Old Testament - 1 Kings 3 - June 22, 2022

 6/22/2022 – 1 Kings 3

I think I’ll start with the study manual’s outline of 1 Kings 1-11. This gives an overview of these times, and instead of simply trying to follow the flow of the story, I can zero in on the whys and the wherefores of the choices people made. Being aware of those poor choices can be the key for us to keep our lives in line with Heavenly Father and His commandments, and, I believe, with the plans we had for ourselves when we knew it was close to ‘our turn on earth’. 

Outline: “1 Kings 1–11.    Before his death, King David had his son Solomon anointed king. Solomon rules his kingdom with great wisdom. Solomon builds a temple and his palace at Jerusalem, beginning the period known as the “golden age of Israel.” The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon. Solomon’s wives lure him away from worshipping the Lord and encourage him to worship false gods. Solomon’s kingdom is threatened by Jeroboam.”

Solomon, son of David & Bathsheba has been crowned as king. V 1 tells us that early in his reign, Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharoah and took Pharoah’s daughter as his wife. Is Solomon aware of the history of the Israelites as they so often were intrigued with the religious practices of other peoples, and that so often took them away from the commandments that Heavenly Father had given them to follow. And that is why reading this first verse makes we wonder: what will become of Solomon in the long run.

V 3 gives me great hope for Solomon: “And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statues of David his father...”  

Solomon journeys to make his sacrifices to the Lord. While he is on this mission, he dreams that the Lord has asked him what he wants from his Father. Solomon’s immediate answer was to tell the Lord that he was aware of the great mercy the Lord had given to David, his father, this includes his righteousness, and uprightness of heart, and his great kindness. (v 6) And then Solomon turns his attention to himself, tell the Lord: “I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.” (v 7) Solomon also worries about the number of Israelites he is now reigning over. And so  Solomon asks for the Lord’s help: “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad” ((v 9)

The Lord is pleased that Solomon has not asked for riches and other things for himself, but he had asked how he might give help to his people. And because of his unselfishness and his concern for his people, the Lord will certainly gave him the gifts he requested. And then the Lord gave Solomon the key to living a full and righteous life: “And if thou will walk in my ways, to keep my statues and my commandments…then I will lengthen thy days.”  (V 14)

Solomon awoke from this dream, and the next day Solomon began his duties of judging and helping the people with their difficulties. This is when the two harlots came to him with one living baby and one dead baby, both claiming to be the mother of the living one. Solomon is able to create a situation in which the true mother pleads to have the baby given to the other woman rather than having it being cut in half.  

Not only was the baby given to his true mother, but all of Israel heard of what Solomon had done and rejoiced “for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment” for them all. 

If we walk in His ways and keep his statutes and his commandments, and ask the Lord for ways to help others and see to their needs, then He will answer our pleas and open our minds and our hearts enabling us to do good to others, and thus discover more love for others and more comfort in from our actions.


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