So the Lord said to Solomon, ''Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.''
Dear people of God, King Solomon is renowned for his wealth, wisdom and splendor.
''1 Kings 2:34 At Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream , and God said, '' Ask for whatever you want me to give you.''
''1 Kings 9 :2 '' the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. ''
And his fame about his wisdom was so wide spread, that people used to come from different nations to listen to him:
''1 Kings 4:34 Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.''
Though he has tasted the goodness of God in all the areas of his life, if we read through the 11th chapter, we see that God's wrath comes upon Solomon to that extent that God wants to tear his kingdom away, and says that He will do it, 'most certainly'!
Dear people, is it not really alarming and fearful to see God's fury rousing on the same Solomon whom He blessed so abundantly and shown His surpassing goodness?
This means there is something very very serious that Solomon had done that triggered God's wrath on him?
Despite that Solomon seems to have been careless in heeding to God's instruction.
Lets see how was his behaviour:
''1 Kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God as the heart of David, his father had been.''
''1 Kings 11:9 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. Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command.''
From the above Scriptures, we can discern that Solomon had multiple excuses behind his actions.
What did Abraham do when God wanted Isaac back?
And therefore God gave Isaac back.
If we are slack, then the light within us turns to darkness..
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Dear people of God, King Solomon is renowned for his wealth, wisdom and splendor.
God blessed Him so abundantly, that he was not just famous for his wealth and wisdom, but also for his relation to the name of the Lord.
We read in the Holy Scriptures that God appeared to Solomon two times:
We read in the Holy Scriptures that God appeared to Solomon two times:
''1 Kings 2:34 At Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream , and God said, '' Ask for whatever you want me to give you.''
''1 Kings 9 :2 '' the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. ''
And his fame about his wisdom was so wide spread, that people used to come from different nations to listen to him:
''1 Kings 4:34 Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.''
Though he has tasted the goodness of God in all the areas of his life, if we read through the 11th chapter, we see that God's wrath comes upon Solomon to that extent that God wants to tear his kingdom away, and says that He will do it, 'most certainly'!
Dear people, is it not really alarming and fearful to see God's fury rousing on the same Solomon whom He blessed so abundantly and shown His surpassing goodness?
This means there is something very very serious that Solomon had done that triggered God's wrath on him?
Lets meditate and learn what went wrong with King Solomon:
''1 Kings 9:6 But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods, and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated in my Name.''
When God appeared to Solomon the second time, we learn that God has given him stern instructions of the consequences, if he fails to keep His decrees.
''1 Kings 9:6 But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods, and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated in my Name.''
When God appeared to Solomon the second time, we learn that God has given him stern instructions of the consequences, if he fails to keep His decrees.
Despite that Solomon seems to have been careless in heeding to God's instruction.
Lets see how was his behaviour:
''1 Kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God as the heart of David, his father had been.''
''1 Kings 11:9 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. Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command.''
From the above Scriptures, we can discern that Solomon had multiple excuses behind his actions.
In the 4th verse we see that he had many wives and it is they who turned his heart after other gods.
But what did God look at?
But what did God look at?
In the 9th verse, we can see the emphasis on God warning Solomon twice.
But Solomon still did evil in the eyes of the Lord, led astray by his wives.
Dear people, God here did not look at why Solomon could not keep His command, and who were behind!
He only looked at his attitude !
Lets read again :
'' 1 Kings 11:10,11 Solomon did not keep the Lord's command. So the Lord said to Solomon,''Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.''
Now, if we mediate on this, we understand that the one factor that was missing in Solomon's attitude was ''Diligence''.
He was slack in keeping the Lord's command.
He was slack in keeping the Lord's command.
Although God appeared to him twice and had forbidden him from going after other gods, Solomon was slack in his attitude.
And due to this lack of '' diligence '' in keeping God's command, he came under the wrath of God, and God raised adversaries against Solomon.
If we read the words of God when his fury broke out, God specifically used the
If we read the words of God when his fury broke out, God specifically used the
term ''Attitude.''
Dear people of God, ''Attitude'' plays a very key role in our relationship with God.
Dear people of God, ''Attitude'' plays a very key role in our relationship with God.
God did not really delight in the Temples Solomon built for HIM when it came to observing His commands.
Our bodies are HIS Temples, and our hearts, the sacrifice He desires.
And our God is a jealous God.
If we turn our hearts to anything else, giving more importance than God, and become slack in keeping His commands, He will ''most certainly'' punish us for our attitudes!
Therefore dear people, let us learn from Solomon's life this hour and decide to be ''diligent'' in keeping God's commands.
Given any situation, ask yourself first, what does my God wants me to do in this specific situation? And take His counsel and Diligently DO what HE commands you to do in that situation.
Do not be careless in keeping His instructions.
Many of us act very casually and chase after the desires of our hearts, even after God has given a different instruction for that matter.
Most of us tend to forgive ourselves for not being able to do God's command, presuming God will understand, thinking 'God knows why I am not able to do this, God loves me so He will ignore this one time' etc..
Do not deceive yourselves with such tricks of the enemy, God's people!
Do not deceive yourselves with such tricks of the enemy, God's people!
These are nothing but devils smart tricks to make us disobedient.
Come hail or storm, practise doing the will of God, and keep His commands, even if it has to cost your jobs, or you have to lose someone close to your heart, or if it leaves you without a penny in your pockets. Do NOT compromise.
What did Abraham do when God wanted Isaac back?
Abraham trusted God is able to raise him back from dead, but HE did not make impressions on God or did not doubt Him or did not even grumble, but sincerely obeyed to do His will.
And therefore God gave Isaac back.
God's intention was not to take Isaac back, but only to test Abraham's faithfulness.
Abraham's faithfulness surely reflected in his attitude and he was diligent in doing what he was commanded to do.
Abraham's faithfulness surely reflected in his attitude and he was diligent in doing what he was commanded to do.
Abraham loved God more than his son.
He did not even question God as why is He doing this with him, neither did he have an argument with God stating it is too painful for him to sacrifice Isaac, and if theres something else he could sacrifice in the place of Issac.
Instead, he was Diligent in doing what God commanded him to do.
Dear ones, when we trust God totally and love Him with all our heart, and set our focus on God's promises, Diligence will come out easily.
Word of God says Abraham trusted God is able to raise Isaac from the dead.
Dear ones, when we trust God totally and love Him with all our heart, and set our focus on God's promises, Diligence will come out easily.
Word of God says Abraham trusted God is able to raise Isaac from the dead.
He did not go taking Isaac with a presumption that God might have changed His mind about the promise He has given him, therefore God is taking him away forever.
God promised Abraham, that it is through Isaac he will be made the Father of many nations and Abraham believed it.
Abraham's Focus was just on the promise of God, and this enabled him to think right, and stay confident in faith, when God tested him.
God was pleased with his faithfulness, that was reflected in his attitude, when he was diligent in carrying out His command, and God sent an angel to save Isaac, just in time !
Therefore dear people, lets be careful in our attitudes when it comes to keeping God's commands.
God loves us and knows our strengths and weaknesses, but we need to wear the right attitudes when it comes to honoring His decrees.
God was pleased with his faithfulness, that was reflected in his attitude, when he was diligent in carrying out His command, and God sent an angel to save Isaac, just in time !
Therefore dear people, lets be careful in our attitudes when it comes to keeping God's commands.
God loves us and knows our strengths and weaknesses, but we need to wear the right attitudes when it comes to honoring His decrees.
When He is pleased with our attitudes, He will give us all that we desire, more than we could ever imagine.
This pertains also to the various situations that we face in our lives, daily.
This pertains also to the various situations that we face in our lives, daily.
God does give us His direction and instructs us through HIS word, and sometimes through women and men of God, the direction we ought to take in our affairs.
And once we receive the instruction and are assured that this is what God wants us to do in a specific matter, then we must be DILIGENT in keeping the instruction given, and not neglect or ignore God's leading.
Though King Solomon was so blessed and God loved him, yet, just in the matter of his Attitude, Solomon brought God's fury upon himself.
Therefore, as dearly loved children of God, let us practice Diligence, in keeping the Lord's commands.
And once we receive the instruction and are assured that this is what God wants us to do in a specific matter, then we must be DILIGENT in keeping the instruction given, and not neglect or ignore God's leading.
Though King Solomon was so blessed and God loved him, yet, just in the matter of his Attitude, Solomon brought God's fury upon himself.
Therefore, as dearly loved children of God, let us practice Diligence, in keeping the Lord's commands.
If we are slack, then the light within us turns to darkness..
'' Luke 11:35 See to it then, that the light within you is not darkness. ''
Lets pray ..
Father, thank you for speaking to us this hour and letting us know how critical it is to have diligence in our attitudes.
Lord, forgive us if we have failed in this attribute and have sinned against you.
Cleanse us this hour as we pray and help us to hold on to your word with due diligence, for you do not delight in sacrifice, but in the devoted hearts of your children.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
God Bless You.
