1 KINGS 11:1-43 Recently, I've come to wonder about king Solomon, his early relationship with God, and how he walked with God and to see the change in his life with his adoration of foreign women. God had ordered him and all those of national Israel not to be yoked with. I anticipate this to be a tough study, but trusting in the Lord for wisdom, we will approach this study without any predetermined ideas or time constraints.May God furnish our hearts and enlighten our understanding to proclaim His Word as we are commanded..
( Note: Due to the length of this chapter, I have selected parts of it for our study. The rest of it, Lord willing, could be completed at a later time if the Lord would tarry. Fa'afetai and Thank You)
1 ¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
9 ¶ And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.
11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
14 ¶ And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;
16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)
17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.
18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.
19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.
20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.
21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.
23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.
25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
26 ¶ And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.
28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.
38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
41 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?
42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
Verse 1 ¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
It's interesting we start right off here with an explanation of why king Solomon, whose name means ( peace ) is doing something he is not supposed to do with the conjunction "but". In that regardless of how amiable a king, good a leader, and how Godly his decisions might be, It is just that he has this little fault that he has; and that it (tongue in cheek) that he loves women. (This is, I believe, that a point is being made that regardless of what we do or become, we are sinners in the eyes of God) But because God is writing the Bible we have to ask; What is God pointing out for our understanding? When we look at the previous chapter we see how kings and queens from all the nations of the world have all come to test his wisdom as queen Sheba finally proclaims in 1Kings 10:6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Having being convinced of his wisdom from God we see in verse 9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.; She gave much gifts as a sign of respect and honour. Yet we find that after God has blessed him, king Solomon evidently disobeys the law of God as he married outside of the nation of Israel, We see all the other nations of the world, representing the unsaved took away the heart of Solomon from God. The daughter of Pharaoh represents the kingdom of Satan in which God delivered His people from, and the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; as a picture of the unsaved Gentile nations.
King Solomon, the builder of the temple is a picture of Christ as his major contribution in life exemplifies the life of Christ as the builder of the temple of God. Jesus who completed the building of the temple, salvation for our souls by going to the cross; an illustration of the spiritual temple that Jesus built in three days that we see in John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. There is no arguement that King Solomon is a child of God. We read in.2 Samuel 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. Further we see that the prophet Nehemiah wrote of King Solomon's relationship with God in Nehemiah 13:26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. That is why it is hard to see Solomon become disobedient to God. [However here is an interesting point to remember as we study this chapter: Is God telling us that without this earthly story, we would not see His heavenly grace. Is it not the grace of God that saved sinners of which include the Gentile nations? Is God telling us that King Solomon is the picture of the Lord Jesus Christ having loved the other nations also instead of just the nation of Israels?] But now it gives us the task of looking for the Gospel message and see what the emphasis is on this parable as God would have us understand.
Verse 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.Here, we clearly are reminded again of the law of God to the children of Israel. This same principle is reiterated in 2Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? As righteousness is to light so is unrighteousness to darkness. So is the contrast between the kingdom of God from that of Satan's. The law is given by God with the reason being that believers must not marry the unbelievers. God foreknows the imminent future of all things and the consequence of all actions. God knows that His children will be drawn away as they are in the body in spite of the fact that they are saved. But why? What is God teaching here? Solomon, a child of God no doubt, yet we see an act of disobedience in marrying women of other nations in Genesis 6:1-6 1 ¶ And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 ¶ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 ¶ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 ¶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. How can this be? That men created by the Almighty God contending with Him? Obviously we know that there has to be a Gospel message. This we know, however, our task is to try and find out what that message is. God has however, already stated the reason why not to inter-marry into other nations because of the reason he has stated in this verse namely for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. A good reason not to do so.
Verse 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.Seven hundred wives, princesses and three hundred concubines, This is unheard of in our times and even in Solomon's time as we see no one else had as many wives that we could read of. However, we must strive to look for the Gospel message in these passages as God does not just write these things incidentally. When we look at the number seven hundred we see the following usage as we find in Judges 20:15-16; And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men. 16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss. It is very interesting that the number 700 is connected to the children of Benjamin as we see in 1Chronicles 21:1-6 ¶ And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? 4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword. 6But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abom inable to Joab. When we ask the question, What significance is verse 6 to us as God writes it? When we check it out we see in Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, and in Romans 11:1 we see the apostle Paul declares; ¶ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Here are the two of the most prominent and useful apostles in the early spreading of the Gospel as we see in Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. Further we see in Acts 13:7 the desire of an important officer of the land desiring to hear the Gospel; Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. As Paul and Barnabas continued their ministry they were encouraged as the Jews doubted their message as we read in Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. As God would have it so do the Gentiles, would have an opportunity to hear the Gospel as we see in Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Because of this early ministry the recruitment of others became necessary in order to bring the Gospel into the world as we read in Acts 15:22 ¶ Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Next we look at the number seven hundred to see what it means and what it represents When we read the Bible we find a references in 2Samuel 8:4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. We see the prominent and distinct mention of 700 horsemen in addition to the 1000 chariots and 2000 footmen. (When we search the use of the number 1000 we will find that the use of this number represents the totality or completeness of God's promise. The number 2000 is made up of 2x1000. The number 2 always refers to those that bring the Gospel as in the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3 ¶ And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. In other words the those that bring the Gospel will accomplish or fulfill the will of God.The 700 is 7x100 where seven is the reference to the Gospel the church in bringing the Gospel as in the seven churches of Revelations 1) We know that the picture we are seeing is a picture of those who are going to war to fight the enemy for Christ. We see in Isaiah 21:9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. This is a declaration of the salvation of the Lord that is depicted by the fall of Babylon the great; a picture of the kingdom of Satan coming to an end as the kingdom of Christ is at hand. When we see the killing by these horsemen gives us the understanding that when we bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are at war with Satan. Our refuge and our rock and fortress is the Lord Jesus Christ which His Word the Bible represents. To recap Isaiah 21:9; ( Behold here come those that believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ with their Bible that reveals the will of their God that destroyed the wisdom of Satan) So when we read about war and killing it is compared to the believers bringing the Gospel as depicted by the declaration of the actually killing is done by these horsemen as they are swift and are accessible to quickly maneuver themselves in and out of trouble. We see a similar reference in 2Kings 3:26 And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not. Here we see the 700 men referred to those that "drew the sword" as a reference to those who will do the killing. So we ask: What does this all mean spiritually? When we bring the Gospel we are at war with Satan. The 700 horsemen are depicted by the believers as we bring the Gospel message of Salvation as in the case of Paul and Barnabas.( We continue to see the number 700 connected with horsemen that do the killing. 700 is the number of those that bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ being the predominant force and the victors.) The fact that they belong to the two tribes of Israel that were not numbered by Joab is an indication that God elects those that will believe on Him and no one knows who they are; only God knows. We know the act of numbering the children of Israel was not pleasing to the Lord. It was a prideful act in the sight of God as verse 1 declares in 1Chronicles 21: ¶ And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. Satan the instigator in this sin in king David's life is being used to illustrate a point of God's grace; The fact that the tribes that were numbered are a picture of those that were not saved There is still the questions of the 700 "wives". Well, when we become believers we are the bride of Christ. He is the bridegroom: John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. This is the picture that we are seeing. In spite of king Solomon's apparent sin of having multiple wives, God is certainly painting a picture of the earthly story as such, but we must search the scriptures to find the Heavenly meaning or the Gospel message or the message of salvation for us.So we look at the fact that did God forbid the marrying of more than one wife? In Genesis 2:24; Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife<0802>: and they shall be one flesh. When we check how God uses the word wife<0802> to see if is it used in the singular sense and also used in the plural sense as in Genesis 4:19 ¶ And Lamech took unto him two wives <0802>: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. By all indications, we see Lamech as being the first man to have more than one wife. We also see the use of the same word in Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives <0802> of all which they chose. We also see the same word used in in the plural sense in Genesis 6:18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife <0802>, and thy sons' wives <0802> with thee.
We see that based on what we see using the word <0802)wife, it is a word that is both used as singular or plural.This being so there seems to be no definitive answer that we could confirm that God commands men to marry only one wife. There is an apparent contrast that is interesting when we read Deuteronomy 17:15-17;15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. 17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. Now this verse outlines the scrutiny of one who is a perspective king over the children of Israel must undergo. If we read just the underlined phrase it appears that the king should not multiply wives period. However, if we read the rest of the verse "that his heart turn not away" that is the reason God does not allow the reason for multiple wives, not for the act itself but because of the likelihood of the cause and effect of the act. We see this same command on verse 2 of our chapter;...Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Isn't this the reason for disallowing multiple wives? God knowing the susceptibility of man to this sin. God gives the command but we see some examples of great men of faith as in Moses, Jacob, David and Solomon having this common scenario where they multiplied wives. How are we to understand this? We see in Deuteronomy 21:10-13; ¶ When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, 11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife; 12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; 13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. This particular paragraph deals with the enemies who are usually identified with nations of the world that are against the people of God, whom is their enemy. So these women generally are from these unsaved nations which God disallows the children of Israel to marry. The question we ask then how are we to understand these commandments? What is God really communicating. This allows us to read that if one like king Solomon was able to maintain multiple wives without not turning away from God, does that mean that it would be acceptable? To say it is or it isn't would be speculating because scripture seem to support both cases. Interestingly enough, a case in point, as we read about the origins of the nation of Israel. Jacob had two wives and two concubines that gave birth to the progenitors of the nation of Israel; Leah and Rachael, daughters of his uncle Laban and their concubines; Zilpah a handmaid to Leah and Bilhah to Rachel who bore a total of thirteen offsprings including Dinah, Jacob's only daughter.Therefore, to fully understand this chapter we must look beyond the moral lesson of these verses and draw on their spiritual applications, we could be able to discover the reason why God has allowed this scenario to pass in king Solomon's life as we are attempting to do in this study.
Our next task is to look at the the word princess. These are included in the total of 700 wives and princesses. The word princess is only used 5 times in the Old Testament;
08282 hrv sarah saw-raw'
AV - lady 2, princess 2, queen 1; 5
It is used as as the word lady twice, princess twice and queen once. We see in Judges 5:29; 28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 29 Her wise ladies <08282> answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, In this verse we see the mother of Sisera, (captain of Canaan's army) who was smoted by Jael the wife of Heber in a tent during an upsurge against the children of Israel asks a question of her wise ladies. We see also the same use of this word in Esther 1:18 Likewise shall the ladies <08282> of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. This same word is used as queen in Isaiah 49:23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens <08282> thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
We can safely say that this word is used to describe some women of distinction due to their heritage, as the daughter of the Pharaoh at that time is, or women of great wisdom or with some special talents as we have seen that implication by the other uses of this word of which the total comes to 700. Just as an aside, in Isaiah 9:6 We read about the prediction of the baby Jesus by the prophet Isaiah as the "Prince of peace" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. King Solomon being the picture of the Lord Jesus Christ the princesses is a clear hint for us to understand this verse. The "princesses" here as the term "bride" is a reference to the body of believers being the bride of the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. When the word wife is used as in this case also they are synonymously interchanged in usage and meaning.Now we look at the concubines and there are three hundred of them. What is their purpose in this parable? We know that they are used for the purpose of God but what does 300 implies? When we check the number 300 we find the following applications in the Bible; In Genesis 45:22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. Here we see exchange between Joseph and his brothers after they sold him to the Egyptians. Everyone of his brothers received a change of raiment representing the covering that Christ has provided for His elects as represented by the brothers. Joseph in this case represents Christ as he had to be sold and ended up in Egypt (hell) so his family will not perish(become saved). The 300 pieces of silver he gave his brother Benjamin is a picture of those that would labor for the kingdom. Those that were the descendants of Benjamin are given the mandate to bring the Gospel of which the apostle Paul is one as we see in Philippians 3:4-5; 4 ¶ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Further we see a demonstration of this is in Judges 7:6-7 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. Judges 7:16 ¶ And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. Judge 8:4 ¶ And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. As soldiers of the cross, Gideon represents Christ leading the the war of salvation for lost souls. The significance of this number is that those that engage in the work of bringing the Gospel.
Here we see another side of this parable. The implication of this same number as used in John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? The cost for what must be surrendered so that the message of salvation can be realized for the poor as indicated in this statement by one of the disciples of Jesus.
What significance can we relate to the 300 of the concubines as the 700 of the wives and princesses are? We saw that the wives are the body of believers. The concubines are not legally married to their husband but are every bit as a wife is. We can be assured that these represents the elects of God in whom have not yet become saved. When the price of 300 is paid their condition will be just as that of the wife. These verses have revealed to us this relationship as unseemly as they appear.
So far in this study we have come to search the Gospel message in these verses and we can confidently see that God's salvation is hid in these verses and unless we have the wisdom of God's we will not be able to traverse the Gospel's hidden message for our edification and application.
Verse 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.As God has predicted that in the historical situation, king Solomon was not able, at his old age, to remain faithful and keep his heart in the commandments of God. Why is is that these things happen at his old age? Do we read this that at his younger age he was able to walk with the Lord? The scripture is revealing that it mentions that [1] at his old age,[2] his wives turned away his heart after other gods. We can only take that which seems obvious: His heart was being turned away which seem to indicate that he was a true and loving husband to his wives. His change of heart was only a physical manifestation because of his wives, in trying to please them. We know this because king Solomon is a child of God. We read in Ephesians 5:25, 26-31 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. From this statement we can understand king Solomon's situation; he loved his wives like himself and he did that which was proper except these women were of foreign from foreign nations.
Verse 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
Verse 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
Verse 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
Verse 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.What can we say to this? How can a child of God do this? This is a great lesson for all of us of not to do. We see that the reason that Solomon has gone astray because we are told that Solomon " went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. " God is writing this for us to tell us that in our worst day where we may have done the most abominable thing. which is breaking the commandments of God, yet God in His mercy kept Him. It also teaches us that if we do not keep our eyes on Jesus we also could go astray. We think also of the verse from Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. This is a key verse in our trying to uncover God's purpose in these scriptures. They were not written just to fill up the Bible or so that we could say it's OK for us to be still sinful and be disobedient to God. God is teaching us about His mercy and how faithful He is to His elects which He has chosen, from before the foundation of the world, in that even though they may sin God's mercy abounds. We read in Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Yet Solomon, a child of God honored not his Heavenly Father. What mercy the Father have for His children. We can learn a little about God from Matthew 7: 9-11 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? We can understand our earthy father's love for their children. This verse tells us that our earthly fathers, who are evil in reference to God's righteousness, are fair from man's perspective in providing for their children's physical needs in comparison to our righteous Heavenly Father, who is much more gracious and merciful and just than anything we can ever imagine.
Verse 9 ¶ And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
Verse 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.God, who loves His elects with jealousy, can not bear the idea that one of His children can love another. We read in Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: It is clear that Solomon's heart went after the false gods. Is this possible for a child of God? Perhaps, if we didn't understand the fact that it is God that controls our hearts, we would have to believe that Solomon is not a child of God. However, in this case we know that Solomon, in spite of his disobedience to God, as he is in the flesh, he is susceptible to the sins of the flesh. We find in James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. We can understand this better from Romans 7 as the child of God debates the desires of the body in spite of the will of his mind Romans 7:18-19 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. The child of God goes through this warring between his saved soul and his unsaved body as long as he is the body. Wonderfully, our salvation is intact, because it is God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah God our shepherd that has declared in Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Our salvation is completed and totally unencumbered. We read in Numbers 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. 20 ¶ And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: The mercy of God is beyond anything that we could comprehend. This, however only extends to His elects not to everyone else as we see kings and nations who are not God's elects being destroyed.
Verse 11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
Even though His elects do not lose their salvation, there is still punishment for our sins. In our lives there are punishments in this life for our disobediences whether it be to our parents or to the government. We all have lessons to learn if we disobey. Here also we see the normal transformation from father to son in kingship is being averted because of Solomon's sin. God has no tolerance for sin, any sin whether it be great or small; all have their due punishment. The fortunate part is that our biggest sin that delegated us to hell has been paid for, not for any merit or credit to our fidelity, but that of God to whom, from the beginning of the world, ordained some, according to the awesome riches of His glory, unto salvation. That is the only reason anyone is saved. That is very very clear in these passages.
Verse 12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
One of the most unsearchable characteristic of God is His faithfulness and dependability. We have seen from earlier on about these facts that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the god of Jacob is a God of covenants. That is that when God makes a pronouncement, We can definitely count on it. There is no doubt about that fact. We read in Exodus 2:24; And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. We see a similar verse in Exodus 6:4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. Because God had made these promises we see that God, in spite of the unfaithfulness of those with whom he made the covenant, still carry through with His promises. We read similarly in Luke 1:72; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; However, the LORD God appeared to Solomon in the after Solomon with all of Israel. dedicated the temple to God in 1Kings 9: 1-9 ¶ And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, 2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: 5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. 6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: 7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: 8 And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? 9 And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil. We can read an identical account in 2 Chronicles 7:12-22 as God empasises His willingness to profit mankind according to the riches of His mercies.
Verse 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.
Here we see how God, has kept His word, as we have asserted earlier. Our God is a God that we can trust. Both in His mercies and his wrath. We must not confuse the fact that even though He is a merciful God, He is equally a just God in bringing His judgment to those who are under His wrath, the unsaved. Therefore there is no mercy to those that keep not His commandments and remain unsaved upon His return. This is the mystery of God. Some may and have asked the question: How can a loving God send me to hell? If we do not have an answer for that question then it may mean that we are still under His terrible wrath because we can not, or better yet, He has not given us the eyes to see the mystery of His glorious plan of salvation. God and God alone can open our eyes if we are His elects. We also remember that that same God sent His only beloved Son, who is God, to save His people from eternity in Hell. We see evidence of that cry as predicted in Psalm 22:1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.>> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? and the actual act on the cross when the Lord Jesus cried out in Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Did God stop the persecution of His Son? This is the point that we must not fail to understand. God will bring His judgment to the unsaved of the world and there is no escaping of it. That is why the mandate for every child of His to preach the Gospel in to all the world. He has said in Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
14 ¶ And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.
15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom; 16 (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)
17 That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.
18 And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.
19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.
20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.
21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
22 Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.
23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
24 And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.
25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.Verse 26 ¶ And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
Here we see the fulfillment of God's promises. The above verses that we have not studied deals with those to whom God has caused to bring adversity to king Solomon due to his acts.) In this verse God gives us some interesting facts about the heritage of Jeroboam whose name means ( the people will contend ). His father Nebat which means ( aspect ) is mentioned 25 times in the Bible and none of the references tell us anything about Nebat, other than what is given already that he is the father of Jeroboam. His mother's name is Zeruah (which means full breasted) is mentioned no where else in the Bible. It just tells us basically that there is nothing really significant about Jeroboam in his heritage that should qualify him as the king of Israel. On the other hand, we see however, some interesting mentions here that is worth looking into: First, Jeroboam is a descendant from the tribe of Ephraim, like king David as we read in i Samuel 17:12 ¶ Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. except that Jeroboam is from a different city than that of David. Second, the people to whom are the king of Israel are common people, we are told that Jeroboam is a servant of Solomon. Thirdly, we are told that Jeroboam lifted up his hand against Solomon. Here too, we find out right away, how God teaches us one of the principles that a child of God must follow. That is we are to obey our magistrates and those who are our leaders. However, when they disobey the laws of God we must side with doing the will of God. We read the account of the Israelite midwives when the were commanded by Pharaoh in Exodus 1:15-17 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. This is acceptable to God as we find out how God has taken care of them as we see in Exodus 1:20-21 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. There is no equivalent regardless of the consequences in obeying God. This also in the New Testament we read in Romans 13:1-7 1 ¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 ¶ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. These verse are pretty straight forward. We see in verse 7 that we are to render all their dues. What due to we render to God? We are to fear Him and He is the only one we fear. We are not to fear anyone else or anything in this verse because only He should we fear. We read in Matthew 10:28; And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Verse 27 And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.What do we know about this? Well, the verse gets pretty confusing when we read the way it stands. Solomon has built Millo , a fort or rampart, and then repaired it. How can that be a bad thing? When we look at the word "repaired" we see that perhaps the interpreters missed one here as this word is use as "shut" or "shut up" or "shut in" etc. as we see
05462 rgs cagar saw-gar'
a primitive root; TWOT - 1462; v
AV - shut 40, shut up 12, deliver 9, pure 8, deliver up 7, shut in 3, give up 2, gave over 2, inclosed 1, repaired 1, closed 1, shutting 1, stop 1, straitly 1, together 1, close up 1; 91
This word is used in the following contexts as in Genesis 2:21 ¶ And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up <05462> the flesh instead thereof;We also see it used in Genesis 9:6; And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut <05462> the door after him, likewise also in Joshua 6:1 ¶ Now Jericho was straitly <05462> shut up <05462> because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. In all these incidenses we see the use of this word as being something that is closed up to prevent passage.
Therefore it is safe to say that the interpreters did not translate the word "cagar" correctly as it is translated elsewhere. Next, we check the reference to "city of David" and we find out in 2 Samuel 5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. This information tells us that the reference is made to the kingdom of God. We are told here that God has made several implications throughout the Bible that designates the city of David as a picture of the kingdom of God as it is refenced to Zion. A picture of the dwelling place of all the believers. This is a place that no man can close except God through the Lord Jesus Christ This we read in Revelation 3:7 ¶ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Solomon in his worship of false gods takes away from the worship of the true God. And if he is doing that, what can his countrymen be doing? Perhaps also worshipping the same. By doing that no one is worshipping God and that would be the equivalence of shutting the Millo from others who would normally worship God. The acts of king Solomon, whom Jeroboam would pays tribute as his king, is not being regarded above his obedience to God, so we are being told Jeroboam has this raised his hand against the king because of that reason.Verse 28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
Jeroboam, being an icon of physical strength and that he was a good leader, is appointed to head the house of Joseph. As in the story of Joseph when he was brought into the house of Potiphar in Egypt, the Lord was with him; Genesis 39:2-4; And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. We ask how is it that God does raises up someone like Jeroboam and make him king of the children Israel? This is the picture of how God raises up sinners and make them kings (saved) because He alone is sovereign as we read in Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So that we can know that even though our beginnings may be low , God is there if we're His elects, and his timing is perfect. We can never doubt or question God's election. Another interesting point that God makes in 1 Kings 14:13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. Unless we understand this part of His plan we can never understand God's salvation as Jeroboam is used by God to point out what can become of someone of low stature who follows and obey His commandment. After all, it is God that inclines our hearts to obey.
Verse 29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
Here we find Jeroboam on his way out of the city of Jerusalem. God has sent His servant Ahijah; whose name means ( brother of Jehovah "Yahu") to inform Jeroboam of what is about to happen.The key phrase in this verse is "new garment" We view this as the new covering that a new appointed king would wear. Spiritually, the new garment is a reference to our new covering for our sins when we become saved. We find as this verse is alluding to. Jeroboam being selected by God to reign over his people, the nation of Israel.
Verse 30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
Ahijah, representing the servant of God, is delivering the will of God and carrying out His command. As Ahijah rent the garment into twelve pieces signifies how God is using this number to identify the twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve is a significant number as God has used this number throughout the Bible to identify with the number of all those who are the elects of God as the nation of Israel is a picture of.
Verse 31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:
Having taken hold of the new garment and dividing it into twelve pieces, Abijah is carrying out the will of God as God had told Solomon in verse 13 the He would do because of His disobedience. How devastating this is for Solomon as his iniquities has found him out. We read in Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. Here in a similar situation that those that went to check out the land of Cannan have discouraged the children of Israel from entering it as God commanded. God is making a strong point in that every one that sins against God will be punished. There is no amount of sin, no matter how small, will go unpunished. This is the justice of God.
Verse 32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)
Here, a contrast is being illustrated about God. In spite of man's disobedience where his punishment is fully deserved, we see the mercy of God being demonstrated. Because He is so full of mercy, even though that the right punishmnet for Solomon is to lose all that God gave him as we would our salvation if we have one sin, but God in His mercy has delivered the sentence, remembering His servant David in whom He promised that his seed will continue forever. Psalms 89:3-4 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, 4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. We see also in Psalms 89:35-36 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. 36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. This delicate balance of punishment and judgment verse the mercy of God predicated by His great justice that bears no bias or injustice can only be entrusted by the Almighty God. We know that His judgment is just. We can see a hint of it here, if He would make us understand.
Verse 33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
As we have discussed in the previous verse the justice of God is unequaled and unquestionable. Who of us can love a wife who has loved someone else. If we are His child, we are also His bride. In comparison, if our wife no longer loves us but has loved and cherished another man, our only definable desire is to seek a legal injunction against the marriage. Yet, we see the same scenario that we put God, the Creator of the world, through. In our disregard and unfaithfulness to our God and He is still rich in mercy. What God does is beyond man's understanding and comprehension as only He could do that which man could never do for himself. This is the reason why God and God alone is the author and finisher of our faith whereby we have obtained our salvation. This is one of the major reason that we are not able to be saved by our works; our works is insufficient to cover what is required by the justice of God. Hence, Christ had to come to complete it because we are not able. This is a reassurance that our sin is so great that no sacrifice of ours could be suffice let alone understand its dexterities.
34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.
36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
37 And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.Verse 38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
As in the case of Solomon, God is making a similar promise as when He anointed Solomon as king over Israel. King David also gave a similar pronouncement. as his dying last words to his son Solomon; 1Kings 2:2-4; I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; 3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: 4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. There is no doubt of what God's blessings would be to those that keep His commandments. The looming question we ask is that in light of all that God promises to give to those that love him and keep His commandments; why do we insist on still doing our own will and disobeying His commandments in spite of the consequences.
Verse 39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.
This is a reassuring and probably a very confusing verse. In light of His contemporary judgment and justice, His mercy still abounds. God is beyond the destructive and self serving revengeful nature of mankind. In His judgment His mercy is still to His elects. He is the God of promise and of covenants Detoronomy 7:9; Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
There is no verse that tells more of this whole study than this verse. God will punish the seed of David; i.e. king Solomon, but will not lose his salvation because salvation is the only thing that is forever unless we end up in hell.. That is the only thing that is amazing about this verse. In spite of our sin, unless we are His elect we will surely perish forever. Solomon is only a participant in his sin and that his punishment will be afforded to him and his defendants but not those that are the seed of his father David of whom the Lord Jesus Christ is a descendant. In other words the salvation of God is not in jeorbardy. He is the author and finisher of our faith.(Hebrews 12:2) What a reassuring idea. We barely can understand God as a just and merciful God; above anything or anyone of any greatness in this world that we have seen or heard. The impossibility of what man is capable God can. It is OK not to understand God completely. God in all His ways is immeasurable and unsearchable in wisdom; Romans 11:33 ¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! We accept those things that are beyond our understanding as He, in time, will make it known according to the will of His good pleasure.Verse 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
As we have tried to compare in the previous verse; the self preserving, revengeful and shortsightedness of our wisdom and desires as demonstrated by king Solomon, and that of God. In light of what God has told him, he still seek the life of Jeroboam. When we are buried in our sin and away from God, we try to take things in to our own hands. This we see king Solomon tries to accommodate his wisdom being away from God; Proverbs 18:1 ¶ Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. This wisdom is not wisdom because it is man's wisdom and not God's. King David told his son Solomon as he was dying to walk in the ways of the Lord and God will bless him. Because he disobeyed God, he now decides to take things into his own hands without regard of his sin. God's ways may seem afar off as in the case of Jeroboam's flight to Egypt. It may seem that God did not keep His word to make Jeroboam king right away. Yet God is a God of covenant. He is faithful to those that trust in Him. Psalms 145:15; The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. God has spoken so we trust in Him. Today also, God speak to us in His word. His word is what we trust and believe in. At times we feel that God is not around and that He no longer cares; well this should remind us that regardless of our thoughts and our timing, God is sovereign and still reigns.
Verse 41 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?What is it like to be God? Knowing the iniquity of mankind, and their ways thereby and still is patient and longsuffering. The nature of God can only be appreciated if God would open our understanding to know about Him and for us to learn from. This is the encouraging revelation. Without it we would not know Him. We can never try to understand God from our perspective. We must read His word to find out about Him, if He would be so merciful to reveal Himself to us. He still has to give understanding regardless. All wisdom is from God. Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; In God is true wisdom. There is no other independent of Him. Solomon in the start of his reign asks God for wisdom; 2Chronicles 1:10-12 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? 11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. God in His wisdom and knowledge and wisdom gives more than He is asked. How is it that we forget the Lord when we seemed blessed. This is the unfortunate nature of man. So we learn from this great story as God has written it for our instruction and reproof. Great is the LORD.
Verse 42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.This information is helpful in chronogicalizing the kings and the calender of the Bible in comparison to all other kings of the Bible in particular the Old Testament kings. The number in its spiritual application, as used throughout the Bible signifies testing as the children of Israel wondered in the wilderness for forty years. We see in Numbers 32:13 And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed. We see that God testing program instituted throughout the Bible as we see in the case of Solomon and his father king David's reign.
Verse 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.
Other than the obvious information we read here, there are a few extra-curricular observations we could make: First king Solomon is pointed out that he slept with his fathers (no great significance here as all of the believers and unbelievers sleep until judgment) but the fact that we're told that he was buried, as those of other kings, in the "city of David" points out something, perhaps. that these men are saved as the city of David is also called Zion and Zion is always in reference to the kingdom of heaven. This would warrant more study and further conclusions could be forthcoming.
Conclusion: What could we learn from this great story? We have learned that God's salvation plan is hidden through the message of the Bible. God's mercy and judgments are clearly seen in this story. There are three main issues that have been addressed and thoroughly examined in this study.
1. Salvation by God's election: The 700 wives and the 300 concubines represents God's election plan in its formulation and actualization by God in order to bring the Gospel to those He has foreordained and realize their salvation. This also in a minor plot, God has brought about King Solomon to his appointment as it was not quite obvious. His half brother Adonijar has all but declared himself king over Israel and has celebrated his appointment as king. The picture portrayed by God is that regardless how uneventful God's way is, His will will be carried out in the end of the matter.Only until king David was reminded of his promise to his wife that king David appears that remember. However God is still there. If we do not believe in God we could say that it was so close that Solomon wouldn't have been king. For the believer our faith tells us that God is in control of the whole matter as we did find out. This also is a fulfillment of what God has stated in 2 Samuel 12:24; And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. God loved Solomon; meaning that he is an elect of God. As we witness the story of Solomon's great reign, that no king before or after him was like unto him. In his great reign all all his wisdom, he walked not in the ways of the Lord toward the end. Yet we know that Solomon is a child of God and he is saved not because of anything he did or didn't do but because God had elected him unto salvation. Anyone else surely would not have such an end. The contrast we see here is that regardless of how we may turn out our salvation is intact because God has elected us unto salvation. Therefore it is God that saves not because we are worthy.
2. Sins does not go unpunished. We see how in this parable Solomon's sin never went unpunished. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The original sin of Adam has made man die the first death, physical death, but the second death in hell, for our own sins will be required payment unless we're His elects. God is not a respector of persons. He will punish the sinner for the sin. If the sinner is an elect of God, then his salvation is intact through the payment Christ made on the cross, but he will be punished in this life for those sins as we see this happens to king Solomon. Other forms of this punishment is through chastisements. Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. We do not escape our due punishment if and when necessary.
3. Things are not what the seem: On the surface this parable seem like a hopeless and unfruitful story. There is no denying that just to be told that some king named Solomon had a thousand wives makes for a pretty interesting story, with not much Biblical teaching. Well, if we have studied the Bible for sometime, we rest assure that God always has a spiritual lesson to teach us. Isaiah 45:3; And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. It is our hope that through this eventful story we see the righteousness of God, His longsufferings toward His children, untypical of any goodly earthly father that we may know. To truly know God, is a gift of understanding from His Spirit to us alone, should that be His will.
I would never tire to thank the Lord for all His providences, both known and unknown and what may yet to be revealed. I do often wonder at times as I meditate on these things, then I realize that we have not even scratch the surface of how to understand the Almighty God, and yet bit by bit He allows us to see Him from whichever vantage point we may have if we are His elects. Once saved He allow us to see and know Him according to the measure of faith He imparts on each of His children. Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Therefore we thank Him for the understanding and for His abounding mercies and that He would give unupbraidethly to whomever would seek Him To this end we say; To God be The Glory forever.
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