Today, we begin 1st Kings Chapter 9.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE.
For the King James Version, click HERE.
Alrighty, so the opening verses of 1st Kings Chapter 9 take place a whopping 13 years after the Temple dedication ceremony we spent an entire month studying in Chapter 8.
How do we know this?
Because of this verse in 1st Kings Chapter 7:
“Now Solomon was building
his own house thirteen years,
and he finished all his house.”
– 1 Kings 7:1
1st Kings Chapter 6 tells us that the Temple took seven years to complete.
Then Chapter 7 tells us that Solomon spent another 13 years building his palace.
So by the time we get to Chapter 9, we’re looking at roughly 13 years after the Temple was completed.
Now, as the Lord did near the start of Solomon’s reign at Gibeon, He visited the king in a dream.
Solomon was probably in Jerusalem when God appeared to him, since there was no longer any reason for him to be in Gibeon.
In other words, the Tabernacle and the Priesthood had moved to Jerusalem.
Now, there are some interesting connections we can make between this 2nd visitation from the Lord and the 1st one.
When the Lord first asked Solomon what he wanted from Him, Solomon asked for wisdom to rule.
The Lord was so pleased with Solomon’s request that not only did He grant his request…
He also gave Solomon tremendous wealth.
Something he never even asked for.
And Chapter 9 opens AFTER Solomon had become incredibly wealthy and powerful.
We’re told Solomon built a palace so luxurious that it drew rulers from other nations to Jerusalem to see it.
The Rabbis make an interesting point here.
The Temple and Solomon’s palace served valid purposes.
But “everything else that his heart desired” shows Solomon built other projects simply for himself and his fame.
Again, notice the timing of God’s second visitation.
The Lord appeared to Solomon AFTER he had become extremely wealthy…
And AFTER he had prayed to God at the Temple dedication.
What takeaway can we extract from this timing?
Well, God kept His promise to Solomon.
He gave him the wisdom he asked for.
In addition, He gave him the wealth and fame he did NOT ask for.
But now, after 20 years of building, the Lord reappears with another message.
And the gist of that message is this:
Would Solomon REMAIN FAITHFUL to the God who had blessed him?
That’s what the rest of this chapter focuses on.
And that’s your lesson for today.
I’ve seen too many people, including myself, who are zealous in their obedience to the Lord.
But then something happens.
We get blessed.
We get comfortable.
And then, for some reason, that same diligence goes right out the proverbial window.
That’s what happened to David.
He was sitting back in his palace, chomping on Cheetos, while his soldiers were out on the battlefield.
He had become comfortable with the luxury and security surrounding him.
And then what happened soon afterward?
The whole sordid Bathsheba affair.
The point is…
It’s one thing to obey God when we’re struggling.
It’s another thing to keep obeying Him when life gets comfortable.
Ya feeling me here, homie?
Done.
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