And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept My Covenant and My Statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David My servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. (1 Kings 11:9-13)
Solomon’s heart was not wholly committed to obeying the Law of the LORD but worshiped other gods, which are no gods at all. God told Solomon that He would divide the kingdom after Solomon died into two kingdoms, the larger in the north unto one of Solomon’s servants, and the smaller kingdom of Judah and Benjamin would remain in the house of David. Because of God’s promise to David and because of the temple in Jerusalem, the city of God, God did not take all of the kingdom from David’s seed.
Because of his many wives and concubines, Solomon strayed from God’s Commandments and was disobedient in worship and in his heart toward the LORD. His lust and desire to please so many who brought their ungodly culture with them unto Solomon led to his downfall in following the LORD God. He set up opportunities for their false worship and allowed it to occur and eventually practiced it himself. God judged his disobedience with the loss of the kingdom, though for David’s sake God did not take it from him during his reign but upon his death. God set things in motion, after warning Solomon on two occasions, for Jeroboam to take ten tribes from Solomon’s son and split Israel into the divided kingdoms of Israel in the north and Judah in the south.
Regardless of whether it is our pride, or outright rebellion, or misled by those who are not of God, if we are not discerning and diligent in our walk with God, we can be distracted from what God is telling us, and our ministry may be destroyed or taken from us. The missions and ministry which we do for God is not our little kingdom, but part of what God is doing for His Kingdom and His glory. If we begin to think of anything as ours or are lured away from depending solely on God for that which He has entrusted into our stewardship, we will end up just as Solomon. The ministry which God has placed in our care may be taken from us and given to another. Those who are His people by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are called to serve God, not to gain or keep that which we have been given, but because of the love which God has shed abroad in our hearts. Those in Christ are commissioned and commanded to reach the lost with the Gospel, teach all nations all things whatsoever He has commanded, and to preach the Word in all places and in all situations until He is done with us. If we continue to sin, our attempts to hold on to that which we think we deserve, or begin to worship other things which are not God, it will lead us astray from obedience and continued faithful service. God may take that which He has entrusted unto us and give it unto others. Unlike Solomon, may we focus on God and remain faithful to all that He has called us to do for Him.
For while we are here, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Because of his many wives and concubines, Solomon strayed from God’s Commandments and was disobedient in worship and in his heart toward the LORD. His lust and desire to please so many who brought their ungodly culture with them unto Solomon led to his downfall in following the LORD God. He set up opportunities for their false worship and allowed it to occur and eventually practiced it himself. God judged his disobedience with the loss of the kingdom, though for David’s sake God did not take it from him during his reign but upon his death. God set things in motion, after warning Solomon on two occasions, for Jeroboam to take ten tribes from Solomon’s son and split Israel into the divided kingdoms of Israel in the north and Judah in the south.
Regardless of whether it is our pride, or outright rebellion, or misled by those who are not of God, if we are not discerning and diligent in our walk with God, we can be distracted from what God is telling us, and our ministry may be destroyed or taken from us. The missions and ministry which we do for God is not our little kingdom, but part of what God is doing for His Kingdom and His glory. If we begin to think of anything as ours or are lured away from depending solely on God for that which He has entrusted into our stewardship, we will end up just as Solomon. The ministry which God has placed in our care may be taken from us and given to another. Those who are His people by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are called to serve God, not to gain or keep that which we have been given, but because of the love which God has shed abroad in our hearts. Those in Christ are commissioned and commanded to reach the lost with the Gospel, teach all nations all things whatsoever He has commanded, and to preach the Word in all places and in all situations until He is done with us. If we continue to sin, our attempts to hold on to that which we think we deserve, or begin to worship other things which are not God, it will lead us astray from obedience and continued faithful service. God may take that which He has entrusted unto us and give it unto others. Unlike Solomon, may we focus on God and remain faithful to all that He has called us to do for Him.
For while we are here, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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