When It All Fell Apart

Hello, everyone. All right, let's start with a word of prayer. Dear God, we come before you this evening in the middle of our week just to escape the daily hustle and bustle that has happened thus far and to turn again our focus to you and to just get that refresher of your spirit in us. I pray that we can leave everything that is stressful so far about this week or that hasn't gone right at the door and that we can focus on you and really worship you and praise you in the way that you deserve. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. All right, if you

guys want to stand with me for this first song.

Jesus is coming like a bright church ready and so come Lord Jesus and so come Lord Jesus will be justice all will be new your name forever faithful and true Jesus is coming soon Jesus is coming like a bright church ready and so come Lord Jesus and so come Lord Jesus will be justice all will be new your name forever faithful and true Jesus is coming help me seek your kingdom first as Jesus walked so I shall walk one мет Maestro still my soul oh lift your voice and pray father not my will but yours be done that god i made obedience it was hell to bear that wondrous love my hope was sure when there my savior pray but yours be done still my good father yes to one great as jesus rose so i shall run with all your

sins i sing father not my will but yours be done as we go forth our god and father lead us that

all the world might see did have as your church voice and pray Dear God, thank you for giving us this time to worship you together as your church. I pray that as Pastor Ryan comes up, that you guide what he has to say and give him the assurance that he's teaching us what you are wanting us to hear at this moment. Please be with us as we go about our week and keep you at the forefront of our minds. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Good evening. If you would open up in your Bibles to the book of 1 Kings, chapter 11. 1 Kings, chapter 11. Well, as sometimes is the case, you come to a chapter in the Bible that you just wish didn't exist. You just wish this chapter wasn't there because everything was just going so good. You know, the last time that we were together, we saw kind of that golden age of Solomon's reign.

And everything was awesome. He had just built the temple, dedicated the temple. God appeared to him for a second time. And when God appeared to him for a second time, he reminded him of what he needed to do. That he needed to continue to walk with the Lord wholeheartedly. That he needed to keep his heart and his mind focused on the Lord. And as long as he would do that.

As long as he would obey God. That there would never cease to be a descendant of his on the throne. But as we come to chapter 11, we see it kind of falls apart. Matter of fact, I've entitled it, When It All Fell Apart. And so we pick up in chapter 11, verse 1. And it says this. Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Along with the daughter of Pharaoh. Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women.

From the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel. You shall not associate with them. Nor shall they associate with you. For they will surely turn your heart away after other gods. And Solomon held fast to these in love. He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods.

And his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God. As the heart of David his father had been. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians. And after Milcom, the detestable idol of the Ammonites. And Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. And did not follow the Lord fully as David his father had done. And then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the detestable idol of Moab.

And on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem. And for Molech. The detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. This also he did for all his foreign wives. Who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. It starts off with one simple saying, simple phrase. And in the New American Standard it translates that now King Solomon loved many foreign women. But in this particular instance I prefer the New King James Translation.

Because it gives that conjunction that shows us an exact opposite direction. Because in the New King James Translation it says, But. Solomon loved many foreign women. And it sets it in such stark contrast to the previous chapter. The previous chapter where God had appeared to him. The previous chapter where Solomon was sacrificing three times a year to the Lord.

The previous chapter where everybody's bringing Solomon gold. And he's being a witness to the nations around him. Because the Queen of Sheba had come and asked him questions. And she was so impressed. And praised God for everything that she had seen that Solomon had done. And everything seemed like it was going. So good. Everything seemed like everything was in place for Solomon.

But Solomon loved many foreign women. And these were women of the surrounding nations. And were given the specific statement that they were from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel. You shall not associate with them nor shall they associate with you. For they will turn your heart away after other gods. You see. When the children of Israel had come into the land.

God told them they couldn't make a covenant with the people of the land. They weren't to intermarry with the people of the land. And it had nothing to do with racial reasons. It had everything to do with religious reasons. Because the people of the land followed gods that were foreign. They followed gods that were not actually gods but were demonic in nature.

And they followed gods that were worshipped through the sensuality of the flesh instead of the holiness that God desired. And so he said you can't intermarry with those people. And as a matter of fact. He said you have to. Destroy those people. And rather than destroying them. He married them. And eventually they turned his heart away after other gods. And we're given the indication of just how much this happened.

Because we're told that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. That is such an unbelievable number of spouses. Right? Listen. Sidebar. Funny sidebar in my opinion. I live with three ladies right now. And I know. Well I'm just saying. I can't imagine a thousand. Half of them. Right? Like that's a situation right there. It's just me and Carl in the house with nothing but girls.

Right? Carl's my little dog. And it's just us and nothing but girls in the house all the time. And dude had a thousand of them. Now there's two reasons why he would have married these women. One was for political reasons. And we do need to realize that. That there were political alignments that were made. That some of this was a power play on the part of Solomon.

And it was very much done in the culture at that point in time. But it wasn't just for political reasons that he married these women. It was for sensual reasons too. And we have to realize that. We have to realize that this was to an extent Solomon pursuing the lust of the flesh. And we're given this commentary about what happened. It says for when Solomon was old.

And we'll come to that in just a moment. When Solomon was old his wives turned his heart away after other gods. And he was not wholly devoted to the Lord. In other words his heart was divided. His heart was divided. Between the one true God who he was still sacrificing to three times a year. I would like to point out. We never read that he stopped sacrificing to God.

He was still doing that. But he was also sacrificing to these other gods. Because his heart did not wholly follow the Lord. He had this divided heart. And I think that that's an important thing in our culture for us to pay attention to. Because often times the problem is not that we don't have some form of worship of God. Often times the problem in our culture is that we only have one form of worship of God.

And then our heart is divided with all of the other things in the world. And we give God Sunday and Wednesday. Or we give God Sunday morning. And maybe we give God a couple of days a week. Maybe three or four days a week. But there's still a part of us that's divided between God and the world. Between God and the idolatry of the world. And that was the problem that Solomon had.

Is that he was divided between the one true God who his father had worshipped. Who had appeared to him. And the gods of all of the women that he had married. And it says that as he had this divided heart. That he began to build high places for these other gods. As a matter of fact, notice what it says. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians.

And after Milcom, the detestable idol of the Ammonites. And if you jump down to verse 7 it says he built a high place for Chemosh. The detestable idol of Moab on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem. And for Molech, the detestable idol of the Ammonites. There's some interesting things. About these gods. The first one is Ashtoreth. Ashtoreth was the goddess of fertility.

And you can only imagine how Ashtoreth was worshipped. It wasn't in really holy ways. But then Milcom and Molech. Most feel like that's an interchangeable name for the same god. Was actually worshipped through infant sacrifice. And isn't it kind of interesting. That one god was a god of pleasure. Sexual pleasure that was worshipped. And then another god was worshipped through the sacrificing of infants.

It's almost like they had unbridled. Passions and then when they didn't want to deal with the consequence of the unbridled passions. They would sacrifice the baby to the god of Chema or to the god of Molech. It sounds a whole lot like our culture today. Doesn't it. Where where people say well you know what are we supposed to do if we had these unwanted pregnancies.

Well perhaps we should realize that with pleasure comes responsibility. And then if you understand that you can't sacrifice a child to the god of pleasure because that's not what God has ever intended. You see there's really nothing new under the sun. We've always tried to deal with the consequences in some other way other than actually dealing with them. We've always tried to eliminate the consequences only now we do it through really sterilized ways called abortion.

And we deal with it in perhaps what they would consider the most sterilized ways possible. And it's treated as if it's just a woman's choice but it's it's fascinating. One of the pastors that I was listening to today Lloyd Pulley who's out in New Jersey as a matter of fact. This church has gone. And created mobile sonogram stations. They have a sonogram machine inside of a van and they will travel around to places throughout the area of New Jersey offering sonograms to women.

Hopefully getting them to understand that that's a living being inside. And he was going into a little bit of detail with this church about what happens in an abortion. And as you sit and listen to it you're almost just sort of stopped at the thought of what takes place. I mean I mean you know it happens. And I've watched some of the movies and some of the videos but it just it just sort of stops you in your tracks.

It's it's kind of like when you hear about what they did with the God Moloch you know that the God Moloch was his hands were out like this giant metal hands that were out like this and they would heat those hands up white hot and well I think you know what happens next and you hear it and you go what barbarians what were these people thinking how could they do that until you realize what happens in an abortion.

clinic and then you think what barbarians are we how would they ever allow that to happen so Solomon's heart was divided it was divided between the one true God and these other gods that he not only allowed to take place there but he built idols but he built statues too it says he he built them he built them for all of these foreign wives that he had who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. Well as I was thinking about this today and and kind of going through the the list of all the things that he did I thought I wonder what the heart of some things that we should pay attention to here are. What's the heart of what we need to notice about God because I want to point out one thing to you that it says it says that God had appeared to him.

Twice well we don't got to that part yet he's going to go on to say God had appeared to him twice. And yet this is still what took place. And so what was at the heart of the problem so I wrote down a handful of things. I didn't put it up there on the board number one this has to do with Solomon's downfall number one he ignored God's clear instructions Solomon had it completely ignored God's clear instructions if you're writing things down you might write Deuteronomy 17 we've referenced it several times here recently but in Deuteronomy chapter 17 there was commands that were given for the time when the children of Israel would ultimately desire a king and God said when you when you crown a king when you anoint a king over you.

When you anoint a king over you. These are some things that he should not do he should not multiply unto himself horses he should not multiply unto himself silver and gold and he should not multiply unto himself wives horses check silver and gold double check wives a thousand check right he should not do these things God had laid out clear instructions for what they what they were to do and not to do and he absolutely violated God's command.

God's clear instructions for what a king was not to do and as a matter of fact if you continued on in the law you would realize that it said God told him don't intermarry with the women of the land because this is exactly what's going to happen and we have to understand something as the church we have to understand something as Christians when we ignore God's clear instructions we only have consequences to face we cannot think that we will be the ones that will escape if we ignore what God has clearly told us. God has clearly told us. Number two.

He allowed good bad company to corrupt good morals he allowed bad company to corrupt good morals now I will 100% throw Solomon under the bus on this he should have never married these foreign women that was absolutely something he should not have done. But the reason why he should not have done it is because we have a tendency to fall to the lowest common denominator. We will usually fall to the level to which we hang around. The most and if who we hang around with the most is living down in the gutter then we will find ourselves descending to the gutter.

That's why the Bible says as iron sharpens iron I'm going to believe a Solomon that said this is iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another. He allowed bad company to corrupt good morals and listen it's easy for us as adults to look at kids and say kids pay attention to this. Because. Bad company corrupts good morals be careful who you who you are friends with be careful who you date and do all of these things with because they will corrupt your good morals but I want to remind us all of something.

Solomon was old. This is not instructions for kids. This is a warning to old people that's us that's us in here right now except for like five of you right. We're all the old people now and we have to pay attention to this. Because it's easy for us to think peer pressure is what happens to kids. No peer pressure is what happens to adults. You have no idea the stories of pastors that just keep falling scares me to death right.

All these pastors that just keep falling and you know why. Because bad company corrupts good morals and if you don't pay attention to what God has to say and you allow bad company to be what you keep it will eventually corrupt good morals. I tell kids this all the time what you put into your ears will come out in your life. What you put into your eyes will come out in your life.

The people that you spend the most time around is who you will become the most like. Who do you spend your time with. Because he says bad company corrupts good morals. Number three the flesh is never satisfied the flesh is never satisfied. You would think if anybody would have finally found the one right. Solomon's like well they say the five hundred ninety ninth the charm right.

If anybody had found the one it was Solomon if anybody had finally said at last I have found the one woman that can give me all of the pleasure I could ever imagine in all of life but the flesh is never satisfied. I always say this about men but quite frankly it's just true of humanity we don't always care what's on TV we only care what else is on TV right. Like like sometimes that's just who we are as human beings we're never satisfied you know how I know we're never satisfied because they keep coming out with new stuff right. If we were satisfied.

Our economy would fall apart right now because our economy is built on covetousness that we need one one new thing we need one more thing in life and that will actually satisfy us but the flesh will never be satisfied you will always want something else that's why I used to always jokingly call HGTV the devil's channel because you could have just moved into your house loved your brand new house and then ladies you turn on HGTV right and you're like oh I'd like to remodel the bedroom now.

Your husband's like no right but but then guys go look at cars right I mean it's just it's who we all are because the flesh is never satisfied it matter of fact Solomon says that exact thing in Ecclesiastes if you want to understand how much the flesh is never satisfied read Ecclesiastes. What's the what's the theme of Ecclesiastes vanity vanity emptiness emptiness everything is emptiness because the flesh is never satisfied you always want that next thing. Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes.

find that that next new thing. Number four. And this is where I think we really get to the heart of things Solomon lived off of past experiences. Solomon lived that off of past experiences. First time I really paid attention to a message about this particular chapter was a guy by the name of Andy Stanley, who I absolutely would not recommend you listen to now, speaking of pastors that have drifted.

I would not listen to Andy Stanley, but I this was a little over 20 years ago. on this. And he said, the problem that we have is we live off of the experiences of yesterday. You can imagine Solomon as he was slowly drifting away from the Lord, continuing to say two things. But God appeared to me, and I built that temple. But God appeared to me, and I built that temple.

As he marries another wife, as he builds another idol, as he adds a little more gold, as he brings in some more horses, and then marries another wife. But I built that temple. But God appeared to me. And he keeps living off of those old experiences. The problem with living off of old experiences is there's nothing fresh in your life. There's nothing new in your life.

And God cares less about your past experiences, and he cares more about your current status. Who are you now? I was thinking about this name as I was studying for this, and so I looked up a couple of articles on him. A famous old evangelist named Charles Templeton. Perhaps you've heard of him. Maybe you haven't. He was a contemporary of Billy Graham's. As a matter of

fact, they roomed together in a little bit of their seminary experience, and then as they both worked for an organization called Youth for Christ. And Charles Templeton was a, many thought perhaps, an even more powerful evangelist than Billy Graham. Only Charles Templeton started getting into liberal theology. He started questioning things about God's Word. As a matter of fact, Billy Graham started questioning things about God's Word.

But Billy Graham became settled in how he felt about God's Word, and Charles Templeton did not. To where eventually, Charles Templeton wrote a book called Why I Don't Believe in God Anymore. And he fell away from the faith. There's an interview that Lee Strobel did with Charles Templeton towards the end of his life. The last couple of years of his life, he had Alzheimer's. But in one of his lucid moments, Lee Strobel interviewed,

him and asked him about Jesus. And he said, I think Jesus was the greatest man that ever lived. I think he was, he was one of the greatest men that you could ever hope to be. And he said, but what do you think about Jesus? And he said, I really miss him. And he started to cry, and he said, that's enough of that. And they moved on with the interview. Brothers and sisters, you can't live off past experiences. Who are you now?

who are you now in Christ what is God doing with your life now because when you start to fade it's not the past experiences that will keep you going it's God's present work in your life that's the most important thing but Solomon did the same thing that a lot of us do he lived off those past experiences and then number five he allowed himself to slowly drift he allowed himself to slowly drift I don't believe that anybody that falls away from the faith does so in one fell swoop I don't think Solomon found himself building idols on the first day that he married someone who was a foreigner someone who also worshipped idols I don't think he he started off building those idols

for her no no it was a slow drift it was slow compromises it started off with doing some of the things the king wasn't supposed to do amassing the horses amassing the gold and silver amassing the wives until until eventually you you kind of start to drift off course just a little bit and what at one point in time brought a great deal of conviction in your life doesn't bother you quite as much as it used to because because you slowly start to drift away just a little bit and and the relationship with God's not as fresh as it used to be you you perhaps you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you perhaps don't spend the time with the Lord that you used to your prayer life's not as good as it used

to be and and quite frankly you don't remember the last time that you opened up your Bible and and then eventually you start to drift and drift and drift until you're so far off course that you can't find your way back anymore see that's what happened to Solomon is he began to slowly drift away from the things of God and you can only imagine what perhaps some of the people that around him were around him would have been like perhaps saying things like Gosh, I don't remember David doing those things. Gosh, I don't know if that's the way your father would have done it. And perhaps he just sort of pushed him back. Because that's what happens when we drift away from the Lord.

We don't want to hear what other people have to say. We just want to keep doing what feels good to us in the moment. And he slowly drifted away until one day it was written about him. But King Solomon loved many foreign women. And they turned his heart away from the Lord to where he did not follow God wholeheartedly as his father David had done. What a tragic thing to be written about you.

But that's what happens when you slowly drift away. Well, because God is faithful, he began to confront Solomon. And he brought adversaries into his life. And so we pick up in verse 9 and this is what it says. Now the Lord was angry. He was Solomon because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. And had commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go after other gods.

But he did not observe what the Lord had commanded. So the Lord said to Solomon, Because you have done this, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you, and I will give it to your servant. Nevertheless, I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father, David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant, David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.

God was angry with Solomon, as well he should have been. Because after all, to he who much is given, much is required. And not only had God blessed Solomon more than any other king, probably in all of Israel's history, but God himself had appeared to him twice. In a way that no other king had had God appear to him. And even in spite of all of that, his heart was still turned away from the Lord.

And God said, Because you didn't do what I told you. You see, Solomon couldn't claim ignorance at this point in time. After all, God had appeared to him twice. And told him exactly what he needed to do. He couldn't claim ignorance. He couldn't claim that he never had a really good spiritual experience. Because God had appeared to him twice. He couldn't claim that he didn't have every benefit that he could have possibly had.

Because God blessed him immensely. And so God was angry with him. And God said, Because of what you've done, I have to tear the kingdom away from you. And yet, even in judgment, God was still merciful. He said, But because of my servant, David, I will not tear away the kingdom completely. I will give a portion of it. I will give most of it to your servant. And we'll come across this guy.

In just a moment. But I will only leave you with one tribe. Because of my servant, David. And so God begins to raise up these adversaries. Notice what it says in verse 14. The Lord raised up an adversary to Solomon. Hadad, the Edomite. He was of the royal line in Edom. For it came about when David was in Edom. And Joab, the commander of the army, had gone up to bury the slain.

And had struck down every male in Edom. For Joab and all Israel stayed there six months. Until he had cut off every male in Edom. And Hadad fled to Egypt. And certain Edomites of his father's servants with him. While Hadad was a young boy. They arose from Midian and came to Paran. And they took men with them from Paran. And came to Egypt. To Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Who gave him a house. And assigned him food. And gave him land. And Hadad found great favor before Pharaoh. So that he gave him in marriage to the sister of his own wife. The sister of Tappanese. The queen. The sister of Tappanese bore him a son. Gnubath. Whom Tappanese weaned in Pharaoh's house. And he was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh. But when Hadad heard in Egypt.

That David had slept with his fathers. And that Joab the commander of the army was dead. Hadad said to Pharaoh. Send me away that I may go to my own country. And he said. What have you lacked with me? That behold you are going to. Or that you are seeking to go to your own country. He answered nothing. Nevertheless you must surely let me go. And then God also.

Well we'll deal with Rezin here in just a moment. Says he raised up an adversary. The word adversary means opponent or enemy. In other words God raised up enemies. Against Solomon. And the first enemy that he raised up. Is this guy by the name of Hadad the Edomite. Who had survived one of the attacks. That David had brought against the Edomites. And fled away.

And ended up basically being raised as royalty there in Egypt. Because he ends up marrying Pharaoh's daughter. And there's no good reason for him to leave Egypt. Because he's a prophet. He's a part of the royal family at this point in time. Until he hears that David and all of his servants are dead. And he says. Now it's time for me to go back. And perhaps seek revenge.

And so this Hadad begins to be a thorn in the flesh of Israel. And starts basically launching guerrilla warfare attacks. To the southern end of Israel. Okay so picture where Egypt is on the southern end. Starts launching guerrilla attacks against them. Becomes an adversary. Well there's one other adversary that he raises up. Says God raised up another adversary.

Another adversary to him. Rezin. The son of Eliadah. Who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah. And he gathered men to himself. And became a leader of a marauding band. After David slew them of Zobah. And they went to Damascus. And stayed there. And reigned in Damascus. So he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon. Along with the evil that Hadad did.

And he abhorred Israel. And reigned over Aram. And so on the northern end. You have this guy named Rezin. Who also sort of raises up a guerrilla army. That comes against the nation of Israel. All because of what Solomon had done. Because sin always has far reaching consequences. Well there's one more adversary. And this is a guy we'll pay attention to for a couple of chapters.

There's one more adversary that's raised up against Solomon. It says then Jeroboam. The son of Nebat. An Ephraimite of Zerida. Solomon's servant. Remember what God said? He said. I will tear away the kingdom from you. And I will give it to your servant. He says. Jeroboam the son of Nebat. An Ephraimite. Solomon's servant. Whose mother's name was Zerua. A widow also rebelled against the king.

Now this was the reason why he rebelled against the king. Solomon built the millow. And closed up the breach of the city. Of his father David. Now the man Jeroboam was a valiant warrior. When Solomon saw that he was a young man. That the young man was industrious. He appointed him over all the forced labor. Of the house of Joseph. Now this guy Jeroboam. We're told two things about him.

Valiant warrior. Industrious guy. Young guy living there in Israel. An Ephraimite. And he was sort of put in charge of the forced labor. That helped to build the millow. Now if you remember a couple of chapters ago. That was basically a structure just outside of the palace. And it was forced labor. He put many of the Israelites to forced labor. And this is the reason why he began to rise up.

Many believe that the reason why. Jeroboam was rebellious within the kingdom. Against Solomon. Is because he was sort of a man of the people. Right? He was sort of the people's ruler. And he heard the complaints of the people. Perhaps they were overtaxed. Perhaps they were overworked. Perhaps they didn't like that Solomon was enjoying all of the wealth. While they were doing all of the work.

So he sort of started this uprising. Right? Well in the process of him starting this uprising. Within the kingdom. You have enemies on the south. You have enemies on the north. And you have enemies within. It says. Verse 29. It came about at that time. That when Jeroboam went out to Jerusalem. That the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. And Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak.

And both of them were alone in the field. Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him. And he tore it into twelve pieces. And he said to Jeroboam. Take for yourself ten pieces. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel. Behold I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon. And give you ten tribes. But he will have one tribe. For the sake of my servant David.

For the sake of Jerusalem. The city which I have chosen. Because of all the tribes of Israel. Because they have forsaken me. And have worshipped Ashtoreth. The goddess of the Sidonians. Chemosh the god of Moab. Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon. They have not walked in my ways. Doing what is right in my sight. And observing my statutes and my ordinances. As David did.

Nevertheless. I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand. But I will make him ruler all the days of his life. For the sake of my servant David whom I chose. Who observed my commandments and my statutes. But I will take the kingdom from his sons hands. And give it to you. Even ten tribes. But to his son. I will give one tribe. That my servant David may have a lamp always.

Before me in Jerusalem. The city where I have chosen for myself. To put my name. Now. He tells him. That he tore his robe into twelve pieces. This prophet Ahijah. This is what prophets did back then. Right? Like sometimes I wish we had really dramatic prophets like this today. Right? Can you imagine if I came up here. And I started telling stories like that.

Like I start tearing up clothes. I'm like. Behold. Anyway. That's what they did at that point in time. So he tears his robe into twelve pieces. And he says. Here are ten of them. Because ten of the tribes are going to be yours. One of them is going to be left with Solomon. Now I bet you're doing quick math right now. Right? We forgot to carry the one somewhere.

Where did the other tribe go? Well there's two explanations for this. I prefer the second explanation myself. The first explanation. Is that if you remember. Because of Simeon's sin. All the way back in the book of Genesis. They were told that they would be scattered throughout the land. And so Simeon really didn't have much of an inheritance in the land. There were small portions that belonged to Simeon.

But kind of scattered throughout the land. That's one thought as to why there's ten and one. Instead of ten and two. But this is the reason I believe this is true. The tribe of Benjamin. Their inheritance sat right in the middle of the territory of Judah. And the two southern tribes. That end up making up what we refer to as Judah. Later on in the book of Kings.

Were made up of both Judah and Benjamin. I think that's what it means. When it says ten of them will belong to you. The ten northern tribes. Which will become known as Israel. And then one of the tribes, Judah. Which will encapsulate Judah and Benjamin. Will belong to Solomon. And will be known as the southern kingdom. Or Judah. And so it's broken up. But I want you to notice something.

Something's really important in verse 36. But to his son. Meaning Solomon's son. I will give one tribe. That my servant David may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem. The city where I have chosen for myself to put my name. Why is that verse important? Two reasons. Mercy and Messiah. It's important because God in the midst of all of his judgment. Still showed mercy.

And I'm here to tell you right now. When you are on the receiving end of God's correction. Knowing that he is still merciful in the way that he corrects us. Is one of the most peaceful thoughts you can ever have. I believe it was Jeremiah the prophet that said. Lord correct me. But please do it gently. And in even all of this. Which just feels terrible for what's happening right now.

God was still merciful. He was still merciful because of David. And God in his correction of us as believers. Is still merciful. Not because of David. But because of David's descendant Jesus. But the second reason why it's important. He says there's always going to be one tribe. That will still be in the line of David. Because of the Messiah. See God still had a plan for redemption.

And man's sin. Solomon's sin. Would not stop God's plan of redemption. God would still bring the Messiah through the line of David. Through the tribe of Judah. The line of the tribe of Judah would still prevail. In spite of the sin of Solomon. And brothers and sisters. I am so glad that my sin does not stop God's plan of salvation. That there's nothing that I can do to thwart God's plan.

Because he will still move with or without me. Amen. And so. So we see that in verse 36. In verse 37 it says. I will take you. And you shall reign over whatever you desire. And you shall be king over Israel. Pretty good day right. Then it will be that if you listen to all that I command you. And walk in my ways. And do what is right in my sight. By observing my statutes.

And my commandments. As my servant David did. Then I will be with you. And I will build you an enduring house. As I built for David. And I will give Israel to you. Thus I will afflict the servants. Or the descendants of David. For this. But not always. Now I find it interesting. That God gives Jeroboam. The exact same command that he gave to David. And the exact same command that he gave to Solomon.

But you still have to obey me. You still have to have a heart. That is completely devoted to me. Reminds me of that verse that says. God's spirit searches the earth. For someone whose heart is steadfast towards him. You know grace is a beautiful thing. And I love that God showers us with his grace. That it is his grace that has saved me. It is his grace that will keep me.

And it is his grace that will lead me home. But grace is not there so that I can sin. Grace is there so that I can obey. God has given me grace so that I can walk in obedience. And I think that's one of the things we have to remember. In this age where grace is taught so stoutly. Is that we have to remember that grace is not there for our license to sin. Grace is there as our strength for obedience.

Because the obedience that God desired of the Old Testament saints. Is the same obedience that God desires of New Testament saints. It's just that he has given us everything that we need. For life and godliness. Because of his grace. And so he tells them. I still need you to obey. But if you will. Then you'll always have a descendant on the throne. Notice what happens in verse 40.

Solomon sought therefore to put Jeroboam to death. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt. To Shishak king of Egypt. And he was in Egypt until the death. Of Solomon. I find this interesting. Because I read this thing the other day. It says when you get really radical about obeying God's word. It's not the people of the world that want to crucify you. It's lukewarm Christians that do.

And I thought man that's really true. Because look at what's going on right now. All of a sudden Jeroboam. He's the one that God chose. And perhaps is following God wholeheartedly. And who wants to kill him? Not the enemies of God. Solomon. Why? Because when you're walking strong with God. A lukewarm Christian. Feels really convicted by it. And they just want you to stop.

And that's exactly what's happening with Solomon. And so. We come now to verse 41. So God has brought these three. These three adversaries against Solomon. One of whom will eventually take over a portion of the kingdom. And now we come to the death of Solomon. Notice what it says in verse 41. Now the rest of the acts of Solomon. And whatever he did. And his wisdom.

Are they not written in the book. Of the acts of Solomon. Thus the time Solomon reigned in Jerusalem. Over all Israel was 40 years. And Solomon slept with his fathers. And was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place. So we find that. Sort of closes the chapter on Solomon. We're told that there was another book. That a lot of the acts of Solomon were written in.

It would be fascinating to read it. To my understanding. We no longer have a possession. Nobody has the book of the acts of Solomon. There's lots of extra biblical books. That are referred to in scripture. That were never canonized. And this is one of them. But it would be fascinating to read some of the other things. I'd always be fascinated to read. Just who all came and talked to Solomon.

Who all he gave wisdom to. Who all he spoke proverbs to. And perhaps even a little bit more about his downfall. But we're told that. And of course he reigned for 40 years. He was around the age of 60. When he died. And had about the same amount. Of time reigning as David had. And then of course. Was buried in a very honorable way. In the city of David. Because no matter what his sin was.

The people still respected what he had done. But I do have a couple of final thoughts. On Solomon. A couple of final thoughts. That I think that we should perhaps think about. As we look at this life. That man it started so good. And it ended so bad. Right. So number one. Final thoughts. Number one. You can't just start strong. You have to finish strong. You can't just start strong.

You have to finish strong. And the world is full of stories. Of people. That started off guns a blazing. They started off fired up. They started off rolling towards the things of God. And it seemed like they were going to burn. Bright for God. And then they sort of sputtered out towards the end. There's a great clip that goes around. Usually around the time of the Olympics.

Or Olympic trials. And things like that. And it's of somebody who had far and away. They were going to beat everybody in this foot race. I don't remember what the distance was. But they were far and away going to beat everybody in this foot race. I mean like so far. But they started celebrating too soon. And they start kind of waving at everybody in the crowd.

Because they thought everybody was so far behind them. They'll never catch up. And they started off so strong. And as they're waving to everybody in the crowd. Somebody who wouldn't give up passes by. And ultimately beats them in the race. That's the perfect picture of what happened to Solomon. He started off so well. You started off well. What hindered you?

It's like in the book of Galatians. You started off so well. What has hindered you? Why did you stop running the race so well? We need to finish strong. Because that's what God desires for us. You can't just start strong. You have to finish strong. But number two. In order to do so. You have to take active steps. You have to take active steps. And I've written down two verses.

That I think that we should pay attention to. I want you to turn to these. The first one is Proverbs chapter 4. Verse 23. These are the two active steps. I think that we have to take. If we're not only going to start strong. But finish strong. Go to Proverbs chapter 4. By the way written by Solomon. And if he would have paid attention to his own words. He might have done something.

Proverbs chapter 4. Verse 23. It says this. Watch over your heart with all diligence. For from it flow the springs of life. I prefer again the King James translation of this one. It says guard your heart with all diligence. I looked that word up today. And you know what the word watch over means? It means to guard. In other words. Guard what goes in here. Guard what you meditate on.

Guard what has your affections. Guard yourself against those things. Because listen. There's always something that's going to want to pull you away from God. There's always something that's going to want to distract you. There's always something that is seeking for your allegiance. Right? Rich Mullins wrote a great song about this. He says the stuff of earth seeks for the allegiance that I owe only to the giver of all good things.

And that's exactly what it is. Kids. We have so much. Sorry. I talk to kids a lot during the week. Friends. Y'all. I call y'all kids. We have so many things that want to distract us through the week. We have so many things that want to distract us in the world. And we have to beware of those things. Because the things that distract us become what we focus on.

And what we focus on becomes our affection. And what becomes our affection becomes our division. It's slow. But it's sure. And Satan is always in it for the long game. And if he can distract you a little bit now. Just a little bit. Then he can take you down in the future. So guard your heart. Be on constant guard of what holds the affection and the attention of your heart.

How do we do that? Go with me one more place. Go over to Psalm 139. Familiar? Because we were just there the other day. Psalm 139. I want you to look at verses 23 and 24. It begs to be read again. Psalm 139 verses 23 and 24. Of course his father David wrote this. And if he paid attention. He says, Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts.

And see if there be any hurtful way in me. And lead me in the everlasting way. How do we guard our heart? How do we take active steps to not just start strong but to finish strong? We have to constantly go before the Lord and say, Examine my heart. Figure out what's really going on on the inside of me. Figure out what my affections are. Pinpoint the things in me that are not good.

Pinpoint the things in me that are not healthy. Pinpoint the anxieties that have led me away from you. Pinpoint the hurtful things. Remember we said that word meant grievous. The things that grieve the heart of God. Point those things out to me. So that I can get rid of them. So that I can walk with you wholeheartedly. And God is always willing to do that. But listen.

He won't do it if you don't surrender. He won't do it if you won't open up your heart to him. If you say, No, I'm going to close off. Eventually God will say, If that's the way you want it to be. Then that's the way you want it to be. I will never forget praying a very dangerous prayer. When I finished Bible college. I was flying home from California. I said,

Lord, whatever you have to do. I want you to do it. And I'm here to tell you right now. That's a painful prayer to pray. But I'm so glad that I did. It led me through two of the hardest years of my life. But those two very hard years of my life have led me to where I am today. Because it always starts with, Lord. Search my heart. Search my heart and know me.

But you have to be willing to let God show you things. You have to be willing to claim it when God says, This is what's going on. You can't say, No, that's not true. Because God doesn't tell lies. You can't say, No, Lord. You can't have this part of my heart. You can go in those four doors. But this one. This one's mine. No. Eventually you've got to open them all up and say,

Lord, you've got to search everything. Search the whole house. Because everything's got to get cleared out. Everything's got to get cleaned out. Because anything that would keep me from knowing you has got to go in my life. Because if God can't have all of your heart, then you can't guard your heart. And from your heart spring all of the issues of life. Amen?

Father, we come to you now. And Lord, it's always hard to read this about Solomon. Lord, it's always hard to see a life that started so good and ended so bad. And Lord, all we can do now is learn from it. And so, Father, I pray that you would give us hearts that are open to you. That you would give us hearts that are willing to see the issues that we have. And are willing to clear out the issues that we have.

That are willing to surrender. To be honest with ourselves. To be honest with you. And Lord, that we would guard ourselves from the affections of this world. And so, Lord, we open ourselves up to you tonight and say, Do what you will in us. Do what you will in us. Search us and know us. See if there's anything grievous in our hearts. And Lord, lead us in an everlasting path.

In Jesus' name. Amen. Be blessed.