God Fills is The Void 04.25.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Friday April 25, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of I Kings. Please read Chapters 9-11 or Click Here to read. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%209-11&version=9

Today we will read and learn about a warning to Solomon; an alliance with King Hiram of Tyre; Solomon's riches and wisdom, and his falling away from the Lord. Today's message focuses on the importane of realizing that material things can not replace our relationship with God. We receive blessings through our trust and faith in God, without Him we are always searching for something bigger and better to fill the void.

The Lord gave Solomon special privileges far exceeding those of other kings, but the Lord's continued blessings were conditional, "That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:" (I Kings 9:2-7).

Everything about Solomon was the world's greatest. His gigantic enterprises impressed the world. But the underlying corrupting influences of his wealth, worldly policies, many pagan wives, and ignoring the Word of God destroyed the foundation of David's kingdom.

Solomon ignored the basic principles that God required. Consequently, Solomon's compromise with the world and ignoring of the Word of God, deadened his spiritual discernment. The king who built the most famous Temple to the Living God in Jerusalem also built other temples for false gods to please his many heathen wives. "But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." (11:1-4)

Did Solomon assume that building the most sacred Temple in history, praying the longest prayer, and offering the most sacrifices meant that God would overlook his sins? In disregard for the Word of God, Solomon amassed thousands of horses and chariots and lived in an atmosphere of unparalleled luxury He also violated a command of God by accumulating 700 wives and 300 concubines. Did Solomon deceive himself into thinking that, as king, he could ignore the Word of God in his personal life?

What happened to Solomon can happen to anyone who allows physical pleasure, riches, lust, or any other thing to crowd out their opportunities to give their best to Christ. Solomon did not, as did his father, inherit a kingdom in ruins; he inherited a kingdom which had been established in righteousness. As he advanced in wealth and popularity and as his mind expanded into the vast fields of intellectual research, the simplicity of his trust in God continued to diminish.

The man who surpassed all others with wealth, fame, and pleasure at the end of his life wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, stating that all is vanity without the Lord. "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit." (Ecclesiastes 1:14). If any man could ever have been satisifed by getting all his heart's desires, that man would have been Solomon. Solomon's life illustrates the self-life having its full fling, but at the end concludes with emptiness.

God reminds all who believe that success in life is measured by acquiring an abundance of material things, "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:19-21).

Today's Psalm: 24:3-5
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

Today's Prayer: Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Have a Fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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