Temple of Solomon Midterm: David's Charge to Solomon

Randall Q. Lawrence
Faith Bible College
Temple of Solomon
Bro. K.
3/8/2011

Temple of Solomon Midterm:David’s Charge to Solomon (p. 27 text—1 Chronicles 22:6-16)

I want to compare and contrast King Solomon with his father King David especially their two hearts and two heads and their relationship with God. King David gave the charge to his son, King Solomon, son of Bathsheba to build the House of the Lord which had been his desire, but he was not allowed since he was a man of war and had shed blood. “David challenged him to take heed to the law of the Lord through Moses, encouraging him to seek the Lord in wisdom and understanding to fulfill this charge on him. He would build the vision of his father David.” (p. 27 text) (also 1 Kings 2:1-9, 1 Chronicles 28:1-21)

When the Temple built by Solomon was done, we had the Shekinah—“visible manifestation of God” (1 Kings 8:10-11, 2 Chron. 5:13-14, 7:1-3). This power of God was not manifest like this until the fall of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2)—the endowment of power from on high (Luke 24:49). We know that Solomon prayed a very inspired prayer in the dedication (2 Chron.6:12-42) and know that God asked Solomon wanted he wanted (long life, riches, etc.), but Solomon chose wisdom so he was granted the life and riches. (1 Kings 3:3-15, 2 Chronicles 1-12)

Solomon, despite youth and experience, began his reign very well and reigned with the wisdom of God. This is where I want to get into my source/citation (see endnote)—Bible Stories movies “Solomon” with Ben Cross and Vivaca Fox. I really enjoyed this movie because I feel it did a decent job of seeing into the life and mindset of Solomon and his relationship with God. Solomon had to deal with enemies from within (his own brother and general) who tried to usurp the throne before he began. (1 Kings 1) He was a man of peace, unlike his father King David, who was a man of war. This was a requirement for building the House of the Lord—Temple of Solomon. We know that Solomon had the wisdom of God, the example of David, man “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), and then was given long life and riches and acclaim throughout the world for his wisdom and kingdom.

Solomon began to get married for diplomatic reasons—to prevent war and to form alliances and to enjoy his reign as King of all Israel. King Solomon had many wives like his father King David. This might not have been his downfall if Solomon would have been more focused on the Lord God than on his wives. David had danced before the Lord while moving the ark of the Lord the Tabernacle and was despised by Michal for the display—the Lord and David proceeded to reject her (2 Samuel 6:16, 21-23) so the priority for David was the Lord and worship of the Lord as David had set up of David and its worship system. (1 Chronicles 23-26)

In the movie, we see Solomon falling in love with the Queen of Sheba. (Biblical story—1 Kings 10:1-13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12 ) They have a son who is rejected as the next king just as the Queen of Sheba is rejected as wife & Queen of Israel. The Queen of Sheba leaves so her son can inherit her kingdom, and she and Solomon set up a colony in Africa…(dramatic license?)

After this, with his broken heart, King Solomon begins slowly to allow the corruption and issue of the religion(s) of his wives (sacrifices to idols and foreign gods) to begin to undermine his relationship with the Lord God of Israel and to undermine his covenant with God. (1 Kings 11:1-13) This does not come to fruition in his reign, but it does come to fruition in the reign of his son, King Rehoboam with the splitting of Israel (northern Kingdom) with Jeroboam from Judah (southern Kingdom).

Where am I going with all this? King Solomon, wisest man in the world, becomes mis-lead through his heart and his head and thinking he knew better than anyone else—lost his First Love—relationship with God, put desires of wives over God. Our head is a good servant but a lousy master. King David meanwhile despite serious mistakes and sins had his heart on the Lord and truly knew how to repent and set his heart right with the Lord God. The incidence with the dancing and his wife Michal (2 Sam. 6:16, 21-23) shows how David’s priority and heart were set on the Lord unlike the priorities of King Solomon later in life who chose to depend on his own wisdom (fallible) and not on his relationship with God. Heart wisdom in the Lord trumps head wisdom in the Lord—Jesus Christ exemplified this in His ministry, passion and death on the cross, and His resurrection.