22 Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. 23 They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 24 There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. -1... Read more

33 Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. 34 This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth. -1 Kings 13:33-34 Why did God destroy his own kingdom? Because of the sins of his people. He loved... Read more

22 But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 23 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered. -1 Kings... Read more

9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. -1 Kings 11:9-10 Despite Solomon’s great accomplishments, history records the dark side of Israel’s most prosperous leader. In 1 Kings 11, we read about his numerous wives (700!) who eventually led Solomon to follow other gods. The key concern... Read more

6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the Lord... Read more

The Lord said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” -1 Kings 9:3 The temple was a big deal to God. When completed, he showed up to tell Solomon the Lord had consecrated, or set apart, this temple and had put his name there forever. His eyes and heart... Read more

56 “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 59 And... Read more

When all the work King Solomon had done for the temple of the Lord was finished, he brought in the things his father David had dedicated—the silver and gold and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple. -1 Kings 7:51 God gave David a vision for how the temple would be constructed, but commanded that David’s son would be the one to actually build it. Solomon obeyed, down to every last detail. 1 Kings 5... Read more

11 The word of the Lord came to Solomon: 12 “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. 13 And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.” -1 Kings 6:11-13 The Lord’s promises are good. In the case of Solomon, he was promised three things if he would follow... Read more

But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. -1 Kings 5:4 As king, Solomon was responsible for the people of his nation, a daunting job for any person. Yet he said, “But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.” Life had gone well, and to what did he credit this rest? God. God had given peace... Read more