1 Kings 9:1,2 "And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, ² That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon."

Solomon was privileged with a second appearance of God, coming to him on the night following the dedication of the Temple. Solomon is assured by God:

	That his prayer was heard (1 Kings 9:3 ).
	That God had set apart the Temple to Himself.
	That God had put His name there forever.
	That continually God's eyes and heart would be there.

Then God renewed the Davidic covenant with Solomon (1 Kings 9:4-5 ). Solomon was promised God's special presence but conditionally upon fulfilling God's commandments and statutes (1 Kings 9:4 ). The same conditions were binding upon his sons and the people after him (1 Kings 9:6-7 ). Failure would result in Israel being cut off from the land and the Temple destroyed (1 Kings 9:8-9 ). Conditions to God's promises to us must be observed by us to obtain or continue in them.

Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.

1 Kings 9:12,13 "And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. 13 And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day."

"According to Josephus they were situated to the northwest of it, adjacent to Tyre, though lying within the boundaries of the promised land (Genesis 15:18, Joshua 1:4 ). They had never been conquered till then, and were inhabited by Canaanite heathens (Judges 4:13, 2 Kings 15:29 ). They were probably given to Hiram as remuneration for his important services in furnishing workmen, materials, and an immense quantity of wrought gold (1 Kings 9:14 ) for the Temple and other buildings." Michaelis - quoted by Jamieson, Fawsett and Brown

Hiram regarded the area as "Cabul", literally - "good for nothing."

"Evidently Solomon later regained possession of the region (2 Chronicles 8:2 ). Hiram sent Solomon about 144 000 ounces of gold." Ryrie

The lesson for us is to see to it that we give good return for faithful service.

Details of Solomon's accomplishments in building are recorded (1 Kings 9:15 ).

MEGIDDO a fortification that controlled a pass between the plains of Esdraelon and Sharon - site of Armageddon (Rev 16:16 ). MILO, an older section of Jerusalem was rebuilt. HASOR was also an important geographical city. GEZER a gift to Solomon's Egyptian wife (1 Kings 9:16 ).

Other places he built up were lower BETH HORON, BAALATH, and TADMAR. He built storage cities, and cities for his chariots and horses (1 Kings 9:19 ). Halley tells of the uncovering of the ruins of the stables where Solomon's horses were kept, in Megiddo. All this required taxation of the people and forced labour, though the Israelites were generally exempt. Oppression is not condoned by the Word (1 Kings 9:20-22 ).

Deuteronomy 24:14 "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates."

Forced labour played a part in the later collapse of the kingdom.

1 Kings 9:26,28 "King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. ²⁸ And they went to Ophir, and acquired four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon."

With the assistance of Hiram, Solomon extended his influence by sea.

Ophir: "The location is not clearly identified. Possibilities are S. Arabia, the coast of the Red Sea known as Punt, the ruins of Zimbabwe in E. Africa, or possibly India. S. Arabia is perhaps the favourite choice of Scholars." New Bible Commentary Revised

The gold amounted to about 504 000 ounces. From his experience Solomon tells us the value that comes from wisdom is better than that coming from fine gold (Proverbs 3:14 ).

1 Kings 10:6 "And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom."

Hearing of Solomon's fame and wisdom, the Queen of Sheba travelled 1 200 miles on camel back to visit him. She was overwhelmed by the splendour of Solomon's court, and the greatness of his wisdom. Possible the Queen of Sheba was converted to Yahweh by what she saw and heard (1 Kings 10:9 ). To refuse the attraction of the greater than Solomon - the Lord Jesus, is to incur greater judgment (Matthew 12:42 ).

However Solomon justified it, by accumulating horses and stables, taking to himself a large harem and personal great wealth, he was compromising in his lifestyle the clear command of God (Deuteronomy 17:11-20 ). God's Word must not only be believed, it must be practiced by us. Heathen wives turned the heart of the king from God. 1 Kings 11:4-8 makes very sad reading. His building skill was used to build temples for false gods to please his foreign wives, and he became an idolater and faced inevitable judgment. The false gods mentioned were "Chemosh" (1 Kings 11:7 ), a worship that was carnal and licentious, and "Molech" (1 Kings 11:7 ), worship included sacrificing children, forbidden by God (Leviticus 18:21; 20:1-5 ).

How did Solomon come to sin so terribly? Because his heart was changed toward God (1 Kings 11:4 ). What a warning this is to watch our heart attitude towards God. God had appeared to Solomon twice yet he turned from the Lord. The anger of God was aroused against him. God's judgment was the tearing of the kingdom away from him.

1 Kings 11:11 "... 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."

Yet in judgment God practiced mercy:

1 Kings 11:12 "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."

It is a false teaching which holds that a leader remains so unconditionally, that when he does wrong he is still to be followed. A leader who disobeys God's word in conduct, loses the right to lead. This is also true when teaching the compromise of God's truth.

1 Kings 11:14 "Now the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, ..."

God will not let those rest who have become disloyal to Himself and His Word. God raised up three main adversaries against Solomon:

	Hadad the Edomite (1 Kings 11:14-22 ).
	Rezon the son of Eliadah (1 Kings 11:23-25 ).
	Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:26-28 ), Solomon's servant, who resented the force labour which Israelites had to perform part of each year.

All opposition cannot be assumed to be for righteousness' sake. Doing that which is not right will bring its consequences.

1 Peter 3:17 "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing."

God took action through the prophet Ahijah to fulfil His purposed judgment (1 Kings 11:29-31 ). What an extraordinary way to give a prophecy - tearing his new garment into 12 pieces, and giving ten pieces back to Jeroboam representing ten tribes he would rule. No doubt, when Solomon heard of it, he would call prophet Ahijah treacherous and disloyal, when in actual fact he was true to God and his calling. Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:40 ).

The reason for Jeroboam being given the ten tribes is spoken out clearly by the prophet, and should have warned Jeroboam of the judgment of God that falls upon apostasy (1 Kings 11:33 ). For David's sake the two tribes were to remain in the hands of his dynasty (1 Kings 11:34 ). Jeroboam is warned that his dynasty is conditioned upon heeding God's commandments, walking in God's ways, doing what is right in God's sight, keeping God's statutes and commandments (1 Kings 11:38 ). Among each new generation God raises up those whom He chooses to serve Him. God continues to put His unalterable standards before new generations.

What a sad end Solomon experienced! His departure from God into idolatry set the scene for judgment, which his death ushered in when he was about 60 years of age. Some assume Solomon repented, quoting Ecclesiastes 4:13 and Proverbs 31:1-3 in support of this. Actually we do not know. What we do know and need to remember, is that no amount of good achievement of the past makes a present disloyalty to God, acceptable. Disloyalty to God makes leaders castaways.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What did God say about the temple that answered Solomon's prayer? (1 Kings 9:1-3 ).
2. What were the conditions binding on Solomon and Israel, and what were to be the consequences of failure? (1 Kings 9:6-9 ).
3. Do you give a good return to those who serve you well? (1 Kings 9:10-14 ).
4. When you consider the details of 1 Kings 9:15-25, do you conclude the forced labour played a part in the later collapse of the kingdom?
5. What did God say about forced labour? (Deuteronomy 24:14; Jeremiah 22:13; Luke 10:7; James 5:4 ).
6. With whose assistance did Solomon extend his influence by sea? (1 Kings 9:26-28 ).
7. Is enterprising action a key to prosperity, and which is of more value: wisdom or fine gold? (Proverbs 3:14 ).
8. Did the queen of Sheba find Solomon's fame for wisdom was equal to his performance? (1 Kings 10:3-6 ).
9. Why did Jesus say "the queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it"? (Matthew 12:42 NKJV).
10. In what way do you believe it is possible to justify yourself by compromising a direct command of God? (Deuteronomy 17:11-20 ).
11. Why did God require a king to write his own copy of the law? (Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ).
12. Do you examine your heart by asking the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal its attitudes to you? (1 Kings 11:4; Psalm 139:23-24 ).
13. Would you follow a leader who you know is disobeying God in conduct, and compromising God's Word? (1 Kings 9:4 ).
14. Do you assume that all persecution or opposition is for doing right? (1 Kings 11:14; 1 Peter 3:17 ).
15. Which of those raised up in opposition to Solomon was the most dangerous to his kingdom?
16. Do you think that Solomon, when he heard of the unusual prophecy concerning Jeroboam by the prophet Ahijah, regarded the messenger of God as treacherous and guilty of treason? (1 Kings 11:40 ).
17. When God chooses a new servant does He change His conditions? (1 Kings 11:38 ).
18. Why did Solomon who began so well, come to such a tragic end? (1 Kings 11:41-43 ).
19. Do you think that works and achievements can make disloyalty to God acceptable?
20. Does successful living result automatically from the possession of wisdom?
21. In order to succeed, is it important to practice God's Word?