Immanuel Lutheran Church ~ Mankato, MN
Fall 2000 Bible Study
Lesson 01 — September 10, 2000

SOLOMON ~ THE EARLY YEARS

1 Kings 1:1-9:9; 2 Chronicles 1-7

Lord open our hearts to hear…

Outline of Sections: (From Concordia Self-Study Bible, 1986 CPH)

I. Solomon’s Role and Greatness Foretold/Promised: 1 Chronicles 22:7-13

II. Solomon’s Rule Begins

"There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

(Romans 13:1)

• Recall the "split rule" and the war between the House of Saul and House of David when David began to reign as king (2 Samuel chapter 2 and following).
• David was old and dying – 1 Kings 1:1 (about 70 years old, cf: 2 Samuel 5:4)
• Adonijah, David’s 4^th son (Absalom was the 3^rd son but from a different mother) gathered support to claim rulership – 1 Kings 1:5-6
• STRUGGLE FOR THE THRONE:
  Adonijah: Joab = army captain; Abiathar = priest
  Solomon: Benaiah = army captain; Zadok = priest; Nathan = prophet; Bathsheba = mother
• 1 Kings 1:9-20
• 1 Kings 1:32-40
• Bad news for Adonijah: Zadok and Nathan had anointed Solomon, Solomon was sitting on the throne, the kings servants were asking for God’s blessing upon Solomon (to be even greater than upon David), and the king himself (from his bed) had acknowledged the Lord’s appointment of Solomon.
• FEAR: 1 Kings 1:49, 50 -- Why fear? Why not fight like Absalom and his followers had done?
• Adonijah’s life & death: 1 Kings 1:52. . .2:13-15. . .2:16-18…a reasonable request? 1 Kings 2:19-25
• David’s dying admonition to his son: 1 Kings 2:1-4
• Solomon executes judgment:
  JOAB (1 Kings 2:5, 28ff)
  ABIATHAR (1 Kings 2:26-27) – note God’s judgments are ALWAYS fulfilled!
  SHIMEI (1 Kings 2:8-9, 36ff)

Conclusions concerning Solomon’s ascent to the throne:

III. Solomon’s Wisdom – 1 Kings 3:5-14

• Prayer for UNDERSTANDING heart to JUDGE God’s people and DISCERN between good and evil
  Literally: a "listening heart"
  Luther: an obedient heart to judge well and to understand what is good and bad
  Other translations?
• QUESTIONS:
  What characteristics does Solomon demonstrate in his prayer?
  What is God’s reaction?
  What is God’s caution?
  Is God’s caution a condition of blessing? Was Solomon going to earn his blessing?
• Familiar Example of Wisdom – 1 Kings 3:16ff

Conclusions concerning Solomon’s ascent to the throne:

IV. Solomon’s Prosperity

• 1 Kings 4:1-19 lists Solomon’s administrators
• 1 Kings 20ff gives examples of Solomon’s blessings
  • Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea (v.20 – cf: promise to Abraham)
  • daily provisions = 150-185 bushels of flour; 300-376 bushels of meal, etc. (vv.22f)
  • dominion (see map) and peace on every side all around him (v.24)
  • there was no lack in their supply (v. 27)
  • God gave Solomon largeness (width, breadth) of heart (v.29)
  • Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, 1005 songs, and could speak on all topics (v.32-33)
  • fame spread far and wide (v.34)
  • made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, cedars as abundant as sycamores (1 Chronicles 1:15)
  • built many other magnificent buildings beside his palace and the temple (1 Kings 7:1-12)

Conclusions concerning God’s blessings upon Solomon:

V. The Temple

• David wanted to build, but God said "no." Yet, David made MANY preparations (cf: 1 Chronicles 22)
• King Hiram of Tyre was a friend of David’s and overjoyed to assist with providing cedars and craftsman – 1 Kings 5:7-9
• Solomon enlisted a HUGE labor force -- 1 Kings 5:13-17
• Temple construction began 480 years after Israel left Egypt (1 Kings 6:1; cf: 2 Peter 3:1ff), finished 7 ½ years later (began in 2^nd month of Solomon’s 4^th year and finished in the 8^th month of his 11^th year; 1 Kings 6:37-38).
• No hammer or chisel – 1 Kings 6:7
• Temple design & furnishings (see diagram)
  • complete cedar interior—no stone visible (1 Kings 6:18)
  • all overlaid in gold (1 Kings 6:20ff)
  • cherubim in Holy of Holies under which the Ark was placed with the poles visible in the Holy Place (1 Kings 6:27; 1 Kings 8:6-8).
  • bronze pillars (1 Kings 7:15ff)
  • the bronze sea on 12 oxen (1 Kings 7:23-26) – NOTE THE SIZE!
  • the bronze carts with basins (1 Kings 7:27ff) – NOTE THE DESIGN (v.33)
  • the veil made of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and wove cherubim into it (2 Chronicles 3:14).
• The Ark brought to the Temple
  • nothing left in the Ark except the tablets of the law (1 Kings 8:9)
  • God confirmed His presence in the temple – 1 Kings 8:10-13

Conclusions concerning the Temple:

VI. Solomon’s Dedication Prayer & God’s Response:</P>

• The Prayer – 1 Kings 8:22-53

  vv. 22-24

  vv. 25-26

  vv. 27-30

  vv. 31-32

  vv. 33-34

  vv. 35-36

  vv. 37-40

  vv. 41-43

  vv. 44-45

  vv. 46-53

• When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1)
• Solomon’s Blessing upon the people – 1 Kings 8:56-61
• GREAT CELEBRATION – sacrifices in great number (1 Kings 8:63); lasted a week (1 Kings 8:66)
• God’s Response – 1 Kings 9:3-9 …as a follow-up read Lamentations (4:1-5)
• QUESTIONS:

  What was a recurring warning concerning Solomon’s life and success?

  What would be the way for Solomon to heed that warning?

  Coming Next Week….
  Solomon ~ The Later Years
  1 Kings 9:10-11:43; 2 Chronicles 8-9; Proverbs 1,8; Ecclesiastes 1-3, 12

   

  CLC 2000
  Celebrating 40 years of God’s Grace