SCRIPTURE: 1 KINGS 9
THE LORD APPEARS TO SOLOMON (vs. 1-9)
The Lord appeared to Solomon a second time and gave him this message: “I have heard your prayer and consecrated this temple. My eyes and heart will always be there. If you walk in uprightness and observe my laws and commands, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever. But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go to serve other gods and worship them, then i will cut off Israel from the land and will reject this temple. I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say. ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land to this temple” People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them – that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them” (vs. 4-9)
SOLOMON’S OTHER ACTIVITIES (vs. 10-28)
At the end of 20 years, king Solomon gave 20 towns in Galilee to Hiram, king of Tyre and he was not pleased with them. He called them the Land of Cabul. All the people from the Amorites, Hitites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites – were being made as Solomon’s slave labor force. But Israelites were Solomon’s fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, the commanders of his chariots and charioteers and chief officials in charge of Solomon’s projects. Solomon sacrificed burnt official and fellowship offerings three times a year to fulfill the temple obligation. He also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. And Hiram sent his men – sailors who knew the sea – to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s men. They sailed to Ophir and brought back 420 talents of gold, which they delivered to king Solomon.
THOUGHTS:
God reaffirmed his covenant with David and reminded Solomon of his responsibility to keep his heart with all diligence and walk in obedience to His Word. If Solomon and his children disobeyed, God would withdraw His blessings and take the people off from the good land. The same principle applies to us. Obedience leads to blessings while disobedience leads to chastening.
SOLOMON MADE DANGEROUS ALLIANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:
- Hiram – He depended on Hiram for wood and skilled workmen and borrow from Hiram money by giving 20 cities of Galilee as security. Such alliance with heathen nation was prohibited by the Lord. (vs. 10-14)
- Egypt – He married the daughter of Pharaoh with political motive. He set a bad example for his nation and involved the people in the affairs of the heathen nation. (vs. 15-24)