1 Kings 8:54-61

 

It is not difficult to recognize what was important to Solomon,

Especially early in his life.

 

If Solomon learned nothing else from his father,

He learned that the presence of God was irreplaceable.

 

So when Solomon went to Gibeon, he sought God and found Him.

When Solomon started a project, it was for the purpose of the presence of God.

When Solomon finished the project, He prayed God’s continual presence.

 

This morning we continue to see how important

God’s presence was to Solomon.

 

Last week, as Solomon prayed, and told God

All that he hoped to receive from His glorious presence.

This morning, Solomon stops speaking to God and addresses the people.

 

(54-55) “When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven. And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:”

 

Before the crowd goes home, before the event is over,

Solomon wants the people to understand what he understands.

 

He wants the people to have a passion for God’s presence.

 

And so this morning, let’s get into this text and see

What Solomon would say to us about how to respond to God’s presence.

4 things:

#1 MAY GOD BE PRAISED

1 Kings 8:56

 

It is impossible to miss the first thing Solomon wants his people to do.

“Blessed be the LORD”

 

God has done an amazing thing for His people.

God has shown up in their midst.

Solomon wants to make sure they don’t fail to praise Him for it.

 

One of the worst crimes people commit against God

Is failing to praise Him with a heart of gratitude.

 

Well over 100 times the Bible reiterates

The importance of thankfulness to God.

Paul wrote:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

But we don’t always do such a thing.

 

Many times we resemble the lepers that Luke refers to.

Luke 17:12-19 “As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine — where are they? “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

 

Even Jesus sounds a little astonished

That there could be such an immediate lack of gratitude

On the part of someone who has just received so much.

 

And yet at times we show the same lack of gratitude.

We can be so consumed with getting everything we want,

That many times we fail to be grateful for all that we do have.

 

Solomon wanted to make sure that did not happen on this day in Israel.

 

Before the people did anything else,

He wanted to make sure that the people recognized

What God had done and praised Him for it.

 

“Blessed be the LORD”

 

WHY SPECIFICALLY?

“who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised: not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.”

 

Solomon wants to make sure the people realize what has just occurred.

There was a promise fulfilled on that day

That was nearly 500 years in the making.

 

God had promised “rest to His people Israel”.

 

Moses was going to lead them out of bondage,

And into a land of promise, and give them rest from their enemies.

It was a promise of God.

 

BUT IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING.

FIRST THE PEOPLE WOULDN’T ENTER THE PROMISED LAND.

Psalms 95:10-11 “For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways. “Therefore I swore in My anger, Truly they shall not enter into My rest.”

 

NEXT JOSHUA LED THEM IN, BUT THEY WOULDN’T CONQUER EVERYONE

Joshua 17:13 “ It came about when the sons of Israel became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.”

 

THEN CAME THE PERIOD OF DISOBEDIENCE UNDER THE JUDGES.

Judges 2:11-12 “Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger.”

 

THEN SAUL BECAME KING, BUT HIS FAITHULNESS WAIVERED, AND WAR CONTINUED.

 

DAVID FOLLOWED SAUL, BUT INHERITED A MESS. HE HAD MANY WARS TO FIGHT IN ORDER TO BRING PEACE TO ISRAEL.

 

BUT NOW, NEARLY 500 YEARS LATER,

ISRAEL WAS FINALLY IN HER LAND,

THE BORDER WAS SECURE, THE ENEMIES WERE CONQUERED,

AND GOD HAD MOVED IN TO THE TEMPLE.

 

When you recognize all the stubbornness of Israel,

You realize that Israel did not deserve to rest securely in the land.

 

Yet, God made a promise, and despite their obstinance,

On this day God fulfilled His word.

Solomon wants them to praise God for it.

 

And are we ever reminded of an important truth.

We all must realize that the only reason we are where we are

Is because of the mercy and faithfulness of God.

 

James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

 

Sometimes we live under a delusion that we have earned where we are, but nothing could be further from the truth.

 

We are where we are because God is faithful merciful toward us,

Even when we don’t deserve it.

 

And so do not forget to take time to praise God.

May God be Praised

#2 MAY GOD BE PRESENT

1 Kings 8:57-58

 

As Solomon begins this point,

It almost sounds like he is just making another request of God.

 

And in part he is.

(57) “May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us,”

 

Now understanding Israel’s history makes this request a gigantic one.

No doubt Solomon was impressed that God

Would continually dwell with his ancestors.

 

And we remember that stiff-necked people don’t we?

 

You can read the 78th Psalm and get a run down

On the continual disobedience of Israel.

 

But in the middle, we see God’s faithfulness.

Psalms 78:34-39 “When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not arouse all His wrath. Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes and does not return.”

 

God didn’t remain with Israel because they deserved it.

God remained because He was merciful and faithful.

 

Solomon prays for that same mercy and faithfulness for his day.

 

“May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us,”

 

In short He wants God to stick around.

 

But as I said, this passage is not addressed to God,

This passage is addressed to the people.

 

He wants them to realize that they need God to stick around,

Then he tells them why they should want God to always be present.

 

(58) “that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.”

DO YOU SEE WHY SOLOMON TOLD THE PEOPLE THEY NEEDED GOD TO STAY NEAR?

 

To help them with the large task of obedience.

 

And this is a huge concept.

 

We wake up so many days out of the year

And feel like we are in such control of things.

• We think our security is achieved because of our hard work…

• We think our comforts have been earned…

• We assume that how we live is up to us…

• And that we deserve the credit for the good things we do…

BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE

 

If God were not present in your life, you would have no good to speak of.

 

Must we all remember what we were without God in our lives?

Romans 3:10-18 “as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

 

Without God in our lives we are hopelessly wicked

Without any ability to do good at all.

 

Solomon wanted the people to know

That if God wasn’t in their midst, they couldn’t even be obedient.

 

(58) “that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers.”

 

Even our obedience is dependent upon the presence of God.

 

Jeremiah 31:33-34 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

 

Jeremiah 32:38-40 “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. “I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.”

 

Ezekiel 36:26-27 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”

 

That is why obedience has always been a fruit of salvation,

And never a means of salvation.

 

You cannot obey to get yourself saved,

But once you are truly saved,

God has given you the ability to obey, and you should.

 

This is in essence what Solomon wants.

He tells the people that God’s presence

Is absolutely essential to their ability to obey.

 

May God be Praised May God be Present

#3 MAY GOD BE PERSUADED

1 Kings 8:59-60

 

Solomon again reiterates the points of his prayer.

(59) “And may these words of mine, which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires,”

 

Remember the thrust of his prayer?

1 Kings 8:28-30 “Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. “Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.”

 

Solomon wanted God to listen to their prayers

So that His presence could bring about the appointed blessings of:

Justice, Redemption, Provision, Deliverance, Glory, Victory, and Mercy

 

And now Solomon is preaching to the people, and says,

May we all pray that God answers that prayer.

 

WHY?

(60) “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.”

 

Solomon is giving them a very important reminder.

We want God present, we need God present.

 

BUT REMEMBER THIS.

GOD’S PRESENCE AND THE GLORY OF IT,

IS NOT ABOUT YOU, IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM.

 

Last week we learned that the presence of God means glory.

The presence of God is in fact the only thing

That we have to offer to a lost and dying world.

 

But in saying that we must remember

We are not using God’s presence to attract people to us,

We are proclaiming God’s presence to glorify Him.

 

Sometimes if we are not careful

We can slip into this crazy notion that church is about us.

 

• WE’VE ALL SEEN PREACHERS that lost sight of the true calling and used their pulpits as a means to advance their own careers…

 

• WE’VE ALL SEEN SINGERS who used the churches stage as a springboard into the world’s music halls…

 

• WE’VE ALL SEEN CHURCH MEMBERS who use the church as a chance to get a little power and make some executive decisions, when they otherwise don’t get to decide anything in the world…

 

And sometimes if we aren’t careful we forget

That God does not place His presence in our lives

To use it as a marketing tool to further our own agendas.

 

GOD’S PRESENCE IS FOR GOD’S GLORY

 

This temple was not some worldly sightseeing attraction

That would generate extra tourist revenue in Israel.

 

This temple was about the presence of God,

And the presence of God was about God being glorified.

 

May God be persuaded to answer our prayers,

But don’t try to persuade Him for the wrong reasons.

 

May God be Praised May God be Present May God be Persuaded

#4 MAY YOU BE PERSISTENT

1 Kings 8:61

And finally we get to the punch of Solomon’s sermon.

For the first time, he actually charges the people to do something.

 

• Because God’s presence is an undeserved blessing…

• Because God’s presence is necessary for our obedience…

• Because God’s presence is how He glorifies Himself…

 

Then let us do whatever it takes to keep the presence of God in our midst.

 

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

HOW DO YOU KEEP GOD’S PRESENCE?

 

I know that seems like a strange question,

Since God has promised to never leave us,

But that does not mean we don’t seek the presence of God.

 

Paul told the Ephesians:

Ephesians 5:18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,”

 

BUT I THOUGHT WE ALREADY HAD THE SPIRIT?

 

The question is not how much of the Spirit you have,

But how much of you the Spirit has.

 

How much of you are you willing to let Him have.

 

David Allen said, “You are as close to Jesus as you want to be.”

 

The issue with God’s presence is not how close He will come to us,

But How close we will get to Him.

 

Even though God has promised not to leave,

Seeking the presence of God is still necessary in our lives.

 

God never left the church at Ephesus, but they had left their first love.

 

HOW DO I SECURE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN MY LIFE?

How can I make sure to always be close to Him?

 

And Solomon gives the answer.

“Let your heart be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

 

HOW DO YOU SECURE THE PRESENCE OF GOD?

Be “wholly devoted to the LORD”

 

In the deepest part of your heart, you must be committed to Him.

You have to love Him more than anything else…

You have to want Him more than anything else…

 

In your heart you have to be “wholly devoted to the LORD”

 

WELL I WANT TO BE, BUT HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM?

 

Solomon shows you what it looks like to be “wholly devoted”.

 

“to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

 

A WHOLLY DEVOTED HEART

REVEALS ITSELF IN A TOTALLY OBEDIENT LIFE.

 

AND OF COURSE WE KNOW THIS.

We are all familiar with the blunder of King Saul.

 

Samuel was late, and Saul broke the rules to offer the sacrifice for him.

When Samuel showed up he said:

1 Samuel 15:22-23 “Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.”

 

And if the Israelites were to keep God’s presence,

They needed to remember that.

 

THE TRAGEDY IS THAT ISRAEL WOULD FAIL TO LEARN THIS.

Before long, they forgot that what God wanted was a relationship,

And they took God’s presence for granted.

 

In fact, in just a few years, they got their theology all wrong.

Instead of being devoted to God, they assumed

That the presence of the temple secured the presence of God.

 

They thought God would never leave because they had the temple.

(Like building a building is enough to make God stay)

 

And that is why Jeremiah would call them back.

Jeremiah 7:1-11 “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!'” Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. “Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘ This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. “Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail. “Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’ — that you may do all these abominations? “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the LORD.”

 

They would come to miss the point that Solomon was preaching.

They knew God’s presence was beneficial,

But they completely lost sight of what secures it.

 

Temples trimmed in gold have never secured the presence of God,

Nor do buildings built of brick.

 

If you want God’s presence to be real in your life,

Then you personally must be “wholly devoted to the LORD”

 

GOD SHOWS UP WHEN HE IS REALLY WANTED

 

THIS MORNING, THE QUESTION IS SIMPLE.

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT GOD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE?

 

• Bad enough to lay aside the world?

• Bad enough to deny yourself?

• Bad enough to take up your cross and follow Jesus?

• Bad enough to alter your agenda?

• Bad enough to stop the busyness of life?

• Bad enough to spend time in His word?

• Bad enough to spend time on your knees?

 

God’s presence is necessary in life.

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT HIM?

 

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

 

1 Kings 8:22-53 (READ: 1 Kings 8:22-30)

 

As we have studied through the Kings,

Most recently we have been in the middle of the life of Solomon.

We have seen his passion

We have seen his petition

We have seen his project

 

And then last week we saw the project pay off

God showed up!

 

The importance of such a thing can be overstated.

And this morning I want to show you why.

 

This morning we look at “The Prayer of Solomon”

It is his immediate response to the presence of the glory of God.

 

As Solomon prays, we learn why he considered God’s presence

To be such a valuable thing.

 

So let’s listen to Solomon’s prayer this morning.

#1 ADORATION

1 Kings 8:22-24

 

Solomon begins this prayer in perfect fashion.

 

Look at his posture.

(22) “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.”

 

And his words match his posture.

(23) “He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath”

 

SOLOMON BEGINS HIS PRAYER WITH PRAISE.

 

Jesus taught:

Matthew 6:9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”

Solomon’s God was no dud.

Solomon took time to contemplate the God he was praying to.

 

We also notice why Solomon is praising God.

(READ VERSES 23-24)

 

SOLOMON IS PRAISING BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL

 

(23) “keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness”

(24)“ have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You have promised him;”

(24) “You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand”

 

God has done what He said He would do.

AND SOLOMON IS THRILLED!

 

Adoration

#2 SUPPLICATION

1 Kings 8:25-30

 

This is the heart of Solomon’s prayer.

Solomon just praised God for being faithful,

Now look at what he prays for.

 

(READ VERSES 25-26)

 

HE’S ASKING THE FAITHFUL GOD TO CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL

 

We are familiar with what God told Moses.

Exodus 3:13-14 “Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”

 

That name of course speaks of God’s unchanging nature,

And consistent faithfulness.

 

God is not “I was”, God is not “I will be”

God is simply I AM

 

Do you want to know who God is? Then look at who He was.

Do you want to know who God will be? Then look at who He is.

 

Thomas Chisholm nailed it when he wrote:

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Though changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”

 

THIS IS ALL SOLOMON ASKS FOR.

He doesn’t want God to change, into something more appealing.

He simply wants God to be the God He has always been.

 

And then we move into the real heart of the prayer.

 

WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE YOU ASKING FOR SOLOMON?

READ 1 KINGS 8:27-30

DID YOU PICK UP ON WHAT SOLOMON WANTS?

(He mentioned it 6 times)

(28) “have regard to the prayer”

(28) “listen to the cry and to the prayer”

(29) “listen to the prayer”

(30) “Listen to the supplication”

(30) “hear in heaven”

(30) “hear and forgive”

 

WHAT DID SOLOMON WANT?

He knew the temple couldn’t hold God,

ALL HE ASKED WAS FOR GOD TO HEAR HIS PRAYER.

 

I THINK WE TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED TODAY

 

We take it for granted that while we may not always have time for God,

He will always have time for us.

 

The reason we take it for granted is because it is true.

His word promises that He is always there.

 

BUT IT IS A SHAME THAT WE HAVE MADE SUCH A SMALL THING

OUT OF THAT AMAZING TRUTH.

 

Solomon didn’t.

Imagine what it would be like if God were too busy;

Or unwilling to hear our prayers.

 

Remember what God warned through Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 18:17 “Like an east wind I will scatter them Before the enemy; I will show them My back and not My face In the day of their calamity.'”

 

Remember what God warned through Amos

Amos 8:11-12 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD. “People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, But they will not find it.”

 

SOLOMON’S PRAYER WAS THAT THIS FAITHFUL GOD

WOULD CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL AND TO BE NEAR.

 

Asaph said:

Psalms 73:25-28 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.”

 

SOLOMON JUST WANTED GOD TO BE NEAR.

(and we see that clearly)

 

BUT WHY DID SOLOMON WANT THAT?

WHY WAS SOLOMON SO CONCERNED THAT GOD WOULD BE NEAR?

WHY IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD SO IMPORTANT?

 

The answer to that question is the main point of the sermon,

And the very thing Solomon is about to explain.

 

Adoration, Supplication

#3 EXPLANATION

1 Kings 8:31-53

 

Solomon explains to God why he wants His presence.

 

You see, there are benefits in life to having God near

That are simply not there if God is not present.

 

In fact, the nearness of God is the epitome of blessing.

Look at the beatitudes.

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit” Why? “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Blessed are the pure in heart” Why? “For they shall see God.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers” Why? “For they shall be called sons of God.”

 

Certain attitudes bring blessing,

And that blessing is a person’s nearness to God.

 

LET ME SHOW YOU

In this prayer Solomon will explain to God 7 benefits

That he expects to receive from having God’s presence.

 

They are 7 things we would not have if God refused to dwell in our midst.

 

1) JUSTICE (31-32)

 

Basically, if a man wrongs another, and won’t fess up to it.

Instead he says to others, “I swear I didn’t do it”

And the offended says, “I swear, he did do it”

 

WHO WILL MAKE SURE THE WICKED GETS JUDGED AND THUS DISCOURAGE OTHERS FROM EVIL?

 

That is why the wanted God to be present.

(READ VERSE 32)

 

Solomon wanted God’s presence for the purpose of justice.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT IF GOD WERE NOT PRESENT THERE WOULD BE NO JUSTICE?

 

That is why atheists so badly want to dismiss God as a myth.

If God is not real then neither are morals.

 

We can treat each other however we want

With absolutely no fear of retribution or punishment.

 

This is what many in Washington can’t seem to figure out.

You cannot have “liberty and justice for all”

If we are not “One nation under God”

 

THE PRESENCE OF GOD MEANS JUSTICE

 

Jeremiah 17:10 “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.”

 

Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

 

Solomon even wrote late in life:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

 

Solomon wanted God present, because the promise of His righteous judgment would be a deterrent to immorality.

 

This is why we need God present.

(Justice)

2) REDEMPTION (33-34)

 

I love the point Solomon makes here.

He gives a specific instance in which God’s people do something dumb

And reap the consequences of it.

 

“When Your people are defeated before an enemy, because they have sinned”

 

HAS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?

Can you name a time when you disobeyed God and your disobedience caused you to be in a bad situation?

We have all been in that boat before.

 

THAT IS WHY SOLOMON WANTED GOD TO BE NEAR.

When they repent and pray to you:

(34) “then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers.”

 

He wanted God’s presence to break the power of sin in their lives,

And restore them to the place they had before they messed up.

 

That is called redemption.

 

One of the best illustrations in the Bible is when Hosea redeemed Gomer.

 

Hosea 3:1-3 “Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. Then I said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you.”

 

Although her own sin had landed her in this predicament,

Hosea had the power to undo it and redeem her.

 

Who has the power to deliver you from your mistakes in life?

Only God.

(Redemption)

3) PROVISION (35-36)

 

Once again we see the obvious implication of sin and repentance.

However Solomon uses a specific illustration.

(rain)

 

WHY RAIN?

Water is literally the life flow of the earth.

Without it, life cannot exist on this planet.

 

And that is unique, because only God can send it.

 

We are dependent upon God for our most necessary resource,

And therefore we need God near.

 

That is Solomon’s prayer.

Be close to us “And send rain on Your land which You have given Your people for an inheritance.”

 

• If God were to leave, who would provide for you?

• If God were to leave, who would provide for this church?

 

God is the only One who can.

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

My mind is drawn to a hillside when 5,000 men showed up

And they were hungry. All they had were 5 loaves and 2 fish.

 

It sure was handy to have Jesus around.

(Provision)

4) DELIVERANCE (37-40)

 

WHAT DO ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE IN COMMON?

They are all things that oppress people.

 

PLEASE NOTICE THAT SOLOMON DOES NOT SAY

THAT THESE THINGS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF SIN.

 

It could happen because of sin, but not necessarily.

 

We live in a fallen sinful world,

And sometimes bad things just happen.

 

WHEN LIFE JUST GETS TOUGH, WHO DO YOU TURN TO?

• When your company down sizes…

• When the flu spreads through the community…

• When terrorists fly airplanes into your buildings…

• When the biopsy comes back malignant…

 

WHERE DO YOU GO?

To God.

We need God to be present to deliver us

Because sometimes things happen that are far too difficult for us.

 

My mind goes to a day when Jesus disciples were in a boat, and the waves were about to turn the boat over. Jesus said, “Peace be still”,

 

I’m guessing the disciples thought it was a good thing Jesus was there.

(Deliverance)

 

5) GLORY (41-43)

 

Solomon had built a great temple,

But people weren’t going to travel just to see a great temple.

 

Israel needed something greater than that, to draw the nations to them.

They needed God.

 

And should we ever learn this.

In a day when the Church is desperately seeking an angle

In which to entice the world to attend.

 

• The Church tries to use entertainment…

• The Church tries to use humanitarian aid…

• The Church tries to use mystical experience…

 

BUT WE HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER THE WORLD EXCEPT FOR GOD.

 

Our power to attract is not found in fancy buildings

Or in eloquent speakers or state of the art special effects.

In those things we cannot compete.

But we have something the world will never have,

And that is the presence of God.

 

Jesus Himself said:

John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

 

(glory)

(6) VICTORY (44-45)

 

I suppose life would be easy if we were always the biggest,

The fastest, the smartest and the strongest.

 

BUT WE AREN’T.

At times we face giants that we just can’t seem to tackle.

 

WE NEED HELP

This help comes through the presence of God.

 

Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”

 

Even Jesus said it:

Matthew 16:18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

 

God’s presence gives us victory.

• How else did the walls of Jericho come down?

• How else would Goliath fall?

• How else will you get that co-worker to listen to you?

• How else will you overcome the language barrier in Ethiopia?

 

(victory)

7) MERCY (46-53)

 

In those moments, when life is going poorly.

We have blown it, and we are reaping the consequences.

 

Even then, be merciful to us, and make us objects of compassion.

 

BE NEAR TO BE MERCIFUL

 

And if you have missed it, this is really the main reason

Why Solomon want’s God’s presence.

 

(30) “hear and forgive”

(34) “then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your people”

(36) “then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants”

(39) “then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive”

(50) “and forgive Your people”

 

Solomon knew that regardless of how hard they tried,

His people would mess up.

 

Remember verse 46, “When they sin against You, (for there is no man who does not sin)…”

 

Solomon knew that he and his people would occasionally blow it.

 

And so the primary reason Solomon wants God’s presence

Is for the blessing of forgiveness.

 

Isn’t it a blessing that any time you fail, you can go to God, repent of your sin, seek His forgiveness, and know that He will give it?

 

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

What a blessing of His presence!

When we offend Him, He doesn’t cut off the lines of communication,

But He is right there, willing to listen, and willing to forgive.

 

WE HAVE MERCY BECAUSE OF GOD’S PRESENCE.

Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

 

AND SO DO YOU SEE WHY WE NEED GOD’S PRESENCE?

Justice, Redemption, Provision, Deliverance, Glory, Victory, and Mercy.

 

Those things come about because of the presence of God.

 

Now you see why Solomon wanted it so badly.

In fact, let me show you just one more verse.

 

(54) “When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven.”

 

DID YOU CATCH HIS POSTURE THERE?

I thought we read in verse 22 that he was standing?

 

That is how he started, but that is not how he finished.

The more he prayed the more intense he became.

 

HE WASN’T JUST ASKING FOR GOD’S PRESENCE,

HE WAS BEGGING FOR IT.

 

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

• Do you want His presence in your life?

• Do you want His presence in this church?

 

Last week we learned how to get it.

Seek Him diligently

And seek Him through the blood of Jesus Christ.

 

DENY YOURSELF AND SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST.

 

Make seeking God’s presence a priority,

And the blessing of God’s presence will be a reality.

 

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

 

1 Kings 8:1-21

 

As we have studied Solomon thus far,

We can very easily make an observation about his life,

And that is that he was passionate about having God’s presence.

 

• It was Solomon who searched God out at Gibeon

• It was Solomon who actually built a place for His name to dwell.

 

Solomon understood the importance

Of having the presence of God in the midst of his people.

 

And why wouldn’t he be?

 

Throughout Scripture the presence of God is the difference maker.

 

Moses knew it.

When God was offended and about to leave,

And send and angel ahead of the people into the Promised Land.

 

Moses said:

Exodus 33:15 “Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”

 

GOD’S PRESENCE WAS A MUST

In fact, the only advantage Israel often had was the presence of God,

And time after time it proved to be the only advantage they needed.

 

Waters parted before the presence of God…

Armies scattered before the presence of God…

 

THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS IMPORTANT.

Solomon also knew it, and that is why he built the temple.

 

BUT WHAT GOOD IS THE TEMPLE IF GOD DOESN’T SHOW UP?

 

Ask Ezekiel. He saw God leave.

Ezekiel 11:22-23 “Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. The glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city.”

 

Ezekiel revealed to the people that

When God leaves, the temple is useless.

 

That is why chapters 40-48 of Ezekiel

Are consumed with rebuilding the temple.

 

The final statement

Ezekiel 48:35 “The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there.'”

The presence of God is the difference maker.

And this morning we see God show up.

 

I hesitate to call this the climax of the book,

But it is indeed a major focal point.

 

In fact, the bookends of the 1 & 2 Kings is the presence of God.

God’s presence shows up under the first King – Solomon

God’s presence departs under the final King – Zedekiah

 

And this morning we study the beginning of it.

We will actually see God move into His temple.

 

And let us never under appreciate the presence of God.

 

1 John 4:4 “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

 

Without the presence of God in our lives, we are literally powerless.

We need God’s presence, just as Solomon did.

 

And so this morning, as we see God move in, I just want to give you 5 words to help better understand the passage, and see what it means to have the presence of God.

 

#1 PRIORITY

1 Kings 8:1-2

 

Now you will notice what Solomon does here

As he prepares to bring the ark of the covenant into the temple.

 

“Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel,”

 

In Israel, it was “the elders” who were in charge of teaching the word of God to the entire family. They were literally “the leaders” of Israel.

 

And Solomon has called them all in.

 

You will then notice in verse 2, “All the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at the feast, in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month.”

 

It is our September-October, and there are three great feasts in that month.

 

1) The Feast of Trumpets

Leviticus 23:23-25 “Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘ In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. ‘You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD.'”

 

Symbolizing God’s intervention and to formally call all Israel to attention.

 

2) The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 23:26-27 “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD.”

 

Of course to atone for sin.

 

3) The Feast of Booths

Leviticus 23:33-34 “Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD.”

 

These last two feasts were required of every man to attend.

 

The point is that Solomon chose this event

During the most populated time that Jerusalem would know.

He wanted all Israel to be a part of what was happening here.

 

He was setting a priority in regard to the presence of God.

• All Israel needed to be here.

• All Israel needed to be involved.

 

And that is a great place to start talking about the presence of God.

 

HOW MUCH OF A PRIORITY IS IT?

Amy Tagle responded, “Because God was there and I missed it.”

 

I could only wish everyone I knew

Had that kind of passion to run in to God.

 

HOW MUCH DOES IT MATTER TO YOU TO ENCOUNTER GOD?

IS HIS PRESENCE IMPORTANT?

DOES IT MATTER TO YOU IF HE SHOWS UP?

 

I can promise, if His presence doesn’t matter to you,

You will never experience it.

 

Jeremiah was clear:

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

 

Solomon and the people of Israel were here setting a priority.

If God was going to show up, they were not going to miss it.

 

Priority

#2 PURITY

1 Kings 8:3-5

 

What we see occurring here is very important.

 

First, in regard to the way they are handling the ark of God.

 

“Then all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.”

 

They had learned from a mistake David made.

 

We all remember the story of Uzza.

1 Chronicles 13:9-12 “When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. Then David became angry because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day. David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”

 

It is obvious that Solomon is not about to make that mistake.

They are doing it correctly.

 

But that is not all.

As the priest brought up the ark of God to the temple,

Look at what was happening.

 

(5) “King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen they could not be counted or numbered.”

 

WHAT DO YOU MEAN COULD NOT BE COUNTED?

 

Well, we don’t know exactly how many,

But look at a verse at the end of chapter 8.

1 Kings 8:63 “Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.”

 

Whatever the number sacrificed here, it must have dwarfed that number,

For the royal accountants gave up the count.

 

“they could not be counted OR NUMBERED”

 

Which means that not only could they not count them,

BUT THE NUMBER WAS TOO BIG TO EVEN GIVE AN EDUCATED GUESS.

 

This was a massive sacrifice.

And Solomon was doing it before the ark.

 

Picture the scene.

As the ark was ascending up to the temple mount,

Gallons of blood were flowing down the mountain.

 

WHY?

Hebrews 9:22 “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

 

They sought to cleanse the place before God showed up.

Gold wouldn’t do it…

Silver wouldn’t do it…

Cedar wouldn’t do it…

 

Blood was the only thing

That could make a place ready for God’s presence.

 

There is no possible way for mankind to stand in the presence of God without the shedding of blood.

 

IF YOU WANT GOD’S PRESENCE,

YOU MUST FIRST BE WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

Money won’t do it.

Going to Church won’t do it.

BLOOD IS THE ONLY THING!

 

Psalms 49:7-8 “No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him — For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever”

 

It was the blood of Jesus that appeased the wrath of a Holy God,

And if you don’t take that blood, you will never enter God’s presence.

 

Romans 5:9 “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”

 

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”

 

Colossians 1:19-20 “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

 

That blood that Solomon spilled

Was but a foreshadow of the blood of God’s Son.

You cannot get the presence of God any other way.

 

Priority, Purity

 

#3 PLACEMENT

1 Kings 8:6-9

 

I also like what we learn here

About Solomon’s METICULOUS PLANNING for the presence of God.

 

Solomon was not giving God any old place to dwell.

Solomon had a specific location for the placement of God’s throne.

 

Do you see it in verse 6?

“The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place; into the inner sanctuary of the house to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles from above.”

 

There was a specific location for the ark of God.

It was to set in the most holy place.

It was to set under the cherubim.

 

AND SO IT IS WITH US AS WELL.

 

There is a specific place where God longs to dwell,

And not just any old place will do.

God desires the throne of your heart.

 

1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”

He doesn’t want to dwell in your car…

He doesn’t want to dwell in your closet…

He doesn’t want to be left at church…

 

God wants and deserves the very throne of your life.

 

DO YOU WANT GOD’S PRESENCE BAD ENOUGH TO GIVE HIM SUCH A PLACE?

Are you willing to let God have full control of your life?

Are you willing to let God call the shots?

Are you willing to surrender all to Him?

 

Solomon gave God the spot God required.

 

And you can even see how important it was to Solomon

To know God was there.

 

(8) But the poles were so long that the ends of the poles could be seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary”

 

Trust me, in all the meticulous planning, Solomon didn’t fail to see how long the poles were and build the Holy of Holies too small.

Those poles stuck out on purpose.

 

Those poles were a visual reminder that God was behind the veil.

 

Just like fruit in the life of a believer,

It was possible to look and see that God was present.

 

There is one more fact that is also given to us:

(9) “There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb”

 

WHY INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION?

 

The ark was no treasure chest.

The value was not what it contained, but what it represented.

 

The presence of God was a reminder of God’s faithfulness

To keep His covenant with His people.

 

 

AND SO IT IS WITH US TODAY.

God’s presence is a reminder of God’s faithfulness to us.

 

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

 

When we give God the place He longs to dwell,

• He moves in,

• His presence is evident from the outside,

• His presence is a tremendous source of assurance.

 

Give God the place He longs to dwell.

Give Him your heart.

 

Priority, Purity, Placement

#4 POWER

1 Kings 8:10-13

 

verse 10, “the cloud filled the house of the LORD,”

 

God showed up, and consumed that place.

 

Look at the result.

(11) “so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.”

 

When God showed up, the priests hit the floor

And had to evacuate immediately.

 

And just to make sure the people didn’t get terrified,

Solomon steps to the forefront and explains the situation to the people.

 

(12-13) “The Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built You a lofty house, a place for Your dwelling forever.”

 

Solomon reminded the people that this was God’s presence.

God had moved in, and that is why the priests had to move out.

 

And certainly you understand the point here.

 

WHEN GOD SHOWS UP IMPURITY MUST LEAVE

 

The blood brought the Presence,

But the Presence demands a change.

 

When God shows up, everything impure feels the weight and has to leave.

 

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE?

 

That is simple.

IS SIN ALLOWED TO LINGER?

 

I can most assuredly and confidently say to you,

If sin is tolerated in your life than God is not there.

 

That is why we find such harsh passages in Scripture like these:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

 

Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

 

God does not allow them to remain,

And if they have been allowed to remain, He is not there.

 

Friend you cannot live in sin and enjoy it

When the presence of God fills your life.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

 

When God shows up, changes take place.

We do not instantly transform into perfection,

But the line is clearly drawn in the sand.

 

My body is His temple, and when God’s presence

Enters the temple impurity has to leave.

 

If you are living in persistent sin, or habitual sin,

And you are not miserable over it.

There is no way the presence of God is in your life.

 

He does not leave His temple unchanged.

That is evident here, as God’s holiness cleared the temple.

 

Priority, Purity, Placement, Power

#5 PRAISE

1 Kings 8:14-21

 

When Solomon stood to speak, did you catch what he did?

 

(15) “He said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand”

 

When God showed up, Solomon began to praise God.

 

WHY?

Because God was faithful.

 

See it again in verse 20, “Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.”

 

God had done what He had said, and Solomon praised Him for it.

Solomon was grateful to God for His presence.

 

ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE?

 

When God starts making changes, are you grateful?

When God leads in a different direction than you want to go, are you grateful?

Solomon was.

THIS IS PART OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

 

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 

He shed His blood.

So that we might be able to get to God.

 

When the blood was shed, the veil was torn,

And the presence of God was a reality in our lives.

 

WE PRAISE JESUS FOR MAKING GOD’S PRESENCE POSSIBLE

 

BUT THERE ARE MORE REASONS FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER

The other purpose is for a time of self-evaluation.

 

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.”

 

WE COME FOR SELF-EXAMINATION

 

DOES THE PRESENCE OF GOD DWELL WITHIN ME?

• Have I ever made God a priority and sought Him with all my heart?

• Have I entered through the blood of Jesus?

• Have I given to God the only place He deserves to reside – my heart?

• Is God’s presence evident by the fact that He is making me holy?

• Am I grateful for the changes He is making?

 

WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD?

 

This morning if you have never surrendered your life to Jesus,

I am going to ask you to do that – right now.

 

This morning if you are saved, I want to ask you to examine your life

And see if you are allowing God to do all that He desires to do in your life.

 

And for that, we are going to have a time of preparation.

It is a time for you to get alone with God and find His will for your life.

 

Pray

 

 

Read 1 Kings 5:1-6

 

Studying the Kings of Israel,

We have recently seen Solomon rise to power.

 

• We saw his passion and conviction to establish his kingdom by removing all stumbling blocks, lawlessness, and blood guilt.

 

• Last week we saw the petition of Solomon. After seeking out the Lord God, Solomon then requested that God would give to him an understanding heart.

 

Of course God blessed Solomon not only with great wisdom,

But also with great riches and honor as well.

 

This morning we see yet another aspect of Solomon’s reign, and that is:

The Project of Solomon.

 

Solomon’s legacy was really carved out before him,

Before he ever began to reign.

1 Chronicles 28:2-6 “Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brethren and my people; I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. “But God said to me, ‘ You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ “Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. “Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. “He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him.”

 

And that is precisely the event that unfolds before us this morning.

 

But even in this,

We have a tremendous lesson to learn this morning.

 

It is important that you and I understand the heart of God,

And what it is that He truly wants from us.

 

When we come to present something before God,

We must learn to recognize what it is that God wants to receive,

Not merely what it is that we want to give Him.

 

We will see this point magnified as we study “The Project of Solomon”

 

2 main points this morning

#1 SOLOMON’S INTENTION

1 Kings 5:1-6

You recognize the setting of what has occurred.

The King of Tyre sends servants to Solomon to continue an alliance.

 

Solomon responds with a request.

 

(3-4) “You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.”

 

And I hope you recognized Solomon’s language.

In verse 3, in reference to David it was “the LORD his God”

In verse 4, Solomon called Him, “the LORD my God”

 

Solomon no longer seeks to worship the God of his father.

God has revealed Himself to Solomon, and now He is Solomon’s God.

 

It is never enough for God to be the God of your father,

There must come a day when He becomes your God.

 

And now that this is the case, Solomon has a plan to honor his God.

(5) “Behold, I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spoke to David my father, saying ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he will build the house for My name.’”

 

And there you see the intention of Solomon.

“I intend to build a house”

 

The writer of Chronicles gives us a little more insight.

2 Chronicles 2:4-6 “Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, this being required forever in Israel. “The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. “But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?”

 

SOLOMON KNEW A GREAT GOD DESERVED A GREAT OFFERING

He was not about to give God some shack to live in.

 

But notice still more.

“I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God”

 

Solomon never said he was building a house for God.

There was no way anything Solomon built could contain his God.

 

Isaiah gave us a brief sketch of the size of God.

Isaiah 40:12 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?”

 

Jesus gave us a picture of God’s size.

Matthew 5:34-35 “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.”

 

You may remember Paul preached this to the people of Athens.

Acts 17:24-25 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;”

 

There was no way God was going to fit in any man-made temple.

And Solomon never intended for Him to.

 

This house was “for the name of the LORD my God.”

 

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

1 Kings 8:27-30 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! “Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. “Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.”

 

All Solomon was asking for was a point of reference

Where he knew that he could come into contact with the living God.

 

Solomon had a passion for God’s presence.

He always wanted to be able to get in touch with God.

 

And so he is building this temple in Jerusalem.

 

And to help him build the temple,

He is contacting the King of Tyre to help with provisions.

 

(Verse 6), “Now therefore, command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.”

 

And the rest of chapter 5 deals with Solomon gather provisions.

Chapter 6 deals with the building of the temple.

Chapter 7 deals with the utensils of worship that would fill the temple.

 

You can read those chapters and get an idea of what Solomon built.

 

Without reading them in their totality,

Let me just highlight a few magnificent things the temple.

 

(VERSE 6:2) – IT WAS A LARGE PROJECT

 

A Cubit = 18” (the length of the forearm and hand)

A Span = 9” (the distance from pointer finger to thumb)

A Handbreadth = 3” (the width of the hand)

 

So this temple was roughly 90’ long x 30’ wide x 45’ tall

(approx: 2700 square feet)

 

(VERSE 6:7) – IT WAS A SOLEMN PROJECT

 

Due to the reverence of the project,

Solomon did not want the sound of any tool in the actual temple,

So all the stone was fitted together in the quarry and then transported in.

 

(VERSES 6:20-22) – IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT

 

We don’t know how much Solomon actually used.

But we do know how much David stored up.

 

1 Chronicles 29:1-9 “Then King David said to the entire assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for the LORD God. “Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, onyx stones and inlaid stones, stones of antimony and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in abundance. “Moreover, in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already provided for the holy temple, namely, 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings; of gold for the things of gold and of silver for the things of silver, that is, for all the work done by the craftsmen. Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?” Then the rulers of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the overseers over the king’s work, offered willingly; and for the service for the house of God they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, and 10,000 talents of silver, and 18,000 talents of brass, and 100,000 talents of iron. Whoever possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, in care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.”

LET’S FIGURE THE WORTH OF GOLD ALONE.

David gave: – 3,000 talents of gold

 

The People gave: – 5,000 talents of gold

 

Total = 8,000 talents of gold.

1 talent = 75 pounds.

So David and the people gave 300 tons of gold.

 

This week gold was trading at $832 per ounce.

The gold in Solomon’s temple = $7,987,200,000

(not counting silver, brass, iron, stone, wood, labor, etc.)

 

(VERSE 38) – IT WAS A LENGTHY PROJECT

 

(VERSES 7:48-51) – IT WAS A METICULOUS PROJECT

 

Solomon got everything, right down to the last spoon and pot.

 

He cut no corners, he spared no expense.

This temple was the building of buildings.

 

Solomon accomplished his intention.

1 Kings 8:13 “I have surely built You a lofty house, A place for Your dwelling forever.”

 

So now, let’s hear from God on the issue.

Solomon went to all that trouble, certainly God is impressed.

 

#2 THE EVALUATION OF GOD

1 Kings 6:11-12

 

Now you will first notice that Solomon was not yet finished

When God interrupted to speak to Solomon.

 

Verse 9 does say, “So he built the house and finished it;”

Verse 14 also says, “So Solomon built the house and finished it.”

 

But reading the whole chapter reveals that

It was just the outer structure that Solomon had finished.

 

Before he went to work on the inside, God has a visit with him.

And notice how it begins.

 

“Concerning this house which you are building”

 

It sounds as though God is going to give

A few mid-construction adjustments.

 

Only God’s assessment is not what you might think.

• God says nothing about the size of the building…

• God says nothing about the work done in silence…

• God says nothing about the pile of gold that will soon be siding…

• God says nothing about the meticulous detail that is involved…

 

God doesn’t say a thing about the construction of the temple at all.

 

But rather, “If you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father. I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”

 

DID YOU CATCH GOD’S POINT?

It is almost as though Solomon

Was getting a little too carried away with the things that did not matter.

 

It is almost like Solomon had it in his mind

That all the, gold, silver, and stones was impressive to God.

Like this place was so impressive God would want to live there.

 

And so God shows up in the middle of the construction as if to say.

“My presence is not dictated by worldly wealth and gaudy structures. Houses trimmed in gold do not impress Me.

If you are serious about having Me around, then your focus should be on obedience, for that is what secures My presence.”

 

WHAT A CONCEPT!

 

 

And notice the conditions that God gives to Solomon.

“If you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them…”

 

Anytime God repeats Himself 3 times, that is a Biblical clue

That what He is saying is important and He doesn’t want you to miss it.

 

3 times God reiterates the importance of obedience to Solomon.

“walk in My statutes”

“execute My ordinances”

“keep all My commandments by walking in them”

 

And don’t you love that last one!

“keep all My commandments” How? “by walking in them”

 

I don’t just mean that I want you to keep a copy of my word in your safe.

I mean apply my word to your life.

God doesn’t just want for you to keep a copy of the Bible

God wants you to READ His word, ENFORCE His word,

And CONTINUALLY OBEY His word.

 

Fabulous structures have never been God’s desire.

 

In fact, look at what God told David when he desired to build the temple.

2 Samuel 7:1-7 “Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.” Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you.” But in the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, “Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? “For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. “Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'”‘

Absolutely not.

 

He did talk a lot about His presence dwelling with them,

But having a house was never a factor in whether or not He did.

 

In fact, remember after the golden calf incident.

The people were on the verge of losing God’s presence.

Exodus 33:1-3 “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ “I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.”

 

They were about to lose the presence of God,

But it was not because they had yet to build Him a temple.

It was because they were “an obstinate people”

 

God is not interested in outward offerings.

God is interested in the obedience of a grateful heart.

 

Listen to what Solomon would later write in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 15:8 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

 

Proverbs 21:27 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!”

 

David also knew this:

Psalms 51:16-17 “For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

The prophet Isaiah delivered the word of God on the matter:

Isaiah 1:11-17 “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies — I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”

 

God wants obedience, not some token outward display of religion.

• How else can you describe Jesus rejecting the gold of the rich young ruler, yet being amazed at widow’s mite?

 

God wants a heart filled with righteousness,

Not a temple trimmed in gold.

 

Solomon thought that a permanent structure

Meant the permanent presence of God.

 

BUT THAT WAS WRONG.

 

Permanent structures don’t secure God’s presence,

Consistent obedience secures God’s presence.

 

I told you earlier that Solomon knew that

A GREAT GOD DESERVES A GREAT OFFERING.

That is true, but the offering He desires is your life on His altar.

 

And if Solomon would give God the obedience that He desired,

Then look at how God would respond.

 

“then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father. I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”

 

ISN’T THAT WHAT SOLOMON REALLY WANTED?

• He wanted God to secure his kingdom…

• He wanted God to be accessible to His people…

• He wanted God to never leave…

 

Give God obedience, and God will dwell with you always.

 

Now, in all fairness,

I must tell you that it does not work exactly like this today.

In fact, we have the promise of God,

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

 

Jesus said, “surely I will be with you always, even to the very end of the age.”

 

And so we don’t walk in fear of God leaving.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT

WE NEVER WORRY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

 

Remember the church at Ephesus?

Revelation 2:1-4 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

God never left, they did.

 

Through their lack of love for Him, and their superficial obedience,

THEY HAD WANDERED AWAY FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

 

That is the same warning given to Solomon.

 

In Solomon’s day it was obey from your heart

So that you can experience My presence.

 

In our day, it is still obey from your heart

So that you can experience God’s presence.

 

There is a difference between religion and a relationship.

Religion seeks to build God a temple,

A relationship seeks to give God a heart.

 

 

This week, do more than just build God a temple.

Do more than just involve yourself in superficial religion…

Do more than give money…

Do more than attend church…

Do more than serve on a committee…

 

 

THIS WEEK GIVE GOD YOUR HEART.

• Don’t just have a prayer time, have a time of prayer.

 

• Don’t just read a daily devotion, devote yourself to hearing from God’s word, and don’t leave until you do.

 

Take the time to speak to Him, and to listen to what He has to say.

SO HOW IS YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD?

How is your prayer life?

How is your daily Bible study?

 

This morning, learn a lesson from Solomon’s Project,

Make a conscious decision

To tune your heart to seek the presence of God,

To walk in His ways, and to fellowship with Him daily.

 

It is the blessing of the presence of God,

And it will change your life.

 

1 Kings 6:11-13 “Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon saying, “Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father. “I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”

 

1 Kings 3-4

 

Studying through the Kings,

Last week we saw Israel’s third King rise to the throne.

 

David left an established kingdom to Solomon,

And because of his conviction, Solomon was able to keep it established.

 

David told him, “Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man”,

And that is precisely what Solomon did.

 

• He dealt with the DECEPTION of Adonijah

• He dealt with the DISOBEDIENCE of Abiathar

• He dealt with the DEPRAVITY of Joab

• He dealt with the DISRESPECT of Shimei

 

Solomon protected his kingdom because of his great conviction.

 

This morning we look at “The Petition of Solomon”

 

TO BEGIN, LET ME ASK HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THIS STATEMENT?

“Ask what you wish me to give you.”

 

If you walked into a grocery store and the manager said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”

 

If you walked into a car dealership and the salesman said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”

 

If you walked into a bank, and the manager of the bank said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”

 

If you walked into the oval office, and the President of the United States said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”

 

What would you ask for?

 

But let’s raise the stakes a little.

Suppose the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE approached you and said:

“Ask what you wish me to give you.”

 

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?

 

If someone with unlimited power, and unlimited resources

Handed you a figurative credit card, how would you spend it.

 

The answer to that question reveals what it is you most desire in life.

This morning we will see what that one thing should be.

(Read: 1 Kings 3:1-9)

Pray

 

I’ve told you one of the main themes to the books of 1 & 2 Kings is:

THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING GOD

This morning I hope to show you just how important it is.

 

Namely that, there is a blessing found in seeking God

That does not exist in seeking any other thing.

 

Psalms 119:2 “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.”

 

With that in view, let’s look at THE PETITION OF SOLOMON

3 things:

#1 THE REQUEST OF SOLOMON

1 Kings 3:1-9

 

The first two verses of that chapter, are not our focal point this morning,

But I most certainly want you to recognize them, because these two seemingly insignificant statements will prove to bite Israel in a few years.

 

The writer here not only reveals that Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter (an act that will haunt him later), but he also gives insight to us as to why he did it.

 

The fact that he “brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.” Reveals to us that Solomon most likely sought the protection of Pharaoh.

 

With Pharaoh’s daughter living in this un-walled town,

He would be a strategic ally if Solomon had to fight a battle.

 

We also learn (2) “The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days.”

 

It is true they didn’t have a temple, but they did have the tabernacle,

And until the temple was built, it was to be the place of sacrifice.

 

However, Israel followed the pattern of pagan worship.

 

And so, every so subtly you see two major cracks

That will eventually threaten Israel in a major way.

 

But at this point, that is not the theme.

Rather, the writer focuses us in on the very heart of Solomon.

And in verse 3, we begin to see what mattered most to him.

“Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.”

 

Aside from his misunderstanding of the place of worship,

Solomon loved God, and he revealed that through his obedience.

 

And it was because of this great love that we see what happens next.

(4) “The King went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.”

 

Although it is not stated,

It is obvious that Solomon is following David’s advice.

 

1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

 

And here Solomon puts that advice to practice.

 

It is obvious that Solomon was not giving a token offering,

He was serious about finding God.

It is one thing to attend church and then say, “I sought God”.

It is quite another to give a thousand burnt offerings to prove it.

 

Solomon wanted His will,

Solomon wanted His guidance,

Solomon was willing to sacrifice to get it.

 

And that in itself is worth noting.

When is the last time you sacrificed to make sure you had an encounter with God?

 

Jeremiah was clear on this:

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

 

And it is obvious that this is how Solomon has shown up.

This is no ordinary church service, Solomon wants to meet up with God.

 

And notice how God honors his commitment.

(5) “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

 

Notice that Solomon went to that place, and he was spending the night.

This was also no quick thing.

 

Solomon didn’t expect to go attend some hour and a half church service that cost him nothing and meet the God of the universe.

Solomon was in it for the long haul, and it paid off,

For God recognized the desire of Solomon’s heart

And actually gave Solomon that infamous statement.

 

“Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

 

And there you have it.

 

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK FOR SOLOMON?

 

READ 6-9

 

Now to make sure that the magnitude of what he just asked for sinks in,

Let’s take a moment and analyze what he said.

 

There are several things that become blatantly obvious.

1) SOLOMON HAD A SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE

 

What I mean by that is that Solomon

Knew who he was, and who God was.

 

Some times we get the “big head” with God,

As though God actually needs us to accomplish His will.

 

And certainly Solomon could have had this mindset.

 

But you will notice that he had no arrogance whatsoever.

In fact, he had a good sense of perspective.

 

(6) “Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before you in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne as it is this day.”

 

Solomon knew that he was where he was by the grace of God.

He had earned nothing, and he deserved nothing.

God had graciously allowed him this opportunity.

 

Beyond that, look at how Solomon identified himself to God.

(7) “Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king”

(8) “Your servant…”

(9) “So give Your servant…”

 

It would have been very easy for Solomon to identify himself as

“God’s King”, but Solomon didn’t.

 

He was a servant of God.

It just so happened that the Master desired

For this particular servant to also be king.

But it didn’t change the fact that Solomon saw himself as servant

 

And then look at how Solomon refers to his subjects.

(8) “Your people…”

(9) “Your people…”

(9) “this great people of Yours.”

 

God was God, Solomon was servant,

And the people and the kingdom belonged to God, not Solomon.

 

He had a sense of perspective.

 

2) SOLOMON HAD A SENSE OF PERCEPTION

 

Solomon realized the enormity of the task that was before him.

Unlike Adonijah who thought he was ready to be King,

Solomon sees things more clearly.

 

He knew that this task was beyond him.

(8) “Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.”

 

Solomon knew this was a big task,

And he knew it was too big for him.

 

Notice how he concluded verse 7, “I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.”

 

He ends verse 9 in similar fashion, “For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

 

He knows God called him to this task,

But he is also wise enough to realize

That he cannot do it without God’s help.

 

Solomon had a sense of perspective, Solomon had a sense of perception.

3) SOLOMON HAD A SENSE OF PURPOSE

 

Solomon also knew why God had made him king.

 

This honor of being king was not for the glory of Solomon,

It was for the glory of God.

 

God did not call Solomon to further Solomon’s agenda.

God called Solomon to further His own agenda.

 

And Solomon knew this.

For when he was given God’s credit card.

 

“Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

 

HOW DID SOLOMON ANSWER?

(9) “So give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.”

 

Solomon asked for an “understanding heart”. Literally “a hearing heart”

 

He wanted to have God in his ear all the time.

He simply wanted to make sure that in all he did

That God would be near him guiding him every step of the way.

 

• Solomon knew it was about God.

• Solomon knew the kingdom was God’s.

• Solomon knew the task was too large for him.

 

So all he wanted was God to give him clear guidance all the time.

 

That was the request of Solomon.

• He was not self seeking…

• He had no selfish ambition…

• He had no pride or arrogance…

• He simply wanted to do God’s will all the time.

 

IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED FOR?

 

Because, by the way, we have such a promise as well.

O Yes, God has given each of us the exact same offer.

 

John 14:13-14 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

 

It is worded a little differently in the sermon on the mount.

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

 

THEN WHY DIDN’T GOD GIVE ME WHAT I ASKED FOR?

James has the answer.

 

James 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

 

That is precisely what Solomon didn’t do.

He sought God for God’s will and for God’s glory.

 

NOW, HOW DID GOD RESPOND TO SOLOMON?

#2 THE RESPONSE OF GOD

1 Kings 3:10-14

 

Verse 10 really says enough. “It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.”

 

Verse 11 records that God was actually impressed with Solomon’s humility and genuine desire to please God.

 

And then look at how God responds.

Verses 12-13, “behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”

 

God simply said, “I have done according to your words.”

 

God gave him wisdom like no other man.

And then God threw in a bonus.

 

“I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”

 

Now I am not real big on “principle preaching”,

But let me just give you an obvious and logical truth.

 

If you are willing to bless God with all that you have,

Why would God withhold from you?

 

Remember the parable of the talents?

The man who used them for the glory of the Master.

Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”

 

Remember when Jesus gave the parable of the soils?

Matthew 13:12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

 

God responded well to Solomon’s selfless request.

 

But do notice there was a stipulation.

(14) “If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

 

God was more than happy to bless Solomon,

So long as Solomon continued with that same humble attitude.

When you come to God, truly seeking God and His glory,

God is motivated to answer the prayer.

 

Just listen to the sermon on the mount.

 

First Jesus gave “The Wealth Warning”

“Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal…”

 

Then He gave the “The Worry Warning”

“Do not worry about what you will eat, or what you will drink, or what you will put on for clothing…”

 

And Jesus closed that section with this great verse.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

 

Set your heart on the things of God, and God will supply the rest.

 

DID HE FOR SOLOMON?

Let’s look.

#3 THE REALITY OF GOD’S BLESSING

1 Kings 3:15-4:34

 

Certainly we can’t read them all, but let me show you the point.

 

God told Solomon, (3:12) “Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.”

 

WISDOM (3:16-28)

And God did, for if you read VERSES 16-28,

You will read that story about the women who argued over the child.

(Paraphrase the story)

 

And notice how the people responded.

(28) “When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”

 

But that is not all God promised.

(3:13) “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor…”

 

Well, let’s see.

 

 

 

RICHES (4:1-28)

 

It lists all his servants, and all his daily provisions.

(READ: 4:22-28)

 

Solomon was a rich dude!

 

HONOR (READ: 4:29-34)

 

Can you see that Solomon was famous the whole world over?

No body had more honor or glory than him.

 

WHY?

Because he “sought first the kingdom of God, and all those things were added unto him.”

 

So let me ask you again.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT IN LIFE?

WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?

• Are you trying to succeed in a job?

• Are you just trying to make ends meet?

• Are you trying to “get ahead” in life?

• Are you trying to live the American dream?

 

According to Jesus

Matthew 6:32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

 

Those are the things that preoccupy the world.

Don’t worry about those things.

 

In fact, Jesus even gave you a little example

Matthew 6:28-29 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.”

 

In other words, what God did for Solomon

Wasn’t a drop in the bucket for what God can do for you,

But you have to get your priorities straight.

 

Quit seeking the world, and start seeking the things of God.

 

Psalms 34:8-10 “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.”

 

Psalms 119:2 “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.”

 

Amos 5:4 “For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.”

 

Psalms 105:4 “Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.”

 

And there you have it.

If you crave the things of the world,

You can expect no blessing from God.

But if you will seek Him and His glory and His kingdom

“all these things will be added to you.”

 

SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?

 

Sounds to me like time to get still before the Lord.

We are so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life,

That we don’t have time to go spend the night at God’s altar.

 

Solomon was king, and I’m sure he was busy, but he wasn’t too busy

To camp out at God’s altar until God met with him.

 

It also sounds to me like it is time to give to the Lord.

I know of no better way to show God that you love His kingdom more

Than worldly comfort than to sacrifice worldly comfort

In order to give to His kingdom.

 

We call it tithing, but it is really even more than that.

 

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

 

Solomon sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings no the LORD’S altar,

Because he was serious about meeting God.

 

Perhaps we need PERSPECTIVE about who we are and who God is.

 

Perhaps we need PERCEPTION that we need God to succeed in this life.

 

Perhaps we need PURPOSE and remember that we are here for God.

 

WHATEVER WAY YOU APPLY IT IN YOUR LIFE,

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND

THAT IT IS NOT OUR KINGDOM GOD SEEKS TO GROW, BUT HIS,

AND TRUE BLESSING IS FOUND IN PARTICIPATING IN HIS WORK.

 

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”