the heritage of Israel by God said look if you do this, this is going to happen. And it happened. Brighten, the effects are long-lasting. No, first 10 says now it happened at the end of 20 years. So there it is again. Seems kind of like the authors make an appoint their home when Solomon had built the two houses the house of the Lord and the King's House Hiram. The king of Tyre has supplied Solomon with cedar and Cypress and go as much as he desired that King Solomon then gave Hiram 20 cities in the land of Galilee. 10 Hiram went from Tire to see the cities with Solomon had given him but they did not please him. So he said what kind of cities are these would you have given me my brother and he called them the land of cabul as they are to this day. Then Hiram sent the king 120 talents of gold. So we see here this interaction between Solomon the king over Israel God's covenant people of the line of David and he's in this weird kind of transactional relationship with Hiram and Hiram's the king of Tyre and tire. They're not Believers, right? They're going to do their own thing, but it's like in their economic interest have trade with these people and this is where Solomon got all the wood and this is actually where Solomon got another guy named Haram to build all the LeBrons and stuff in the temple. Resume had a really close relationship. Also Hiram the king of Tyre was really close with David. So I had a great relationship here in this is kind of where we begin to see like maybe everything's not okay with Solomon. Right because I have this really great relationship. And Solomon is is making these overtures of friendship and he gives them 20 cities garbage is a man I gave you a gift. Manhattan checks it out, bro. Most recent my brother right bro. What's up with these cities in Galilee? They're like worthless. And that's what that name Kabul means. It means like worthless or something like that and it anyway, so I'll still send sound in a ton of gold so you can really take this one is like being like a shrewd business person, you know, like I miss this kind of like shrewdness is really valued in Middle Eastern cultures to try to feel like kind of get over on somebody like that's respected. You like sneaky like a fox, you know kind of deal, so maybe there's some of that going on but let me ask you rhetorically Is this the spirit of God? What is this is this how God operates towards other people even unbelievers? I'm not talking about like what ya like he wiped out entire population that is in a loving relationship a friendly relationship with somebody is that how he represents himself? Is that how we represent God other people, but what if we did that But what if you went and sold somebody a lemon? You know somebody you're really close to. You knew it was a lemon. And sold it to him their likeness up with this car manual. Hey.

It kind of works. It's a car, right? So I just want to point that out to you. I also want to point out to you. What's going on with Tire? Cuz this this name pops up a bunch in the Bible tire. And what's the other one associated with it inside and very close to one another? Jesus in fact visited this area during his ministry as well, but Tire actually is judged for their behavior. Ezekiel chapter 26 the prophet there lays out very harsh judgment against the kingdom of Tyre, right? And we talked about it before about how you know what that some point in their relationship. It appears that Hiram king of Tyre actually blesses the Lord, you know when we're like, how was that mean, you know, you probably worshipping other gods and he's like, yeah, praise the Lord man we talk about these weird endorsements of other people's face that aren't real. They're not legitimate, you know, but people kind of say things because yes, we're supposed to say What turns out the tire did not please the Lord? and so they're just wiped out and there they are a byword to the people who see them and see their destruction just like Israel was as well. So the the prosperity and the kinship between Israel with Tire isn't long lasted either. They also get wiped out. first 15 says and this is the reason for the labor force which King Solomon raised to build the house of the Lord his own house the Millo the wall of Jerusalem pays or Magneto and geezer Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Geezer and burn it with fire and kill the Canaanites who dwelt in the city and I'd given it as a dowry to his daughter Solomon's wife and Solomon built Geezer lower Beth her grand velas and tadmor in the wilderness in the land of Judah all the storage cities that sell him and had cities for his chariots and cities for his Cavalry and whatever Solomon desire to build in Jerusalem in Lebanon and in all the lands of his dominion and so here again, we see Solomon the Builder right like this guy is focused on a lot of things.

building building himself a kingdom building up the place, okay. And some interesting fun facts for you. If you read through this you come across some interesting words to this place is the Millo had to look that up the Millo. The Millo is actually a fortified wall the word means like fullness and it was like a rampart or something like that. Here's what had happened was when David threw the jebusites out of Jerusalem. He broke down the millo. To get in there. And Solomon began to rebuild that Rampart that wall that would have been part of the defensive system of the city of Jerusalem, right? So he's military-minded. He has cities for his Cavalry has horses. He has cities for storage. So he's like Logistics minded Solomon is wise Solomon is true. Solomon is successful by any human measure. We also see here this Dowry that Pharaoh paid to Solomon. And again, this is kind of one of those questionable marks in Solomon's reputation. Right? Like he married one of the daughters of pharaoh. Pharaoh is the king of Egypt who had at one time Enslaved the nation of Israel. So here he is an ally with their one-time slave masters. It's pretty crazy. Okay, let's move on verse 20 all the people who were left of the amorites Hittites perizzites hivites and jebusites who are not of the children of Israel that is their descendants who were left in the land after them from the children of Israel had not been able to destroy completely from these Solomon raised forced labor as it is to this day and so are these couple vs. Israel adopt the practice of slavery This is again one of those areas right weight. You guys were just in slavery. You know, I mean it was umpteen hundred years beforehand, but that's part of their Heritage really they escaped slavery the Lord took them out of slavery. And then in regard to all these people the amorites hittite perizzites hivites and jebusites. We're not of the children of Israel those who those are the people that that made up this slave labor force. What were they supposed to do with those people?

Drive them out of the land. That's right. Turn with me to Exodus chapter 34 will see why Exodus chapter 34.

Exodus chapter 34 verse 11 Granary verse 11 through 16

the reads this observe what I command you this day behold. I am driving out from before you the Amorite in the Canaanite in the hittite in the parasite at the headlight and the judge that sounds familiar doesn't take heed to yourself. But you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you're going west to be a snare in your midst. But you shall destroy their altars break their sacred pillars and cut down there wouldn't images for you shall worship. No other God for the Lord whose name is jealous is a jealous God. Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they play the Harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice and you take of his daughters for your son's. And his daughters play the Harlot with their gods and make your son's play the Harlot with their gods. Go back there the first games. This is exactly what happens and although the Covenant. Isn't exactly like friendly it is a covenant and God said you're not to make any Covenant with these people but to drive them out of the land. Now, these are the descendants of Those whom their forefathers had failed to drive out of the Lamb beforehand and had entered into covenants with them to pay tribute to that kind of thing. Right and so they are literally doing what God told them not to do. In Solomon's the one in charge of the whole deal.

Where's 22 says bought of the children of Israel Solomon made? No forced laborers because they were Men of War and his servants his officers his Captain's commanders of his chariots and his Cavalry others were Chiefs of the officials who were over selling his work 550 who ruled over the people who did the work? The pharaoh's daughter came up from the city of David to her house. Which Solomon adult for her. Then he built the millo. I want to stop there for a second. So so the children of Israel were distinct from the pagans in the land who worship other gods, but that wasn't to last for too long. And that we find a really interesting verse Universe 24 Pharaoh's daughter comes up to live in the house that Solomon built for remember he built this tremendous cows. It took 13 years to build his house in the house is what was going to live in and it took only 7 years to build the temple, right? So finally we've been married for a couple decades is why I finally gets a new house and she comes up from Jerusalem to live in this house now. I want to let's read it together go to 2nd Chronicles chapter 8. Remember, I told you that this correspond roughly with 2nd Chronicles.

2nd Chronicles chapter is if you skip by this, but we just read verse 24 you like? Okay. So Pharaoh's daughter moves in okay. Big deal. I mean he we knew that he probably shouldn't have married someone like that. But what it maybe saw him and thought she was a good woman, you know, maybe he was like, I know she was she's fine. We went on a date. She was lovely to put a napkin in her lap. You know, she was a lovely a lovely woman. 2nd Chronicles chapter 8 verse 11 says this now Solomon brought the daughter of pharaoh up from the city of David to the house you built for her for he said my wife shall not dwell in the House of David king of Israel because the place is to which the Ark of the Lord has come our holy

whoa

So what did Solomon think about his wife? the implication is You're not holy. You can't live where the ark has been that place is Holy and I Know Who You Are. You're not allowed to be there. There's another mark on Old Solomons record there.

And we know that altimate Lee Solomon's going to have many many wives many many girlfriends. This is going to lead to his downfall Solomon himself will erect titles and we'll erect Alters to other gods because of these relationships they began to have decades ago. And remember how many times did Solomon see God?

right

still wasn't enough to carry him.

Let's keep going verse 25 Note 3 times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which had built for the Lord and he burned incense with them on the altar that was before the Lord. So we finish the Temple and so this recounts the worship there in Jerusalem, the temples finally built its dedicated to God and they're starting to get into the swing of things are starting to do the routine. They're starting to do what they're supposed to do which outlined in the law for them. And remember the law is a shadow of things to come that point to what God is trying to teach them about sacrifice covering and worship in Holiness and all that. We see three forms of symbolic worship here. We see burnt offerings. Okay, a burnt offering is exactly what it sounds like a burnt offering to the Lord was presented to God this this animal killed and burnt entirely It was completely burnt the whole thing set on fire and burnt to the Lord and that was also Lord and then there were peace offerings and peace offerings and more like cooked before the Lord and then guess what happened people would eat it right people would eat it. And so we can have like a little party situation will eat this sacrifice. And then we see also the incense in the incense were burned at the altar before the Lord and want to represent the prayers of the people. So they're starting to get into the habit of worship. But now when it says that Solomon do these things so, you know, there's some debate on whether or not Solomon actually did these things cuz if he did that would have been unlawful right or whether or not he directed The Priestly class to do the nest 2nd Chronicles point out to us that Solomon appointed the priests to do their work within the temple. Okay. We also see that he did this three times a year and 2nd Chronicles points out of us that he did the routine daily. Surprises in the sacrifices zombie Sabbath directed by the laws. Well, the three big sacrifices were

Passover Pentecost in the Feast of Tabernacles or actually be Passover Feast of Tabernacles Pentecost, right? And those were the three Big E's were men were required by law to present themselves before the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem. So they're all they're worshipping. First 26 says King Solomon also built. Wow, he's on his building streak. Isn't he? He also built a fleet of ships at se on gibber, which is near Eli on the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom. Then Hiram sent his servants with the fleet see man who knew the sea to work with the Servants of Solomon and they went to ofir and acquired 420 talents of gold from there and brought it to King Solomon. So tell him and can't stop man. He is an industrious smart shrewd calculating businessman. And he is now found to be about building up his kingdom, right accumulating wealth. This place over here. There's some debate on to where it actually is whether or not in Africa are some reason but they go out and they bring back 420 talents, which is a weight of measurement you can you look up what that means. But it's like in the millions and millions and millions of dollars worth K may bring that back but that's what he's all about building his kingdom now. Where is Christ in all this, right? Well as with really the entire book of 1st Kings. It points toward the more perfect King. Jesus Christ right? No matter how why Solomon was no matter how many times he had these like experiences with God that were exceptional he was still prone to failure. He's not the perfect King. We need a more perfect King and will Solomon is building up a kingdom for himself. Because you just can't stop working and if you're familiar with the crazy ass tease, you know at the end of Solomon's life. He looks back on all of this and says it was all vanity. Right, and he really re-evaluate his entire life before the Lord but our Lord. The King Jesus Christ is building a kingdom under himself.

out of us and instead of building up Treasures just to have it. He's poured them out on y'all. Ami it's Grace. That's amazing. Let's pray or thank you God for your holy word.

For teaching us about human weakness, even when it looks like strength Lord for teaching us about failure, even when it looks like success father for teaching us about obedience to your word. Lord we so often want to justify our positions we so often we want to be right. And we want to be wealthy and successful or but you call us to be obedient. and a follow after you

nor did I pray father that we would draw Ever nearer to you at your building your kingdom Lord cuz you are. I'm so glad that we get to be a part of it. In Jesus name amen.

you are