Gallery – Old Testament Survey

1 Kings 12

1 Kings 12 (cf. 2 Chronicles 10 and 11)

This chapter presents the fulfillment of God’s discipline on Solomon for his idolatry (1 Kings 11). After the death of Solomon, they make his son Rehoboam king over all the tribes. They give him the opportunity to keep the kingdom as a whole and fails due to lack of godly counsel. The people, tired from corvée, ask Rehoboam to lessen the taxation on finances and bodies. If this is done, the people say they will stay as a united kingdom. He asks Solomon’s advisors who counsel him to do as the people desire for Solomon was wrong in doing this to them. He then asks his friends for advice and they tell him to become even more demanding to show the people who is truly in charge. He takes the advice of his friends over the wisdom of age and experience. The northern ten nations separate from the kingdom and for the nation of Israel. From this stage forward, Israel does not represent the entire nation, but it represents the northern ten. When Judah is mentioned, it refers to the Benjamin and Judah, the southern kingdom.

It was Jeroboam, the man to whom God would give the northern tribes and who revolted against King Solomon because of corvée, who sought a unified kingdom giving Rehoboam opportunity to maintain the entire kingdom. The representatives walked away proclaiming they have nothing to do with the house of David, which is the southern kingdom of Judah. Rehoboam decided to go to war with the northern kingdom, but God intervened and stopped him from starting the war.

Jeroboam begins to make altars for the people to make sacrifices so they would not go to Jerusalem to make them. His logic is good, but his outcome is bad. He knows if the people go to Jerusalem to worship and make sacrifices that they will want to reunite the kingdom. If he could get them to seek an easier form of worship, he could capture their hearts. He sets an altar in Bethel, which is at the southern border of the northern kingdom just above Jerusalem. He sets an altar in Dan, which is at the northern border of the kingdom. He makes it easier for them to worship. They do not have to travel as far to perform the rituals. He offers them what they desire mixed in with God’s requirements. This is syncretism. If you think about it, it is also the very thing Satan offers us as he tempts us. He did the same with Jesus in Matthew 4. His methods remain the same because they work, unless our eyes are on something greater.

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Map: Dan and Bethel

2 Chronicles 9

2 Chronicles 9 (1 Kings 10 and 11)

This chapter is found in 1 Kings 10.1-29 and 1 Kings 11.41-43 covers the visit from the Queen of Sheba, Solomon’s wealth, and Solomon’s death.

2 Chronicles 8

2 Chronicles 8 (1 Kings 9.10-28)

This chapter is found in 1 Kings 9.10-28 and covers the activities that occupied Solomon’s time.

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Ruins of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra

1 Kings 11

Verses 1-13 describe the core of Solomon’s downfall. It was not evident when he began marrying foreign wives (read this as not of the same faith). However, God warned that being unequally yoked will lead to failure (Deuteronomy 7.1-5 and 2 Corinthians 6.14-18). When we allow others into our life that do not influence us toward God, we will be influenced toward their god. In this case Molech/Milcom or Chemosh, a god of fire, to whom children/babies were sacrificed.

His failure to obey resulted in three ever-present enemies. In the verses to follow, we will see Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam rise against Solomon.

Verses 14-25-Hadad is the first enemy we encounter. He is from the east. The text tells us he survived being killed by David when he fled to Egypt (2 Samuel 8 and 10). The second adversary is Rezin. He was causing trouble in Israel throughout Solomon’s reign.

Verses 26-40-The third enemy is Jeroboam. He flees to Egypt as he escapes the hand of Solomon. Solomon knew that Jeroboam would rule the northern territory upon Solomon’s death. So, Jeroboam, knowing this as well, stayed in Egypt until he heard of Solomon’s death.

Verses 41-42-Solomon dies.

When you die, what will be your legacy? You see for all the good Solomon did, his last years marred what he did. Think of Joe Paterno and the cases of child molestation at Penn State. Although he was not involved, he overlooked the incidents and his legacy is forever tarnished.

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1 Kings 10

1 Kings 10 (Cf. 2 Chronicles 9)

Verses 1-13 parallels 2 Chronicles 9.1-12. The Queen of Sheba’s visit is presented. Many believe Sheba to be a country north or east of modern day Yemen, bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. However, it was also a dual kingdom, which crossed the Red Sea into Ethiopian territory. From whatever side she came, the Queen and her entourage traveled more than 1,400 miles to visit Solomon. Hers was a strong kingdom, gaining power and wealth from Arab traders.

The Queen of Sheba had opportunity to watch Solomon deal with his people and with his God. This was a great witness to her. As the end of verse five presents, she was speechless. Yet it comes after Solomon’s worship, and not his wealth. The Queen went back to give testimony of Solomon’s greatness. Nevertheless, it appears, she also testified of the greatness of Solomon’s God too. It is possible that many converts were made due to this encounter. We read of the Ethiopian eunuch in the book of Acts (Acts 8.25-40). After this encounter we also read of countless numbers of Ethiopians helping God’s people.

Are people going home to tell their family and friends about you or about your God?

Verses 14-29 presents Solomon’s wealth and parallels 2 Chronicles 9.13-28. He received more than twenty-five tons a year in gold as an income. When you read the passage it appears as though gold was running down the streets it was so common. It appears he also had a zoo.

Solomon disregarded God’s commands about horses and trading with Egypt (Deuteronomy 17.16). In one phrase he did both for he was a horse trader with Egypt. These verses, 26-29, lead into chapter 11 and Solomon’s downfall.

What will lead to your downfall? What one area in your life are you overlooking or disregarding from God’s Word that you know you should follow but you are walking away from (James 4.17)?

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Possible location of Sheba

Ecclesiastes-An Overview

The conclusion of the matter that Solomon comes to after he concludes this book is the realization that life is meaningless without God. The book is to convince man of the worthlessness of any world view that takes into account man’s world alone, i.e., how life would be without God. Today we see this throughout Europe, and we see the beginnings in the United States.
We need to pray that our focus returns to God.

See Pastor David’s sermon on Ecclesiastes: NOTHING EVER CHANGES . . . UNLESS YOU LOVE THE LORD

1 Kings 9

1 Kings 9 (Cf. 2 Chronicles 7.12-22)

Verses 1-9 parallel 2 Chronicles 7.12-22 except for the addition by the writer of the Chronicles of verses 12-18. Second Chronicles does provide an explanation of verses one in the chapter. All that Solomon desired is defined as the two buildings that he built (the Temple and his compound 2 Chronicles 7.11).

God offers two types of promises or covenants in these verses, as was explained in 2 Chronicles 7.12-22. These are conditional and unconditional. For an explanation of these see our discussion in 2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 27.

God appears to Solomon for the second time (see 1 Kings 3.4-15). There are no details, merely the statement. It seems as though God spoke to him through a dream; in other words, there was no audible voice of God. God gives Solomon assurance that He has heard Solomon’s prayers. His answer is the unconditional covenant of a ruler on the throne. God then informs Solomon of the conditional covenant He has made with those He has chosen and created from the beginning of time (i.e., Deuteronomy 28.36–37 and29.24ff.). You obey and God will bless. You disobey and God will chastise. It is interesting in what we see in Israel today. We do not see the Temple. What we see is the Mosque of Omar, which is really the Dome of the Rock. Is this God’s promises fulfilled in judgment?

Verses 10-28 parallel 2 Chronicles 8. What is found in these verses are the buildings and other activities in which Solomon was involved. A reference to corvée is presented again (see our explanation of this in 1 Kings 5). This chapter details cities and strategies of Solomon.

Will God be blessing you today or disciplining you today?

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Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer Map-1

Megiddo, Hazor, and Gezer Map-2

Psalm 150

This marks the fifth of the five “Hallelujah Psalms” that close the book of Psalms. Each of these psalms begins and ends with “Hallelujah.” Compare this psalm with Psalm 1. Both have six verses. Psalm 1 opens with the man who is blessed and Psalm 150 closes with the God who is praised.

How do you praise Him? How do you worship? Think about your reaction to your favorite singer, show, or team. What do you do when you hear them, watch them, or see them? That exuberance should dominate your response to God who is everywhere evident. Is it?

Psalm 149

This marks the fourth of the five “Hallelujah Psalms” that close the book of Psalms. Each of these psalms begins and ends with “Hallelujah.”

This psalm is a bit more disturbing in its nature and has caused many to wage war in the name of God. The Peasants’ Revolt and the Thirty Years’ War to name two used verses 6-9 as their marching orders (Davidson, 1989). This is the worst possible interpretation of these verses. This is merely a psalm of praise to God who gave victory over nations to Israel. It is not a call to arms but a proclamation of praise for what has occurred as are the other psalms in this group.

After reading this psalm, where and how do you praise God most often?

Psalm 148

This marks the third of the five “Hallelujah Psalms” that close the book of Psalms. Each of these psalms begins and ends with “Hallelujah.”

Everything is made to praise Him. All creation is made to praise Him, not merely those with breath. The heavens are command to praise Him (1-6), the earth is commanded to praise Him (7-10), and we are called to praise Him (11-14). We are called to praise Him without regard to what others are doing. Praise Him.

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Let Everything That Has Breath – Phillips, Craig and Dean