LINK: 1 Kings 3-4
BACKGROUND
Chapter 3 tells of Solomon's request for wisdom from God and the display of that wisdom when he judged between two women claiming one baby.
Chapter 4 tells how Solomon set up his administration and of his great fame. Solomon reigned 40 years, approximately 971-931 B.C. Here is a map demonstrating the extent of Solomon's rule.
REFLECTION
In 1 Kings 3:3 we read:
Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
Solomon loved God and worshiped him and obeyed him . . . EXCEPT for one thing. He used the high places for sacrifices instead of obeying God's command to sacrifice only at the tabernacle. These "high places" will lead him away from God and will take the nation of Israel away from God as well.
Do I worship and obey God in all of my life . . . EXCEPT one thing? Is there something that I hold onto? Is there just one thing that I want to do my way instead of God's? Those exceptions, those "one thing" items in my life can lead to a lot of trouble. They are opportunities for Satan to gain entry into my life and lead me astray.
APPLICATION
God gave Solomon the opportunity to make one request of him, and Solomon asked God for wisdom. He asked for an "understanding heart." He didn't ask for head knowledge; he wanted a heart that would discern well by God's standards.
Do you know that you can ask God for wisdom as well? In James 1:5 we are told that if we lack wisdom we should ask God for it. And God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, will give it to us. One word of caution, though, you have to have faith, not doubting that God will answer your request (v 6-8). So, go ahead, ask God for wisdom to discern what's right in your life.
PRAYER
Lord, I want my life to be entirely yours with no "EXCEPT one thing" that I hold back. Search my heart and show me anything that is keeping me from wholeheartedly obeying and serving you. Give me wisdom to meet the trials in this life in a way that is pleasing to you, so I will grow to maturity in you. I love you, Lord. I want to serve you with my life and obey you from my heart. Because of Jesus, Amen.
4 comments:
I wonder why Solomon used the high places when God had said not to. We are all such strange creatures! I'm sure Solomon had his reasons - maybe he was trying to keep his people happy, maybe it was easier. Doesn't it say somewhere that his wives led him astray? Whatever... it's sad. Good lesson for us not to rationalize obedience to God and when we do, to recognize what we're doing.
This week, I was listening to a teaching on a CD. The speaker mentioned that "wicca" and "witch" are derived from the same origin as the word for "wicked." I tried to look it up, but wanted to stay away from websites that are literally wicked. Some word origins mention that "wicca" and "wicker" are from the same root word to mean "bend" as in wicker furnitures are branches bent or shaped. As believers we are to walk the "straight" and narrow path. Perhaps there is an association to wicca and the sinful man "bent" toward sin.
The speaker also mentioned the connection between "wicca" and "Babylon". Remember the "Tower of Babel"? Man was attempting to build a high place to reach God. This was rebellion and man was trying to be self-sufficient rather than depending on God.
Perhaps the "high places" represents the wicked heart of man wanting to be self-suffient and doing things his own way, rather than listening to the voice of the Lord in humility (bowing before God.) Does seeking high places reveal a "haughty" spirit in stark contrast to lying prostate before a Holy God?
The Hebrew word used in this passage is bamah, which meant "an elevated place" or "hill top." These high places were already there when the Israelites arrived and had been Canaanite places of worship or ceremony. Early in Solomon's reign, they seemed to have been used as places to worship the Lord, especially at Gibeon. But use of the high places will gradually become more and more associated with idol worship, and the term will come to refer to sanctuaries on the elevated places where idols are worshiped. There are ruins of high places all over Israel. Apparently they were located near almost every village and in many cities.
Yes, Becky, Solomon's wives did lead him astray. They continued worshiping their pagan gods and Solomon joined them -- even building new high places for their gods. (1 Kings 11:1-8)
As we continue reading through 1 & 2 Kings, we'll see the high places become a huge issue in their role of idol worship in Israel. There will be a statement made about many of the kings as to what they do with the high places.
Hi tea42. :) I hope I can clarify a few things for you here --
According to Webster, wicked, wicca, and witch all come from the Middle English word wikke, which means "evil" and/or the Anglo-Saxon word wicca, which means "a witch."
The word "bend" comes from the Middle English word benden or Anglo-Saxon word bendan, and both mean "to bend."
And the word "wicker" comes from the Middle English word wiker or wikir, which is thought to be derived from the Old Norse vikker, or "willow."
(You can look up word derivations safely at www.dictionary.com.)
I really don't think the word origins for "wicked" and "wicker" are the same. However, the speaker's point that we have a bent toward sin is true. Scripture supports that point. "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick (or wicked); who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)
I'm not sure what the connection would be between the words "wicca" and "Babylon." Maybe I'd have to hear the speaker to follow it.
Although the tower and the high places are both areas of sin and elevations, I think they are not quite the same thing. The tower of babel was an attempt to "make a name for ourselves" and was both pride and disobedience to God's command to spread out and fill the earth. The high places, as we will read in upcoming chapters and books, are places to worship pagan gods. They represent not so much the issue of pride as turning away from the Lord, a spiritual harlotry. Both are sin, both are turning away from God, and both called for drastic action from God. But babel was an attempt to elevate man, so to speak, and the high places elevate other gods.
It is true that the "high places" represent man doing things his own way, which, of course, is a form of pride/haughtiness. Israel (with the exception of a few godly men) refused to listen to God and do away with the high places. Their disobedience is definitely a stark contrast to "lying prostrate before a Holy God" (as you said) and submitting in obedience to him.
Whew! That turned out to be long! I hope it makes sense and is helpful to you. :)
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