God’s Covenant and Israel’s Sin

MEMORY SELECTION: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” —Exodus 20:3

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I Kings 11:4-13

WHEN Solomon was anointed king he was humble and he honestly desired to emulate his father David in faithfulness to the Lord. In I Kings 3:3 we read, “And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father.” Then in verse 5 we are told that the Lord came to Solomon and asked what the king would have. Solomon’s answer revealed a heart completely dedicated to the service of the Lord and his people.

The request that Solomon made of the Lord is recorded in verses 6-9: “And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. … Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”

The honesty and humility of Solomon’s request pleased the Lord, and he granted it, saying, “Lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.” (vs. 12) Then, also, because of Solomon’s selfless request, the Lord granted him those material things he did not ask for—both riches and honor. And the Lord concluded his promise to Solomon with these words, “And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.”—vs. 14

For many years Solomon was faithful and obedient to the Lord and his covenant. He ruled wisely and his fame spread far and wide. (I Kings 10:23,24) He built the Temple, using the materials David had collected during his reign. The beautiful prayer that Solomon offered to the Lord at the time of the dedication of the Temple is recorded in I Kings 8:12-61.

But in time the power and glory of Solomon’s office began to have an adverse effect upon his heart and mind. In I Kings 11:1,2 we read: “But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon slave unto these in love.” In verses 10 and 11 we read: “And [God] commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.”

Solomon’s experience was illustrative of the sin that so easily beset the nation of Israel. They became involved in idol worship in the same way that Solomon did—by association with their idolatrous neighbors. The Apostle Paul, in I Corinthians 10:6, tells us that the experience of the nation of Israel was an ensample to us, and he admonishes us that we should flee from idols. In I Cor. 10:6,7,14 we read, “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” Not that we would worship idols of wood or stone, but anything that takes the place of God in our hearts becomes an idol and a stumbling block in our Christian walk.

| Home Page | Table of Contents |