THE LIFE OF KING SOLOMON

 

THE LIFE OF SOLOMON - Text: 1 Kings 3:5–15

King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and also one of the most foolish. God gifted him with unsurpassed wisdom, which Solomon squandered by disobeying God's commandments. Some of Solomon’s most famous achievements were his building projects, particularly the temple in Jerusalem.

King Solomon Biography

Solomon was the third king over Israel.

Solomon ruled with wisdom over Israel for 40 years, securing stability through treaties with foreign powers.

He is celebrated for his wisdom and for building the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.

Solomon wrote much of the book of Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, the book of Ecclesiastes, and two psalms.

Application and Lessons

Ø  Each should understand more about the life of Solomon and the lessons we learn from that life.

Ø  To exhort each listener to learn from Solomon’s successes and failures.

Ø  We learn from the life of Solomon: 1) In all your getting, get wisdom, 2) Marriage is important, but God always comes first.  3) Earthly things cannot satisfy.

1. SOLOMON ASK FOR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

Perhaps the story that we are most familiar with in Solomon’s life is that of his asking for wisdom from God. This is found in 1 Kings 3:5-11.

As a result of this request, God granted Solomon’s prayer for wisdom and also gave Solomon power, wealth, and prosperity. There was nothing which Solomon lacked.

Book of Proverbs Emphasis the Importance of Wisdom

1) The word wisdom is used some 53 times in the book.

2) The purpose of the book was to impart wisdom -  (Proverbs 1:2-7).

3) In the book, we see wisdom personified (Proverbs 1:20-33).

4) The person who has wisdom is happy. (Proverbs 3:13) - “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

5) Among all the things that we “get” in this life, wisdom should be among them.

Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

6) Wisdom begins with proper respect for God.

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

7) Wisdom is more valuable than the most precious substances on earth.

Proverbs 16:16 “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!”

2. GOD COMES FIRST IN MARRIAGE

Nehemiah 13:26
Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations, there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. (NIV)

In the area of marriage, Solomon had great successes and great failures.

1.  Solomon succeeded in marriage in that God inspired Solomon to communicate the joy and love of a good marriage in the Song of Solomon.

2.  Solomon failed, however, in that he chose to allow his marriage partners to influence his relationship with God.

SOLOMON’S WEAKNESS

To satisfy his curious mind, Solomon turned to worldly pleasures instead of the pursuit of God. He collected all sorts of treasures and surrounded himself with luxury.

In the case of his non-Jewish wives and concubines, Solomon allowed lust to rule his heart instead of obedience to God. Apparently, he let his foreign wives worship their native gods and even had altars to those gods built in Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:7–8).

Solomon taxed his subjects heavily, conscripted them into his army and into slave-like labour for his building projects.

Ø  Solomon's downfall began when he married the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh to seal a political alliance. He could not control his lust. Among Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines were many foreigners, which angered God. The inevitable happened: They lured King Solomon away from Yahweh into the worship of false gods and idols.

SOLOMON’S  STRENGTH

 King Solomon greatest strength was his unsurpassed wisdom, granted to him by God.  King Solomon skills in architecture and management turned Israel into the showplace of the Middle East. As a diplomat, he made treaties and alliances that brought peace to his kingdom.

Ø  The Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon she came to Jerusalem and when she heard and seen the wisdom of Solomon, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the servants and waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers and the entry house to the house of the Lord – when she left - there was no more spirit in her.  Wow!

 

3. EARTHLY WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS CANNOT SATISFY

1) Wealth (1 Kings 10:10-25) Silver was made as common as stones (vs.27).

2) Power (1400 chariots 1200 horsemen 1 Kings 10:26)

3) Relationships (700 wives, 300 concubines, 1 Kings 11:3)

4) Peace (1 Kings 4:24 “For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river,  … and he had peace on all sides round about him.”)

5) Solomon truly “had it all.”

SOLOMON CONCLUSION

Solomon concluded that all that was worldly was mere vanity.

A) Ecc.1:2 “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

B) Ecc.1:12-14 ” I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”

Ø  Solomon thought that his own wisdom could save him, but this was vanity (Ecc.1:16-18).

Ø  Solomon thought that he could satisfy his life with pleasure and mirth, but this was vanity (Ecc.2:1, 2).

Ø  Solomon gave himself to wine and food, but this was vanity (Ecc.2:3).

Ø  He built houses, vineyards, servants—vanity.

 

OUR LIFE IS TO FEAR GOD

C) In regard to riches and wealth, he wrote, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” (Ecc.5:10).

D) In essence Solomon is saying to us, “I’ve done it all and there is only one thing that is constant and upon which you can depend your entire life.” “Fear God and keep his commandments….” (Ecc.12:13).

LIFE LESSONS

King Solomon's sins speak loudly to us in our current day materialistic culture. When we worship possessions and fame over God, we are headed for a fall. When Christians marry an unbeliever, they can also expect trouble. God ought to be our first love, and we should let nothing come before him.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father we pray and ask for your divine wisdom of God to come upon us to lead us in all our ways and directions for life.  We pray for your heavenly wisdom from above.  We pray for our marriage life that we will keep it pure for your glory. Help us to flee from worldly pleasure.  We pray that riches and wealth will not be our No.1 priority in life and that we will not worship possession and wealth but only You Jesus the only God of all gods.  In Jesus Name, Amen!

BENEDICTION

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

(Heb. 13:20-21)

THE MINISTRY OF GIDEON

 THE MINISTRY OF GIDEON THE JUDGE

In the midst of distress caused by the Midianites, God raised up a judge by the name of Gideon to deliver the children of Israel from their enemies.  Just as every judge was a type of the person and ministry of Christ, Gideon portrayed our Lord Jesus in many interesting ways.

1.   GIDEON WAS A MAN WITH HIDDEN RESOURCES

At a time when Israel was in want of food because they had lost their possessions and sustenance, Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in the wine press:

Judges 6:11

11 Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.

2. AS JEHOVAH WAS WITH JESUS, HE WAS ALSO WITH GIDEON                     

Judges 6:12

^“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!”

The same can be said of Jesus for He went everywhere doing good and performing miracles because God was with Him.

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM.

3. LIKE JESUS, GIDEON HAD A SPECIFIC CALLING RIGHT AT THE START OF HIS MINISTRY

Judges 6:14

14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”

Jesus had a similar calling in His life. Even before His birth, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him that the child which was conceived in Mary was of the Holy Spirit. The angel then said that Jesus would be the Saviour

Matthew 1:21 - “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS; FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.

4. LIKE JESUS, GIDEON WAS COMMISSIONED AND SENT OUT BY JEHOVAH GOD.

Judges 6:14

¹⁴ Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”

Jesus was also commissioned and sent out by His Father.  Listen to His words as He came and stood before His disciples after His resurrection.

John 20:21

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, even so sent I you.”

5. LIKE JESUS, GIDEON RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO GOD’S CALLING

Gideon became a willing vessel upon confirming the will of God through the signs he asked from God. 

Jesus also became a willing vessel when he knew from the scriptures the will of God for Him. – See Hebrews 10:5-7

5. Christ’s Death Fullfills God’s Will

Hebrews 10:5-7

⁵ Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come  In the volume of the book it is written of Me - To do Your will, O God.’ ”

6. LIKE JESUS, GIDEON HAD A VERY HUMBLE BEGINNING

He came from a very poor family. In fact, he was the least in the household which belonged to the weakest clan in Manasseh.  Being humble, God exalted him:

Judges 6:15

¹⁵ So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

6a. JESUS  HUMBLE  UPBRINGING

What about Jesus? What does the Bible say concerning His upbringing? Jesus, like Gideon, also come from a humble background. Mary and Joseph were not rich. Mary dedicated to God a song that she was poor.  See  Luke 1:46-48

6b. THE SONG OF MARY - Luke 1:46-48

⁴⁶ And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
⁴⁸ For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

7. BOTH GIDEON AND JESUS WERE CONSUMED BY THE ZEAL OF THE LORD

When Gideon saw the idolatry in the land, the spirit within him was grieved. Acting in obedience to the Lord, he took ten men from among his servants and by night destroyed the altar of Baal.

                        Judges 6:27-28

 27 So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the Lord had said to him. But because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do it by day, he did it by night.

           Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal, torn down; and the wooden image that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar which had been built.

7. ZEAL OF GOD’S HOUSE

The zeal for God’s house also consumed Jesus.

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the Passover.  On one occasion when He found the people in the temple selling oxen, sheep and doves, and the money-changers doing business, He made a whip out of cords and drove them all away.   - John 2:13-17

8. GIDEON CHOSE THOSE WORTHY TO BE IN THE ARMY OF GOD

In the choosing of men, Gideon started off with 32,000 people but the Lord instructed him to reduce the number of men lest Israel should claim glory for herself when God grants them victory. Those fearful and afraid were sent home and Gideon was left with ten thousand.

Judges 7:2,3

2 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousands of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

8. GOD CALLED GIDEON TO REDUCE THE ARMY TO 300 MEN -  Judges 7:4-7

⁴ But the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.” ⁵ So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” ⁶ And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. ⁷ Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.

8. JESUS CHOSE THOSE WORTHY TO BE HIS DISCIPLES

The bible says many are called few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). Among the called and chosen, we find another group who are faithful. (Rev. 17:14). 

Jesus had 70 disciples that He sent out two by two into every city and place. 

The Seventy Sent Out – Luke 10:1

“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.”

8. JESUS CHOSE 70, 12, 3 DISCIPLES

And among the 70, Jesus chose 12 of them, called the Twelve Apostles

John 6:70 – Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

And among the 12, there were 3 – Peter, James and John that formed the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples.

So Gideon had his 32,000, 10,000 and 300 men. In Jesus case, they were 70, 12 and 3 disciples.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GIDEON

1. Gideon served as the fifth major judge over Israel.

2. He destroyed an altar to the pagan god Baal, earning him the name Jerub-Baal, meaning contender with Baal.

3. Gideon united the Israelites against their common enemies and through God's power, defeated them.

4. Gideon is listed in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11.

5. Gideon was called, chosen and faithful to the work of God and delivered Israelites from bondage.

 

GIDEON’S LIFE LESSONS

a) Gideon’s Strengths

•      Even though Gideon was slow to believe, once convinced of God's power, he was a loyal follower who obeyed the Lord's instructions.

•      Gideon was a natural leader of men.

b) Gideon’s Weaknesses

•      In the beginning, Gideon's faith was weak and needed proof from God.

•      He showed great doubt toward the Rescuer of Israel.

•      Gideon made an ephod from Midianite’s gold, which became an idol to his people.

•      He also took a foreigner for a concubine, fathering a son who turned evil.

c) Life Lessons from Gideon

•      God can accomplish great things through us if we forget our weaknesses, trust in the Lord, and follow his guidance.

•      "Putting out a fleece," or testing God, is a sign of weak faith. 

•       Sin always has bad consequences.

 

PRAYER

Lord, I thank you for choosing me to fulfil your purpose in the earth. Please help me focus on you instead of my limitations, because if you have called me then you have already made the provision and you will equip me for success. My confidence will rest in the promise that “The Lord is with me”. Thank you for seeing beyond my weaknesses and limitations, and may I never forget that you are El-Shaddai, the Almighty God.

Lord, my prayer is that I will respond to your instructions with faith instead of uncertainty and disbelief. I know sometimes doubt creeps in, but Lord help me overcome my unbelief! Even in moments of weakness and doubt, it is such a joy to know I am not rejected by you. Abba Father, I am beyond grateful for your goodness towards me.

Lord, please help me to follow your instructions even if they seem foolish. In the same way you told Gideon to reduce the army to 300 men even though he was facing an army of thousands, help me walk in obedience to you and trust you with what little you have given me.

In Jesus Name, Amen.