Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

The first thing Solomon does here shows that he has NO spiritual discernment and not a lot of wisdom. He makes a treaty with the Pharaoh of Egypt and marries Pharaoh’s daughter (to whom he shows special favour throughout his life). Deuteronomy 17:16 says that the Israelites shouldn’t head back toward Egypt – that their culture and beliefs were NOT for the Israelites. But Solomon makes a political marriage with the Egyptians – forbidden by Moses in Deuteronomy 7:1-4 because they would turn their hearts to other gods. These are the seeds of the harvest of rebellion toward God that Solomon gathered later in life.

The tabernacle was in Gibeon. But people were sacrificing in high places across the land – which was forbidden (Leviticus 17:3-6). Even Solomon did it. You have to wonder when this started and how long David was king in name only before handing things over to Solomon. This is also a failure of the priesthood, who should have been preaching against the practise and bringing it to the attention of the king to step in and correct. Solomon also sacrificed at the tabernacle (a thousand burnt offerings on one occasion).

God appeared to Solomon in a dream. God CAN use dreams even today, but the primary way a New Covenant believer gets revelation is through meditating on the Word. Dreams, however, can often get messages to us because we’re ignoring other avenues. ALL dreams should be tested against the Word. The Lord NEVER goes against the Word. This dream of Solomon’s was definitely a grace encounter. And God asked him, “What shall I give you?” (vs 5). God is a BLESSER. He WANTS to bless us. It wasn’t a question of whether God was going to give Solomon things. The question is what Solomon wanted outside of his needs. We have the same question before us today (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:8,32-33).

Solomon has a very humble attitude. He acknowledges God’s blessing on David and David’s family. Solomon asks for political wisdom. The wisdom to judge. That is NOT a bad thing, but it is a little shortsighted. Not sure if I would do better in the same situation, but his request for understanding is limited to leadership of the nation alone. God was pleased. Not for his shortsightedness, but because he had asked for something to help others and not mere pleasures or things (James 4:3). Solomon had right motives in his asking. God grants him his request and also says He will bless him with what he didn’t ask for as well. We serve a GENEROUS God. God also gives him a promise: IF Solomon will walk in God’s ways and keep His commandments, THEN God would lengthen his days. Spoiler: Solomon didn’t. Solomon woke up and worshipped the Lord, making burnt and peace offerings. He also made a great feast for his servants.

Immediately, the evidence of his gift is apparent. Two whores come to see him to judge a matter. Whores were forbidden by the Law (Deuteronomy 23:17). But Solomon listened to them as equally as he would anyone else – wisdom. It was over a claim to a child and whether the living child belonged to one or the other. It’s a classic story and we all know it (1 Kings 3:16-28). Solomon offers to cut the child in two. One woman says no problem. The other weeps and says no, keep it alive, give it to her if you must, but let it live. Solomon knew this love for the child was the mark of its mother. He restored the child to its mother. Word spread. Solomon had wisdom to see into the hearts of problems.

“King Solomon was king over all Israel” (1 Kings 4:1)

Solomon reigned over all Israel and Judah throughout all the borders that David established. They are listed as being VERY numerous and full of joyful living – because there was peace and affluence in the kingdom.

Next we have a list of his officials and their role in his kingdom. This seems to either be a list from the very VERY beginning of his reign, or a list of those who filled these positions in the early days – but not necessarily ALL of the early days. In yesterday’s reading we saw that Abiathar was stripped of his priesthood and sent home. Today, he is on the list of priests to Solomon. Obviously, it was a list made BEFORE that banishment OR a list of everyone who held the position. Zadok and his children held the sole position of high priesthood in the kingdom of Solomon (1 Kings 2:26-27).

One of the systems Solomon had was a governor over each tribe of Israel, twelve in total. For one month of the year, they were responsible for the maintenance of Solomon’s household – the food and supplies. They were great men in their territories. Two of them became his sons-in-law. Two of them seem to be sons of Nathan the prophet who served David. There is a Shimei on the list, but it was NOT the one who cursed David and was put to death in yesterday’s reading.

This seems like a fine system, but it was taxation. These governors had to get this stuff from their territories. Thing is, it was a LOT of stuff. This was for his family, his court workers, and his guests. His family grew over the years to HUNDREDS of wives. Imagine the food. At this stage it has been estimated that the provision was for three thousand people (3,000). Think of the burden. No wonder the people were upset once Solomon’s household grew to be as big as it did (He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines. Only three offspring are mentioned in scripture though. One son and two daughters) – 1 Kings 12:1-14. They also paid for the feed of Solomon’s horses. Solomon had tens of thousands of horses, chariots, and men for them. He wasn’t supposed to (Deuteronomy 17:16).

God gave Solomon many gifts. Wisdom that he asked for and also great understanding and largeness of heart. Those are supernatural provision. Solomon was counted wiser than the wise men who came to Jesus. He spoke three thousand proverbs (a few hundred have survived) and one thousand songs (we have one). He studied trees, animals, birds, insects, and fish. He was a scientist and investigated the world around him. Science COMPLIMENTS the Word. True science (understanding what we see around us) does NOT put itself in opposition to the Word. Take evolution. Species HAVE to evolve because this broken world of ours is deteriorating. They aren’t ADVANCING through evolution. They are ADAPTING through evolution to survive fallen creation. Evolution is not how they came to be, but how they came to survive the changes to the world they once knew and thrived in.

Summary

Key Players: God, Solomon

Key Themes: Covenant, Wisdom, Political Alliance, Government

Key Verse(s): 1 Kings 3:1-5, 9, 28; 4:7, 27-28, 30-34