Don’t Forget God # 15 Lessons from the life of Solomon – Being a good or a bad theologian all depends on your understanding of God’s sovereignty

Our text is 1 Kings 1: 1 – 1 Kings 11: 43 – a summary of the life of Solomon 

Last time:  1 Kings 8: 1-11

Here is the lesson from: 1 Kings 8: 1-11

Our limited experience of God’s presence on the Earth is preparing us for the fullness of His presence in Heaven

Today: 1 Kings 8: 12-66

Solomon the theologian

12-21 (15) Solomon publicly praises the Lord

22-53 (23) Solomon publicly prays to the Lord

54-61 (55) Solomon publicly blesses the people

62-64 (62) Solomon publicly makes sacrifices to the Lord

65-66 (65) Solomon publicly celebrates the Festival of Shelters

In our text, 1 Kings 8: 12-66, Solomon publicly
Praises the Lord
Prays to the Lord
Blesses the people
Makes sacrifices to the Lord
And celebrates the Festival of Shelters

All of Solomon’s praises, prayers, blessings, sacrifices and celebrations are expressions of his Theology – his understanding of God

So, was Solomon a good theologian or was he a bad theologian?

What was his understanding of God?

The answer is in Solomon’s prayer 1 Kings 8: 53 ‘Sovereign Lord’

Solomon was a good theologian – he had a correct understanding of God

Solomon understood that God is Sovereign – that is, God is: Almighty, unrivalled and unlimited in His supreme authority and power over all things

Solomon understood that in God’s sovereignty – God: chooses, appoints, determines, predestines and governs all things according to His eternal plan and for His own eternal glory

Or, as the great Apostle Paul put it in Romans 11: 36 ‘For everything comes from Him and (everything) exists by His power and (everything) is intended for His glory’.

We know that Solomon’s theology was good because he wrote many times of God’s sovereignty – here are a few examples

God is sovereign in guiding our decisions in Life:

Proverbs 21: 1 ‘The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He guides it wherever he pleases’

God is sovereign over the direction of our Life:

Proverbs 19:21 ‘You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail’

God is sovereign over seemingly random outcomes in our Life:

Proverbs 16: 33 ‘We make our own decisions, but the Lord alone determines what happens’ CEV

God is sovereign over every ‘season’/stage/time of our Life:

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2 ‘For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die’.

Have you ever wondered why God exercises His sovereignty over Man (Mankind)?

If God were not sovereign over Man (Mankind), Life on Earth would be Hell on Earth!

Genesis 6:5 ‘The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and He saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.

In fact, Solomon said this: Ecclesiastes 9: 3 ‘twisted by evil, people choose their own mad course’ CSB

Now, have you ever thought about this: every Christian is a theologian – we all have our own understanding of God

The question is: are you a good theologian or are you a bad theologian?

Here is the lesson from: 1 Kings 8: 12-66

Being a good or a bad theologian all depends on your understanding of God’s sovereignty

The good news is: our theology can change – for the better!

True Life Example:

In the early 90’s God ‘raised up’ an incredibly talented songwriter by the name of Geoff Bullock/one of his very famous worship songs was called ‘Lord, I come to You’

Words on screen:

In the mid-late 90’s Geoff went through a major crisis in his life that forced him to examine his theology – his understanding of God’s sovereignty

As the Lord healed and restored him, Geoff re-wrote the first line of that famous worship song from ‘Lord, I come You’, to, ‘Lord, You come to me’

That small change to the first line is good theology!

Ephesians 2: 8 ‘It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!’

Dear friends, God is sovereign and when you understand this, you too, like Solomon, will fall on your knees in worship before Him and declare that in His sovereignty, we, are His own ‘special possession’

1 Kings 8: 53

And, we are His to do whatever He wants with our lives

Solomon was a good theologian and that’s why for Solomon to forget God was without excuse – what a tragedy!

1 Kings 11: 33 ‘Solomon has abandoned Me’

As we close today: Let’s humble ourselves today and worship the Sovereign Lord

COME TO JESUS WHEN DISCOURANGEMENT COMES

Guest Contributor: Pastor Terrense Barbero

Discouragement: a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; a feeling of being less confident or less hopeful

Example #1: The Jews – when God was rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians.
1. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Ex. 3:10-11
10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
2. Israelite foremen were so discouraged when Moses and Aaron spoke to Pharaoh, to release them from the hands of Pharaoh. But instead of releasing them, Pharaoh gave them a harder time. Ex. 5:22
22 Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? 23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!”
3. Israelites were too discouraged with the hardship that they experienced brutality, pain, hardship and pain. In Ex. 5: 6- 9
6 “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. 8 I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’”
9 So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

4. When the Egyptians pursued the Israelites, when they are crossing the Red Sea. They were discouraged, and blamed Moses, and thought of going back to Egypt. Ex. 14:13-14

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Question:
Have you ever had a problem in the past that was never resolved?
1 Corinthians 15:10 
 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

1 Corinthians 1:8 
He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

Application: God will sustain us, even in our deepest situation. As long as we keep our eyes on Him.

Example #2: Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem

Read Nehemiah 1: 1 – 10

Chapter 1. – The prayer of Nehemiah

3 They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”
4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Chapter 2. – The Favor from the King

V6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request. Then he went to Jerusalem to inspect the wall and talked to the officials

Chapter 3. – Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem
Mainly from verse 1 – 32 is all about building the project. Many people are coming from other places to help and devote their time and resources in building the wall.

Chapter 4 – Enemies oppose the rebuilding

2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”

4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of[c] the builders.”
6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.

Sometimes, we feel discouraged when we don’t get what the desires of our heart.
Why do people get discouraged?
We compare ourselves to another people’s situation.

We look back with our past mistakes.

We are ungrateful of what we have.
The more we satisfy ourselves, the more we get unsatisfied.
We don’t appreciate life.
Marriage, Job, Studies, Friends, Ministry

We see the hardship but not the blessings. We are so ungrateful!
Overcoming discouragements:
Pray!

Psalm 34:17-19
1 7 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
he Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

Humble yourself to God and seek His will in every aspect of our lives.
Psalm 69:32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.

Take the courage of God.
Isaiah 41:10
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Romans 8:31
Do not rely on your understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.
NOTHING COULD EVER SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD
Romans 8:31 
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
In conclusion:
1 Peter 1:6-9
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls

Don’t Forget God # 14 Lessons from the life of Solomon – Our limited experience of God’s presence on the Earth is preparing us for the fullness of His presence in Heaven

Our text is 1 Kings 1: 1 – 1 Kings 11: 43 – a summary of the life of Solomon

Last time:

1 Kings 7: 1-12 Solomon’s Palace Complex

1 Kings 7: 13-47 The furnishings OUTSIDE the Temple

1 Kings 7: 48-51 The furnishings INSIDE the Temple

Here is the lesson from: 1 Kings 7: 13-51

God requires us to be pure and holy before we come into His presence to worship Him

Today: 1 Kings 8: 1-11

God’s presence indwells the Temple

1-2 After the Temple construction was completed Solomon called the elders and the leaders of Israel’s ancestral tribes to join with the priests in bringing the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to its new location in the Temple

the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant had been temporarily located in the ‘sacred tent’ that King David had made for it in Zion, the City of David
1 Kings 1: 39, 50 1 Kings 2: 28, 30, 34

This event was scheduled for the ‘Festival of Shelters’ – also called the Feast of Tabernacles

(The Feast of Tabernacles is still celebrated in Israel today)

The ‘Festival of Shelters’ was celebrated every year and commemorated Israel’s 40-year journey out of Egypt’s captivity to their new ‘home’ in the Promised Land
Leviticus 23: 33-39 Numbers 29: 12 Deuteronomy 16: 13, 16:16, 31: 10

On their journey, at night, the people would set up their ‘shelter’/tent/tabernacle for sleeping, warmth and safety

Throughout their 40-year journey in the wilderness the presence of God would go with the people, as a pillar of cloud by day and as a pillar of fire by night
Exodus 13: 21

3-5 The Ark, the temporary ‘sacred tent’ and its furnishings were brought up to the Temple where Solomon and the people of God made sacrifices to God too many to count

6 The priests then carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant into the ‘inner sanctuary’ of the Temple and located it between the wings of the golden cherubim

7-8 The comment ‘They (the poles for carrying the Ark) are still there to this day’ tells us that 1 Kings was authored between about 931 BC and 586 BC BEFORE the destruction of the Temple

9 Contained inside the Ark were the 2 stone tablets upon which were written the 10 Commandments that God gave to His people, through Moses, on Mt. Sinai soon after their exodus from Egypt

The 10 Commandments were also called the Covenant
Exodus 20: 1-17

And begins Exodus 20: 1 ‘Then God gave the people these instructions’

Many Christians think that the term ‘covenant’ is the same as agreement

No – An agreement are the terms negotiated by 2 or more parties

Example: Marriage Agreement. ‘We both agree to be faithful to each other in this marriage – if one of us is unfaithful, the marriage is finished’

A covenant is different. There is no negotiation between 2 parties in a covenant; one party decides the terms

Exodus 19:5 ‘Now if you will obey Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to Me’.

And, of course, we know that Solomon disobeyed God and was unfaithful to the Covenant

Solomon forgot God and broke the very first Commandment – Exodus 12: 3 ‘You must not have any other god but Me’

1 Kings 11: 4

10-11 ‘the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple’

Here’s the lesson from 1 Kings 8: 1-11

Our limited experience of God’s presence on the Earth is preparing us for the fullness of His presence in Heaven

On Earth, our experience of God’s presence is limited

1/ Graphic: Moses tabernacle in the wilderness

Exodus 13:21 ‘The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night’

2/ Graphic: Solomon’s Temple

1 Kings 8: 11 ‘the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord’

3/ Graphic: The Church throughout the Earth

1 Corinthians 3: 16 ‘Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?’

Only in Heaven will we experience the fullness of God’s presence and glory

Hebrews 8:2 ‘There He (Jesus) ministers in the Heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands’

Hebrews 10:19 ‘And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter Heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus’.

Wow! What an incredible thought – there is a day coming when we all shall enter Heaven’s Most Holy Place, and there, we will experience the fullness of God’s presence

Don’t Forget God # 13 Lessons from the life of Solomon – God requires us to be pure and holy before we come into His presence to worship Him

Our text is 1 Kings 1: 1 – 1 Kings 11: 43 – a summary of the life of Solomon

Last time: 1 Kings 6: 15-38

The location and history of Solomon’s Temple

A description of the Temple design

Here are the lesson from: 1 Kings 6: 15-38

God is more concerned about the inner condition of our ‘heart’, our ‘heart’ for Him, than our external ‘appearance’/our Christian ‘performance’

Today: 1 Kings 7: 1-12

Solomon’s Palace Complex

1 The Author of 1 Kings now describes the Palace Complex that Solomon built for himself

Graphic: Solomon’s Palace Complex

2-5 describes the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon which was at least 2 times larger than Solomon’s Temple and may have been used to store weapons
1 Kings 10: 17

6 Next to Palace of the Forest of Lebanon was the Hall of Pillars which may have been used as a waiting room for people who wanted to meet the King

7 Next to the Hall of Pillars was Solomon’s Throne Room which was also called the Hall of Justice where Solomon would judge legal cases that were brought to him 1 Kings 3: 16-28

8 Next to the Throne Room was Solomon’s private living area and the private living area for his favorite wife, Pharaoh’s daughter

9-12 Then, the Author of 1 Kings describes the building materials used to construct Solomon’s Palace Complex

Solomon’s Palace Complex was built close to the Temple

Graphic: The Temple and Solomon’s Palace Complex proximity

Nothing remains today of Solomon’s Palace Complex

1 Kings 7: 13-47

The furnishings OUTSIDE the Temple

13-14 Huram, a skilled craftsman from Tyre in Lebanon, was asked by King Solomon to come to Jerusalem to do all the metal work for Solomon’s Temple

Graphic: Map of Tyre in Lebanon

15-22 2 bronze pillars were made for the entrance of the Temple

Graphic: ‘Jakin’ = God establishes & ‘Boaz’ = In God is strength

The 2 pillars were a reminder to the people of Israel that God would bless them if they remained faithful to Him in worship

23-26 A great round bronze basin was made, and contained about 4, 200 liters of water, and sat upon 12 bronze oxen

27-38 Huram also made 10 bronze water carts with basins

39 The great round bronze basin and the 10 bronze water carts with basins were located in the Temple Courtyard

40a Other basins, shovels and bowls were also made

40b-47 is a summary of all the furnishings OUTSIDE the Temple

1 Kings 7: 48-51

The furnishings INSIDE the Temple

48-50 the pure gold altar, the pure gold table for the ‘bread of the presence’, 10 pure gold lampstands and other smaller pure gold furnishings

Graphic: All of these were made and put in the Holy Place

51 When Solomon had finished the Temple he brought in all the gifts his father King David had made for the Temple and stored them in the side rooms
2 Samuel 8: 11, 1 Chronicles 22: 14, 29: 1-9

Here’s the lesson from 1 Kings 7: 13-51

God requires us to be pure and holy before we come into His presence to worship Him

Notice: the Author of 1 Kings describes the furnishings of the Temple from the OUTSIDE to the INSIDE

Graphic: The Temple cut-away OUTSIDE to INSIDE (direction arrow)

OUTSIDE, everything was made of bronze

OUTSIDE, sacrifices to God were made for the forgiveness of sins

INSIDE, everything was covered in pure gold

INSIDE, God was worshipped

Dear friends, before we can enter into the presence of God to worship Him, we must first confess our sins to God, repent of our sins and live holy lives

Only then will our worship be acceptable to God

INSIDE the Temple, the Most Holy Place where the presence of God dwelt, was also called the ‘inner sanctuary’
1 Kings 6:16, 19, 20, 23, 27, 29, 31, 1 Kings 8: 6

Graphic: Most Holy Place/‘inner sanctuary’

Now: Listen to the Word of God

Psalm 15: 1-2a ‘Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence…?’

1 Peter 2: 4a-5b 4 ‘You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple…through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God’.