God's Warning

It's a darn shame Solomon didn't have a modern Bible to refer to during the dedication of the temple, because the NIV heading for the section that begins with 1 Kings 9 is "God's Warning to Solomon," and maybe he could have averted the dissolution of the kingdom after his death. Then again, he shouldn't have needed it, since our text tells us that God said this directly to Solomon.

1 Kings 9:6-10 states in clear language what lies in store for Solomon and Israel if he doesn't follow the Lord's ways, and also describes who God will hold responsible. He had gifted Solomon with wisdom with the expectation that he would use it to rule Israel well and that it would remain obedient to the Lord. It may seem harsh to punish a country for the sins of its king, but this is a recognition that since Solomon is king through God's will, and if he falters, the country will go right along with him. Unfortunately, as I alluded to yesterday, this will happen within the next couple of weeks in our reading.

As I've stated over and over so far this year, God doesn't appear to us as he did in the days of old because we don't NEED him to--we have his word and his called servants, and people truly rooted in faith need no more than that. Unfortunately, not having God in the physical presence can make us less fearful (in both respects), and makes it far too easy to console ourselves by saying "Ehhh, it's not important, God won't really do anything to me anyway." God's words to Solomon in verses 6-7 tell us otherwise:

But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.

There is absolutely NOTHING in these words that aren't still in effect today. You know it, I know it, and our job until we meet the Lord himself will be to make sure everyone knows it, and how Christ's death and resurrection means this doesn't have to be our fate.

Scott