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1 Kings & Christ (The Sins of Three Kings) I) End Of David’s Reign A) 1 Kings starts with a powerful Israel. 1. A testimony to God’s power and what happens when Israel trusted in God. 2. David had conquered many of Israel’s enemies and expanded its territory. 3. As with all men David "a man after God’s own heart" (1 Samuel 13.14) but he was not perfect. 4. Like all men his time here upon earth comes to an end. One of the last acts of David was to select Solomon to reign in his place, 1 Kings. 1.29-30. II) Solomon’s Reign A) Solomon’s advantages 1. Son of a great David, his father’s counsel, 1 Kings 2.2-4. Hard to beat this advice. 2. Israel at the height of its power both militarily and politically. 3. Blessed with great wisdom, 1 Kings 3.7-9, 10-14 (v. 12) a. Solomon had good servants, and generals b. Built the temple of God. B) Solomon’s evil 1. 1 Kings 11.4, 6-13 how did this happen to such a wise man? 2. He allowed his wives to turn his heart away from God. 3. He made alliances with other countries. 4. Permitted and sanctioned idolatry, false religion 5. In Ecclesiastes he looked for meaning in life in things; buildings, wealth, learning, servants, having a good time. 6. He was not totally devoted to serving God, he made compromises. a. Resulting in Israel serving various gods. b. One can imagine the influence this had upon Solomon’s children. III) Reign of Rehoboam A) He reigned 17 years, 1 Kings 14.21 1. His advantages: probably well educated, received good counsel, 1 Kings 12.6-7 2. He was 41 years old when he become king. 3. Three good years of reign "walked in the way of David and Solomon", 2 Chronicles 11.17 4. He lead Israel into sin, 1 Kings 14.22-24 5. Waged war with Jeroboam, 2 Chronicles 12.15 a. God did not want this, 1 Kings 12.24 b. God had promised Jeroboam part of the kingdom. B) Rehoboam’s disadvantages 1. The kingdom was divided and he had only one or two tribes, 1 Kings 11.32 2. Reared with his father serving idols 3. Had and listened to unwise counsel, 1 Kings 12.9-11 a. Showed a lack of compassion C) Rehoboam’s sin 1. He was self willed, Matthew 13.3-4, 19 a. I don’t want to, or I think, etc b. Just like those that listen but don’t obey c. Don’t think about the consequences of their actions. 2. He used his energies in fighting Jeroboam but not the idolatry in his own kingdom, 1 Kings 14.22 IV) Jeroboam’s Reign A) God had promised him part of the kingdom, 1 Kings 11.29-35 1. He was a mighty man of valor and industrious, 1 Kings 11.28 2. Promised part of the kingdom by God, this should had lead him to accept what God had promised. B) He did evil in the sight of the Lord, 1 Kings 12.25-33 1. Established not one but two false religions. a. Baal worship b. False worship to Jehovah, 2 golden calves, two different places of worship (Dan and Bethel), a separate priesthood C) His reward, 1 Kings 14.7-10 1. The nation to be taken away from his lineage 2. Death to his family, 1 Kings 15.29 D) Jeroboam’s excuses, 1 Kings 12.27-28 1. The way to Jerusalem is too far, the people will follow Rehoboam 2. Do we make excuses to not do what God plainly says in the Bible? a. I might fail, Matthew 25.24-30 b. I don’t have enough time, James 4.13-15 c. I don’t have enough knowledge d. Tomorrow I will do what the Bible says, Luke 12.20-21 V) Christ in 1 Kings A) Solomon built the physical temple (house of God), Matthew 12.42 1. God dwelt in the temple, 2 Chronicles 7.1-3 2. Would continue to do so as long as they obeyed Him, 1 Kings 9.3-7 3. Beautiful and contained things that were holy B) Christ built the spiritual temple, the church, Ephesians 2.19-22 1. Composed of Christians,1 Corinthians 3.16 Conclusion: We start 1 Kings with a powerful Israel. We end with two weak kingdoms. Why did this happen? A lack of obedience to God. D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 12.24.06 |