He had it all and lost it all. He lost it all because he confused the success of his accomplishments with the source of his success. At the height of his success and provision, Solomon forgot the clear instructions in the law that had made his kingdom a success. For him, his success proved to be his failure. In these verses, we will reflect on Solomon’s choices that paved the way to his demise as a sobering reminder of our own vulnerability and desperate need for God’s word.
Jealous, hungry, and haughty. These three words capture the response to the gospel of the cities of Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens of the cities in Acts 17. Each one of these reactions sees the gospel differently and each one of these requires a different approach. The first one, Jealousy is an emotional response where the gospel is perceived as a threat. The second one is a spiritual response where the gospel is shown to be the fulfillment of the Scriptures. The third response is an intellectual response where the gospel is disdained as unworthy of serious consideration.
Places and programs are just instruments for people to experience the presence of God. Solomon’s prayer clearly shows that the purpose of the temple was to create sacred space and time for people to have fellowship with God and experience his redemption in spite of their shortcomings. There is plenty of grace in God’s kingdom when we draw close to him. Grace-giving reminds us that when we realize that what we have we received by grace then we must also give by grace so that God may bless those who need his grace.
Places and programs are just instruments for people to experience the presence of God. Solomon’s prayer clearly shows that the purpose of the temple was to create sacred space and time for people to have fellowship with God and experience his redemption in spite of their shortcomings. There is plenty of grace in God’s kingdom when we draw close to him. Grace-giving reminds us that when we realize that what we have we received by grace then we must also give by grace so that God may bless those who need his grace.
What God commands, God provides. God provided Solomon’s kingdom with the material and spiritual resources to fulfill God’s promise to David to make Israel his dwelling place. The temple and its ministries became an instrument for his glory to dwell with his people and from Israel carry out his redeeming purposes to bless the nations. When we are faithful stewards of God’s resources God honors our faithfulness by using what we have and transforming our meager efforts into an opportunity for his kingdom to come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Wisdom and wealth provide a strong foundation for a prosperous nation but material prosperity needs to be filtered through the lens of biblical truth if it is to accomplish God’s eternal goals. When we receive God’s blessings it is easy to forget whose blessings those are and this forgetfulness is the beginning of our demise. Count your blessings, don’t take these for granted is still a necessary step to fulfilling God’s plans for our generation.
Our generation is standing on the shoulders of giants. Every resource that we have received comes with the sacrifice of those that have come before. In David’s charge to Solomon, we see the heart of someone who realizes the purpose of his life is greater than any temporal personal wants. Solomon’s legacy is a legacy whose purpose is to connect one’s personal legacy with God’s eternal plans.
Hundreds of years before Solomon was born, God had already provided instructions for his people to live as a kingdom of priests. Their success desperately depended on their willingness to obey God’s word. In this passage, we will see God’s expectations for his people to know what God’s kingdom is all about.
