David said, “God said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who will build my house and my courtyards. I have chosen him to be my son. And I will be his father. I will make his kingdom secure. IT WILL LAST FOREVER. That will happen IF he DOES NOT TURN AWAY from my commands and laws. HE MUST CONTINUE TO OBEY THEM, just as he is doing now.’” (1 Chronicles 28:6-7) God makes this wonderful promise to David about Solomon based on this condition IF Solomon does not TURN AWAY from God and CONTINUALLY OBEYS all of God’s commandments. So, how did Solomon do? “David said, “I have written everything down. The LORD‘s powerful hand helped me. He helped me understand EVERY PART OF THE PLAN.” David also said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and brave. Get to work. DON’T BE AFRAID. DON’T LOSE HOPE. The LORD God is my God. He is with you. He won’t fail you. He won’t desert you until all of the work for serving in the LORD‘s temple is finished.” (1 Chronicles 28:19-20)
David encouraged the people of Israel to give, “Many people were willing to give. They included the leaders of families and the officers of the tribes of Israel. They included the commanders of thousands of men and commanders of hundreds. They also included the officials who were in charge of the king’s work. ALL OF THEM GAVE TO THE WORK ON GOD’S TEMPLE.” (1 Chronicles 29:6-7) After David died Solomon EARNESTLY PRAYED, “That night God appeared to Solomon. He said to him, “Ask for anything you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “LORD GOD, let the promise you gave to my father David come true. Give me WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE. Then I’ll be able to lead these people. WITHOUT YOUR HELP, who would be able to rule this great nation of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:7-10)
The Lord was very pleased with Solomon’s request so, He said, “…WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE will be given to you. I WILL ALSO GIVE YOU WEALTH, RICHES AND HONOR. You will have more than any king before you ever had. And no king after you will have as much.” (2 Chronicles 1:12) The Queen of Sheba came to see this very wise King Solomon, “Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However, I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed, the HALF OF THE GREATNESS OF YOUR WISDOM WAS NOT TOLD ME. You exceed the fame of which I heard.” (2 Chronicles 9:5-6)
In Solomon’s old age he could not resist women he took hundred’s women from all the nations of the earth, even though God said, “You SHALL NOT INTERMARRY WITH THEM, nor they with you. Surely THEY WILL TURN AWAY YOUR HEARTS AFTER THEIR GODS.” Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and HIS WIVES TURNED AWAY HIS HEART. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives TURNED HIS HEART AFTER OTHER GODS; and his heart was NOT LOYAL TO THE LORD HIS GOD…as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. SOLOMON DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND DID NOT FULLY FOLLOW THE LORD, AS DID HIS FATHER DAVID.” (1 Kings 11:2-6)
What were the consequences for Solomon? “…the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely TEAR THE KINGDOM AWAY FROM YOU and give it to your servant.” (1 Kings 11:11) WHAT MUST WE DO? “STAY ALERT! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. STAND FIRM against him, and BE STRONG in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham