Sunday, September 8 – 1 Kings 3, 4. – Additional Reading, Patriarchs and Prophets, Chapter 1, Pages 25-34, The Bible Story by Arthur Maxwell, Volume 4, Pages 130-139.
1. Where did the people offer their sacrifices, and where did Solomon offer his? 1 Kings 3:2-4
2. What question did God ask Solomon, and what answer did Solomon give? 1 Kings 3:5-9
3. How did Solomon solve the issue with the two mothers, and what was their response? 1 Kings 3:23-27.
4. Where did Solomon’s dominion extend to? Was his dominion peaceful? 1 Kings 4:1, 24-25.
Commentary and Reflection:
During the time of Solomon’s reign, we see the mercy and forbearance of God in several ways. Even though Leviticus 17:3-5 said all sacrifices were to be brought to the temple and not in the high places (open fields), God understood the situation and accepted sacrifices in the high places, knowing the people were doing the best they could with what they had. Even after the temple was built, God winked at the ignorance of those worshiping in the high places. Solomon even sacrificed in the high places of Gibeon, where many of Saul’s loyal supporters were. Possibly, Solomon was trying to make peace with the house of Saul. That is great, and God blessed Solomon’s well-meaning intentions, but we need to be careful when God gives us direct instructions on how to worship. Later the Christian church compromised on direct commands for worship and Sabbath keeping to make peace with others. In both ages, the consequences of disobedience and compromise were eventually realized. Still, in the Old Testament as well as today, we see God’s mercy, patience, and understanding with those who are in the process of learning and being convicted by Scripture. We have already read how Exodus 25 instructed how the ark should be carried on poles. Yet when the Philistines sent the ark back on a cart, they suffered no consequences because they did not know any better. Yet when the Israelites moved the ark on a cart, Uzzah was struck dead because Israel knew better. God winks at our ignorance but calls us to repentance when more light is shown. See Acts 17:30.
While Solomon was in Gibeon God asked Him what He could give Solomon. While Solomon was honored to be given such an offer, God showed no favoritism. In Matthew 20:32, Jesus asks two blind beggars what they want Him to do for them. Solomon asked for wisdom, and it was granted. Again, God is just as generous and merciful with us. James 1:5 says any of us can ask for wisdom, and it will be given. Solomon asked for wisdom, and it was granted that he would be the wisest man ever. God noted that Solomon asked for an understanding heart instead of retaliation against his enemies. What if we all asked for understanding of our enemies instead of retaliating and vindicating?
Solomon demonstrates his wisdom with two harlots. One woman’s son died, and she tried to switch her dead son for the other woman’s live son. Solomon showed wisdom in identifying the real mother of the living son by ordering the live son to be cut and two and divided between the two women. The real mother said for the other woman to just take him instead of killing him. While this story demonstrates the wisdom of Solomon, we also see again that God shows no favoritism. Solomon uses his God-given wisdom to bring justice and mercy to a harlot. Earlier, we read in Genesis 12:3 that all families of the earth would benefit from the seed of Abraham. The seed of Abraham is the Messiah who brings us the Gospel. In this story, we see a harlot benefiting from Solomon’s understanding heart, which was enlarged by the fruits of the Gospel even in his day.
In 1 Kings 4, we see Solomon’s dominion reaching all over Israel, and people from other lands seeking his wisdom. We often say Solomon asked for wisdom, and 1 Kings 3 tells us Solomon was the wisest of men, yet in 1 Kings 3:9 Solomon asks for an understanding heart. Solomon spread the Gospel of an understanding heart throughout Israel and beyond. While describing the God of the Gospel in Isaiah 40:29, it says God’s understanding is infinite. In 1 Kings 3 and 4, people all over Israel, harlots included, and beyond benefited through the Gospel expressed by Solomon’s understanding heart. Let’s ask God to help us share the Gospel with an understanding heart today.