Year 1, Week 46, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 46, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8, Psalm 150.

Today’s reading consists of parallel historical accounts concerning what the LORD said as the Temple dedication was coming to a close. 1 Kings 9, which begins with an account that coordinates with a previous day’s reading in 2 Chronicles 7, starts with the LORD acknowledging all that Solomon has said concerning the Temple dedication: “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time” (1 Kings 9:3). The remainder of 1 Kings 9 records the other matters in Solomon’s life and coordinates with 2 Chronicles 8. Today’s reading also includes Psalm 150 with its summons to praise the LORD: “Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!…Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:1,6).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the LORD’s clear warnings: “And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father” (1 Kings 9:4-5a). The LORD’s warnings pertaining to the need for faithfulness were directed to Solomon but also those kings who come after: “But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them” (1 Kings 9:6). The ominous warning orients Solomon to worship and obey the LORD exclusively. Kingly unfaithfulness would result in judgment upon the nation: “then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples” (1 Kings 9:6). The LORD continues to clearly spell out the dire consequences of kingly unfaithfulness when he poses a scenario: “And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?” (1 Kings 9:8). As Israel would be severely disciplined as a result of kingly unfaithfulness, the other nations would inquire how the LORD let this happen to His people. And the LORD continues this scenario by stating what His people would say about this inquiry: “Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the LORD has brought all this disaster on them” (1 Kings 9:9). While this warning is a hard warning, it is also a kind warning. 

Thus, Solomon knew what the stakes were for unfaithfulness. The LORD’s warning, on the occasion of the Temple dedication, soberly implies the loss of the Temple and most every other promised blessing for failure to be faithful. It is a kindness of the LORD to be clear what the consequences of unfaithfulness consist of. This warning from 1 Kings 9:6-9 needs to frame the rest of Israel’s history throughout the Old Testament, for it will serve as the interpretive grid to evaluate the kings and see how they would be preserving or jeopardizing Israel by their heart posture toward the LORD. These words also frame what immediately follows in the report concerning the additional accomplishments of Solomon’s rule as king. 1 Kings 8:10-28 (and 2 Chronicles 8:1-18), list some of the political, military, religious, and economic accomplishments (and challenges) in Solomon’s era. It is hard to get a sense of how these matters of state are being reported. The writer of Kings may be subtly implying some trouble issues for Solomon. For instance, Hiram is unhappy with the legal and financial arrangements between him and Solomon. Solomon conscripts the remaining Canaanites in the Land. Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter seems to be in trouble but it is not clear. The shipping and commerce initiated by Solomon appears to be flourishing. I suppose these are all things that kings do and are involved in, and the writer may be attempting to express a glowing appraisal of Solomon’s accomplishments; but I am not so sure. The requirements for what Israel’s kings must be (see Deuteronomy 17), seem to be at risk. Perhaps it is expressed through hints and nuances, but Solomon’s focus on international trade, domestic labor relations, and even marital matters, are adding up to suggest that either he did not fully grasp the LORD’s clear warning, or he did not take the warnings seriously. 

It was a high point in Israel’s history—the were domestically and internationally at their pinnacle. Readings from subsequent days will even more strongly state this fact. But the external peace and prosperity of the nation may be on the surface. It will take a few more readings before we are explicitly told where Solomon’s heart is at.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe