CROWNED | 1 Kings Chapter 9

PODCAST

Week 1 / Day 9

INTRODUCTION

In today’s passage, you are going to read a quick recap of several of Solomon’s accomplishments from his early to middle reign, including several building projects.  Most of the names mentioned are readily recognized as cities, such as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.  However, there is one that stands out as different:  The Millo.  Why is this name preceded by the article adjective “the”?  Because the Millo is not a city but rather a thing.  It is debated as to what exactly this “thing” is, but most historians agree it was likely either the name of “a prominent fortress near the temple and the palace” or the “architectural terracing and buttressing along the northeastern slope of the east hill in Jerusalem.*”

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READ

Now, take a few minutes to read 1 Kings 9, highlighting the verses that jump out at you and making note of all the Lord speaks to you.

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REFLECT

When it comes to scripture, there are moments when a decent span of time takes place between the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another, and even between a single verse and the next!  For instance, the gap between Genesis 11 and Genesis 12 spans roughly 50-70 years, and the time between Exodus 1:7 and Exodus 1:8 is 300-400 years!  However, the gap between the end of 1 Kings 8 and the beginning of 1 Kings 9 is not one of those times, as 1 Kings 9:1-2 make it clear in saying:

“As soon as Solomon finished building the house of the Lord and the king’s house and all that Solomon declared to build, the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time…” (ESV)

If you remember, it was in 1 Kings 3 that the Lord appeared to Solomon the first time, shortly after he was crowned king, in response to Solomon’s prayer for divine wisdom that he might lead the Israelites well, to which the Lord responded:

“I will give you what you asked for!  I will give you a wise and understanding heart, such as no one else has had or ever will have.  And I will also give you what you did not ask for - riches and fame!  No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life.  And if you will follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”  1 Kings 3:12-14 (NLT)

The past few chapters have made it clear that the Lord definitely held up His end of the bargain, as Solomon has just completed a lot of grand projects!  The Temple has been built and furnished, Solomon’s palace has been built, the Ark of the Covenant has been placed in its new and permanent home, and a new home has been built for Pharaoh’s daughter, just to name a few.  The kingdom is thriving and wealthy, and Solomon’s name is definitely a famous one among the nations!  

So from the outside looking in, Solomon is KILLING IT at this whole being king and leading a nation thing!  Everyone and everything is thriving!  However, upon the completion of Solomon’s lengthy agenda, the Lord shows up, not to congratulate Solomon on a job well done but rather to remind Him AGAIN of the covenant promise made.  Let’s reread a portion of that covenant reminder together.  1 Kings 9:3 -5a says:

“I have heard your prayer and your petition.  I have set this Temple apart to be holy - this place you have built where my name will be honored forever.  I will watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.  As for you, if you will follow Me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all My commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever.” (NLT)

It’s interesting that this reminder comes, again, on the heels of a prayer prayed by Solomon.  The account in 1 Kings 3 was in response to Solomon’s prayer for wisdom, and the one in chapter 9 is in response to Solomon’s prayer of dedication over the newly built temple, which we read about in chapter 8.  But it’s important to note that not only is the Lord faithful to answer both of Solomon’s prayers, He is also consistent in His response: I was faithful to your father, David, just as he was faithful to Me.  And now, I have been and will continue to be faithful to you, as long as YOU remain faithful to Me!

When reading scripture, EVERYTHING you read is important, but if you ever come across something that is repeated more than once, it’s important to take a pause and ask why!  And here we not only have the Lord repeating Himself verbally but actually APPEARING to Solomon to deliver the message…twice!!!  So there are clearly some lessons to be learned and warnings to heed here!

One important lesson we can learn is that though your parents (or your friend, co-worker, or Pastor) can introduce you to Jesus, they can’t follow Him for you.  For faith isn’t inherited, it’s embraced, and though we may stand on the shoulders of those who taught us about God, we must stand before God on our own faith.  

Time and time again, the Lord is reminding Solomon that this grand kingdom he has the honor of ruling is there, not because of all SOLOMON himself has accomplished, but is an overflow of the Lord’s faithfulness to his father, David’s, obedience.  And if Solomon wants to continue to reap the blessing and favor of the Lord, he too must remain faithfully obedient to the Lord’s leading.  

Another important lesson we can learn from this passage is that we can’t accomplish His plan with our blueprints.  That’s why the Lord says time and time again, “IF you follow Me…THEN I will…”  This isn’t the Lord dangling a carrot in front of us in an attempt to get us to do His bidding.  This is Him handing us a blueprint and saying, “Follow these instructions, and this will be the result!”  Far too often, we think life would be easier if God would just sign off on our perfectly drawn up plans; however, when we try to fit God’s will into our plans, only frustration follows because our blueprints are limited by what we can see, but God’s plans are built on what He knows!  

So though “the temple is an architectural and spiritual marvel, it is not an unconditional guarantee of divine blessing.**”  That fulfillment of covenantal agreement comes when we:

1. Follow Him fully for ourselves, not “riding on the coattails” of our spiritual mothers and fathers.

2. Cease creating our own blueprints and begin trusting Him with His.

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RESPOND

1. In what areas of your life are you relying more on someone else’s faith than cultivating your own relationship with God?  What would it look like to personally pursue Him with greater intentionality?

2. Solomon had experienced God’s blessing, favor, and faithfulness firsthand, yet God still called him to ongoing obedience.  How have past victories, accomplishments, or spiritual experiences tempted you to become complacent in your walk with God?

3. The Lord repeatedly reminded Solomon that continued blessing was connected to continued faithfulness, not completed projects.  What is one area where God may be calling you to renewed obedience, integrity, or surrender today?

4. It is often easier for us to ask God to endorse our plans than to trust His.  What “blueprints” have you been asking God to bless instead of surrendering to (and trusting fully) His plans?