Sins of Three Kings

Sins of Three Kings

1 Kings 3.5-13

Introduction: When thinking of the Kings of Israel we often mention the first 3 kings; Saul, David, and Solomon. We recognize Saul as appointed by God but he was a great disappointment. David took Israel to another level of power. They were a great nation and controlled all the area around them. Solomon continued on and in some ways Israel was even greater. The temple was built and Israel continued to rule over a great territory with great wealth. Yet in a short time Israel was on a downward spiral. I want us to look at the sins of three kings.

I) Solomon’s Life, 1 Kings 11.4-13

A) Solomon’s advantages

1. He ruled over a unified nation

2. Great military power was under his control, I Kings 4.24-25

3. He possessed great wisdom, 1 Kings 3.12; 4.29-30

4. He received wise instruction from his father, 1 Kings 2.2-4

B) What did Solomon do?

1. He made alliances with foreign powers

2. He permitted and sanctioned idolatry

3. He built buildings and acquired knowledge

4. He gained fame and wealth

C) What was Solomon’s problem?

1. He was not totally devoted to serving God; he believed in God but made compromises

2. He worshipped idols and tried to serve God, 1 Kings 11.6

3. He ignored the warnings given by God, 1 Kings 11.9-10

D) The same is done today

1. People say things like “I know what I should do but…”

2. A lot of people think we need to be open minded and not be dogmatic about what the Bible teaches.

II) Rehoboam’s Evil

A) He reigned 17 years, 1 Kings 14.21

1. Was 41 when he became king; was not a young child but a grown man.

2. He had three good years as king, 2 Chronicles 11.17.

3. He led Israel into sin, specifically the sin of idolatry, 1 Kings 14.22-24

4. Waged war with Jeroboam, 2 Chronicles 12.15

a. God told Rehoboam not to fight Jeroboam, 2 Chronicles 11.3-4

b. The divided kingdom was God’s doing as punishment for Solomon’s idolatry.

B) Rehoboam’s advantages

1. Knew the will of God

2. Had good counsel, 1 Kings 12.6-7

C) Disadvantages

1. His kingdom consisted of 1 tribe, 1 Kings 11.32

2. The counsel of his peers, 1 Kings 12.8-12

a. They lacked compassion and wisdom

b. There are a lot of things we may be able to do but that does not mean we should do them. Some people believe that if they can it means they should, such is not wise.

3. He was brought up with idols.

D) Rehoboam’s sin

1. He was self willed.

2. He did what he wanted and did not care about the consequences.

a. This kind of person is described in Matthew 13.19

b. This is the “I don’t want to” or “I know what the Bible says but I think”

E) The same is done today

1. Bible study is needed but what is just as needed is obedience to what we study.

2. People listen but don’t obey God’s word. The question is not whether we can fill out the right answer in our lesson book but whether we do what we study.

III) Jeroboam’s Evil

A) Good Qualities, 1 Kings 11.28

1. He was brave, a hard worker (industrious), and trusted by Solomon

2. Due to Solomon’s sin of idolatry, he was promised the majority of the kingdom, 1 Kings 11.31-32, 37-38

B) Yet he did evil, 1 Kings 12.25-33

1. He established 2 altars in order to worship a false god

2. When confronted with God’s word he persisted in sin.

a. God sent the young prophet, 1 Kings 13.

b. He was told what would be the result of his idolatry, 1 Kings 14.9-10

3. The nation would be take from his lineage and given to another

4. His family, lineage would end, 1 Kings 15.28-29

C) His sin – he rationalized to justify himself, 1 Kings 12.27-28

1. He was afraid the people would follow Rehoboam if they went to Jerusalem to worship God.

2. He justified his altars by saying it was too far to travel to Jerusalem .

D) People rationalize sin today

1. It might be wrong but “everybody else is doing it.” Drinking, cursing, being immoral.

2. I might fail is used to justify doing nothing, Matthew 25.25

a. Did the servant not understand his purpose?

b. Did the servant not realize his responsibilities?

c. Guarantee failure is not trying to do what God says.

3. I don’t have enough time so let someone else do it

4. I just can’t help it. Used to justify everything from alcoholism, drug abuse, to homosexuality, stealing, and every one sin one can imagine.

a. The pornographer just can’t help themselves

b. The drug addict can not help themselves, etc.

5. Sin does not become ok as long as we can justify ourselves.

Conclusion: Solomon died as an idolatrous king. Jeroboam died knowing his lineage would end and so would his religion. Eventually the bones of his priest were burned on his altars by Josiah. Rehoboam died having squandered his opportunities. We need to avoid the sins of compromise but be committed to serving God. We need to avoid being self willed but be willing to submit to God’s will. We need to not justify ourselves but be justified by the blood of Christ.

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