Advent Journey - Following the Seed From Eden to Bethlehem Намуна

Day 16

THE BIG “IF”

Solomon (34)

David had several wives and nearly twenty sons. Which son did God choose to route the path of the Seed? 

Answer: God elected an offspring of Bathsheba, the woman with whom David committed his infamous adultery. 

The baby conceived out of adultery did not live. But after Bathsheba’s husband died at battle (orchestrated by David), she became David’s wife and together they conceived another child…Solomon . 

God loved Solomon and showed great favor toward Him. God appeared to Solomon in a dream and promised him great wisdom, riches and honor. Sure enough Solomon possessed honor and splendor beyond that of any king or person ever. 

Solomon built a massive, elaborate temple. Solomon’s temple was an impressive symbol of strength and prosperity for Israel...and most importantly, a symbol of God’s favor and protection of the Israelite nation. 

During Solomon’s reign, God affirmed the Davidic promise to Solomon - that David’s kingdom would endure forever. 

But there was a big “IF” attached. 

IF Solomon served and obeyed God, his kingdom would endure.  But IF he turned from God, Israel would be torn from its land and the famous temple would be demolished.  

Notice the big “IF’s below” 

4And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And this house will become a heap of ruins. (1 Kings 9:4-8.)

Tragically, Solomon failed the test. He chose the second of the “Big IF’s.” Even in all his wisdom, his faith faded and he turned away from God and toward the gods of his foreign wives. 

God initiated Israel’s decline and removed His hand of favor and prosperity from Israel. Of roughly forty known authors of the Bible, Solomon (credited for Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and a few Psalms) was the only one to leave such a tainted legacy. 

Israel’s decline was one of the saddest reversals in Biblical history. And it was triggered by Solomon’s walk-away from God. 

Reflections:

It’s hard to believe that the man credited for writing Proverbs, and other wisdom literature, made such poor choices and ultimately shipwrecked his faith (1 Kings 11:4-8). 

How is this possible? 

Discuss the relationship between knowledge and obedience. Wisdom and knowledge is essential, but ultimately obedience is what pleases God.