Planting Seeds
Notes
Transcript
1 Kings 3:1-14
Prayer
Introduction
Introduction
Springtime is a fascinating time of year to me. It is one of both culmination and planning. It is a time of culmination because as trees, grass and other plants spring to life after a long winter, you begin to see what survived and what didn’t. Early-blooming flowers are a pleasant surprise. I also enjoy the light shade of green that plants often display.
Spring is a time of planning as well, especially for farmers. They plan what crops to plant in which fields, they plan the timing related to the weather warming up and when the harvest would fall, and they plan their field work according to rainfall and other conditions.
The thing about seeds is, they take time to germinate and grow. This can be good and bad. When early conditions are great, it appears that the crop will have an ideal season and will produce well. Conversely, a farmer may plant seeds in adverse conditions, hoping that weather patterns will change in time for a good crop. Because of the time needed between planting and harvest, a good planting season can still end up in a bad crop, and vice versa.
Springtime reminds us that seeds produce a delayed reaction. The flowers of spring were planted last year or beyond. The seeds of spring will not bring fruit for many weeks, perhaps more. There is a delay.
This morning, we’re going to see these principles in Solomon’s life, and I trust the Lord will make application in our lives as well.
I. Solomon’s Conflict
I. Solomon’s Conflict
The text we just read was no doubt familiar to most of you. It is a passage that describes an important time in Solomon’s life, and it immediately follows a period during which he was forced to deal with a number of adversities.
An anti-climactic coronation — 1 Kings 1:32-40
Solomon had been God’s and David’s choice for the next king for a long time.
And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the Lord God of Israel. And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God: But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
Now, because of Adonijah’s attempt to wrest the throne from his father (1 Kings 1:5-10), David was forced to crown Solomon on a moment’s notice. Not only was it spur-of-the-moment, but it was done with the potential of conflict looming over them. Would Adonijah dispute Solomon’s crown? Would the people follow Solomon or Adonijah? Would Adonijah be “Absalom 2.0?”
Immediate confrontation
Solomon was forced to confront Adonijah (1 Kings 1:50-53, 2:22-25), Abiathar the priest (1 Kings 2:26-27), and Joab, the commanding general of Israel’s armies (1 Kings 2:28-34).
Careful accountability
In keeping with David’s counsel, Solomon also had to keep tabs on Shimei, who had fully supported Absalom’s uprising, stopping short of taking up arms against David. (1 Kings 2:36-38, 41-46)
All of these issues weighed on Solomon’s mind. He appears to have acted decisively and correctly, but it was still bloody, and he probably wondered along the way if his reign would last. Things were very unstable. We might think of these things as fruit resulting from seeds that had been planted long ago. Solomon didn’t fail as Adonijah’s father; David did. Solomon didn’t deviously plan to take the throne; Adonijah did. Solomon didn’t rebel against his king; Abiathar, Joab and Shimei did. But Solomon still experienced the adversities that went along with these prior decisions—these “seeds.” The seeds brought a delayed crop.
But Solomon’s adversities were not the only fruits present in his life. He had planted some seeds as well, and they were bringing results.
II. Solomon’s Commendation
II. Solomon’s Commendation
1 Kings 3:5-9 This passage reveals several things from Solomon’s heart. It also proves the truth of what he would later write in Prov. 22:4.
Proverbs 22:4 (KJV 1900)
By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.
I’d like to point out three elements in Solomon’s attitude that directly contributed to his Godly spirit, and to God’s blessing of him.
Humility - vs. 7-8
Fear of the LORD - vs. 4, 7a, 9c
Thankfulness - vs. 6-7
These three things combined in Solomon’s heart to create love for God. (Vs. 3a)
We love him, because he first loved us.
Why would this cause us to love God? Many people are loved by God, who do not love God in return. We love God when we 1) Realize who God truly is, 2) Realize who we truly are, 3) Recognize God’s blessings on our life, which produces thankfulness. Watching a righteous God bless our sin-cursed lives should make us all love Him!
Solomon was in a pretty good place. He was established as king, he was devoted to God, and he had God’s approval on his life! This hadn’t come accidentally. It was first because of God’s grace, but also because of Solomon’s personal decisions—“seeds” that he had planted long before, that were now bearing fruit.
III. Solomon’s Carelessness
III. Solomon’s Carelessness
So after reading these positive things we might think, “What’s the problem? Where’s the danger?” A lot of this text is formulated like a list of simple, factual statements. (1 Kings 2:45-46, 1 Kings 3:1, 3, 4, 10, 11, etc.) But tucked into this passage is a sobering, foreboding detail that reminds us that personal choices, like seeds, usually have a delayed result.
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
Why is this a problem? Several reasons.
He made affinity
One definition of “affinity” is “Agreement; relation; conformity; resemblance; connection.” God wanted His people to be separate from the world, but Solomon was making affinity where there had been none. He wasn’t dealing with the “fruit” from someone else’s choices. He was planting these seeds of his own accord. (Make no mistake: we make our own choices for our life. Others’ may affect us, but we are still allowed to make our own choices, and they will affect our life.)
He made affinity with Egypt
I’m not suggesting that grudges should be kept forever, or that people can never change. But for the king of Israel to choose to marry the princess of the nation that had oppressed, enslaved, committed genocide toward, and had attempted to annihilate Israel, was shocking.
Egypt is a type/picture of the world, and we can make the same foolish decision as Solomon. How many times have we experienced temptation, sin, and regret at the hands of the world? Yet we can still choose to make affinity with it. We are foolish for doing so!
He disobeyed God
This is the most serious part. Far more important than whether it is foolish or wise, thoughtful or thoughtless, is whether it is obedient or disobedient. In marrying Pharaoh’s daughter, Solomon directly violated God’s commands.
Deuteronomy 7:1-4; Ex. 34:14-16
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.
Israel had failed in this in the past, and it had caused much suffering. Judges 3:5-8 God was concerned with the holiness and separation of His people, and Solomon was forsaking that. Solomon disobeyed God.
Why would Solomon do this? How could he justify it? We’re not told, but here are some possibilities.
It would create beneficial trade conditions for Israel
It would bring military peace and security for Israel
We can understand these reasons, and even commend them. Solomon was concerned with Israel’s wellbeing! (1 Kings 3:9) But are trade relations important when your God owns the cattle on a thousand hills? Is national security a concern when your God can part the Red Sea, bring millions of gallons of water from a rock, pull down the walls of Jericho and hurl deadly hailstones from Heaven? We serve the same God today, folks. Let us not forget where our good fortunes truly lie.
What are some possible reasons that Solomon justified his actions?
It was OK because Solomon loved the Lord
Good motives NEVER outweigh willful disobedience to God’s commands!
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
It was OK because Solomon worshipped God, and God had established his kingdom
Where we are now is not as important as where we are going. (Illustration: Ascending in an airplane, vs. free-falling out of one. Our perspective about being 20 feet above the ground is drastically different!)
It wasn’t important because God was blessing him
It’s true that God appeared to Solomon in a dream after he had married the Egyptian princess, that but doesn’t mean that God approved of the marriage. Sovereign God is so merciful and longsuffering to us, He still blesses us in our imperfection and even sin. That blessing doesn’t excuse our sin, or means He has overlooked it.
Which direction are you going today? What decisions are you making? What seeds are you planting? You are experiencing today the results from seeds planted in the past, for good or bad. What fruit will come from the present? You can be sure that intentions and justification will not make up for violating God’s commands. How did it work out in Solomon’s life?
IV. Solomon’s Catastrophe
IV. Solomon’s Catastrophe
1 Kings 11:1-12 In spite of his wisdom, Solomon made foolish decisions. In spite of his love for God, Solomon loved pagan women. In spite of his worship of God, Solomon began worshipping false gods. In spite of his intentions of national security, Solomon led his nation into destruction. And in spite of God’s blessing, Solomon ended up cynical and joyless.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Solomon’s sin diverted his attention from righteousness, divided his allegiance to God, and defiled the good things God had given him. And it all began with the seed of disobedience to God.
V. The Saint’s Caution
V. The Saint’s Caution
So how do we avoid Solomon’s fate? Scripture gives us much instruction that will keep us from the same trap.
Refuse sin and weights - Heb. 12:1 d
What helps us do this? Review/remember the faithful saints who have come before (ch. 11), and look unto the One who has finished our faith! (vs. 2-3)
Reject unclean things - 2 Cor. 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
This isn’t about a “holiness competition.” That is others-focused. This is about doing all things to the glory of God. That is only possible when we are holy as He is holy.
Remember the law of sowing and reaping
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
I don’t know about you, but remembering this one helps keep me accountable. My flesh wants to justify a “me-focused” decision, but when I remember the kind of crop that those seeds bring, it helps me plant good seeds instead.
If you are in a good place of God’s blessing and personal success, praise the Lord for it! However, don’t give in to the urge to “coast,” or to stop planting good seeds. As Solomon’s life shows us, where we are is not as important as where we are going. May we be occupied with planting good seeds that will keep us moving closer to God!
