Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Kings 3

There are things that happen to us in life that are beyond our control that are good and bad.

The God of heaven who loves us does everything with the intent to bring us closer to himself - to draw us if you will.

The three reactions to God’s dealings with us is that we remain unaffected, we become bitter or we get better and draw closer to God as result of whatever He is doing.

In our study tonight, we will see that Solomon has choices to make.

But his choices are not for a lifetime, choices are only for a short time.

Then we at times and varying stages need to recommit again, again, and again.

So, Solomon is given a gift.

He has been given the entire kingdom of Israel.

What will He do with it?

We saw last time, that he started out right and established his kingdom and everything he did was as his father had instructed him.

That is a great starting place for most people most of the time is to receive good counsel and then act upon it.

Having had his kingdom established in, we now see him going on and advancing.

God’s will for the Believer is not just to exist.

It is not just to live out our lives.

God’s will is that we would be productive.

It is His will that we would bear fruit.

That is how we are to be - it is making good and profitable use of our lives for God.

Solomon seeks to that, but with God’s help.

II.

Solomon’s Blessing and Wisdom Confirmed

1 Kings 3:1-4

A. Seeds of Carnality

Solomon was a great man but a flawed man.

That is possible for all of us.

We can do some really great things with out lives but then we have this baggage along the way - some losses.

Some things that trouble us.

That doesn’t have to be.

My goal for our younger folks to get rid of that notion - that we are going to have some flaws - and for our older people to be rid of our flaws.

1.

He marries Pharaoh's daughter

v.1, when it says made affinity, it means he married her.

Not only did Samuel, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit warn about a multiplicity of wives, but the Bible clearly warns about marrying non-believers.

Either way, Solomon, whether it be for fitting in with the world or for expediency’s sake, marries her.

But many may argue - “Well, they are more protected, are they more blessed.”

I would counter that with something that trumps those and all of our arguments - what does God say.

Let’s read:

Now the true biblical legalists would say that these people cannot be married, therefore the marrying of an Egyptian woman would be allowed.

But that contradicts if you will those who did marry women of Canaan such as Rahab from Jericho who were Canaanites, and Ruth of Moab who according to Deut 23:3 were not to enter the congregation for 10 generations.

What do you think the big difference is?

The spirit of the law is that they would not marry the wicked, sinful idolatrous people of the land, and Rahab became a believer, Ruth certainly was.

God’s blessing far outweighs any blessing of the world.

2. Spiritual Compromise

This is something we are going to see again and again in the lives of the kings of both Israel and Judah.

And honestly it is something that I have been wanting to understand and I think I’ve come to a conclusion finally.

v. 2, “Only the people sacrificed in the high places.”

Now the BIble talks about Samuel sacrificing in the high places in 1 Samuel 9, but over 50 other times between 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles it talks about Israel doing the same.

The problem with the High places is this, God never sanctioned it as part of Israel’s worship.

When there was not tabernacle, then they worship and sacrifice, and the patriarchs often did.

But with a tabernacle and the soon coming temple, those were the God sanctioned places of worship.

So it wasn’t wrong in itself to worship, but there is a best way, a right way to worship the Lord.

Now, it is wrong to worship on your own when there is a church to worship at.

It is wrong to give to wherever you feel like when their is a church to give through.

But at this time likely no one was bringing their offerings, therefore the Levites went back to the fields, which meant that there was no sanctioned place to sacrifice, which meant they sacrificed where God has said not to.

That easily relates to the church.

B. Solomon’s love for God

vv.3-4

So, as the people sacrificed in the high places as we mentioned, and the reason is there was not place given them at the time to sacrifice.

So, the king sacrifices in those placers as well.

It says that Solomon loved God.

What simple statement - a blessed statement - that the Word of God says of Solomon.

1000 burnt offerings in Gibeon.

C. Solomon’s greatest gift

1 Kings 3:5-15

1. God asks Solomon what He can do for him

It is an unusual thing.

It is not something that happens elsewhere in the Bible.

But God, in His sovereignty does ask Solomon.

You say, why doesn’t God ask me what I want.

Probably because He knows what you would choose.

But this is what God does with Solomon - perhaps it is just as simple to say that God asked Solomon because for the relationship God had with his father David or because God knew the task ahead or because God knew how He would answer.

Either way:

2. Solomon’s answer

a.

He praises and shows his thankfulness to God

v.6

b.

He shows humility

v.7

c.

He recognizes that his calling is great than himself

v.8

d.

His request is for wisdom

v.9

Notice how he defines wisdom here: an understanding heart to judge between good and bad.

But that is what he asks for that he might perform the work that God has called him to.

That shows something was there that was special.

It shows that Solomon had been taught or developed a maturity that was special because

The importance of wisdom:

a. Wisdom is the most important thing

b.

Wisdom is more valuable than riches

c.

Wisdom should be studied

d.

True wisdom starts with fear of the Lord

e. Wisdom is found in humility

f.

Wisdom is better than any sin

g.