SERMON NOTES
The Lord Was Angry With Solomon
1 Kings 11:1-40
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor
Overview: The final turning point in King Solomon’s life is when his heart is no longer devoted to the Lord, a process that has been a long time in the making but seems to accelerate in his latter years. Though he was instructed not to enter into marriage with anyone who worshipped other gods, Solomon does so on multiple occasions, deliberately pursuing such women and egregiously accommodating their false worship practices. The Lord is angry with Solomon because his heart has turned away from the Lord despite multiple appearances and clear commands from the Lord. Consequently, the Lord announces that He will tear Solomon’s kingdom away during the reign of his son. Although the Lord delays the fullness of His judgment, He raises up adversaries against Solomon, thus showing his actions have consequences for generations to come. Solomon’s unfaithfulness to the Lord, however, does not have the final word, as God declares that He will ultimately preserve the kingdom in order to keep the promise He made to His servant David.
01. The Lord has every right to be angry with His people when they sin continually, deliberately, and egregiously; let us accept His discipline as a necessary consequence of our rebellion.
02. The Lord has every right to be gracious to His people in spite of their sins due to the promise He has made to David’s Greater Son; let us receive this grace by faith and with humility.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. Compare 1 Kings 3 with 1 Kings 11. How does Solomon’s life look different between these two chapters? What is the condition of his heart in both chapters? What is the extent of his sin in both chapters? How does this expanded look at Solomon’s life encourage us to look at our own lives and evaluate our walk with the Lord?
2. Note the following phrases: “Solomon clung to these in love” (verse 2); “Solomon went after Ashtoreth … and after Milcom” (verse 5); “Solomon built a high place for Chemosh” (verse 7). In what ways do these instances show that Solomon was not passive with his sin or a victim of someone else’s decisions? What do these passages suggest about the aggressive nature of sin once it finds a foothold in our hearts? Pray that the Lord will enable you to fight against temptation, using Romans 8:12-17 as your guide.
3. In addition to commanding Solomon not to commit such sins, the Lord appeared to him twice (verses 9-10). Note, too, that Solomon’s heart turned away from the Lord “when he was old” (verse 4). What do these passages suggest about our need to grow in obedience as we age? How do these passages encourage us to reflect on God’s kindnesses to us in the past? Read Psalm 71:18 for further encouragement in this area.
4. What judgment did Solomon incur because of his actions? How did these consequences spill over into the lives of the people of Israel? In what ways does the presence of adversaries in Solomon’s life show God’s displeasure until fuller judgment arrives? How does this picture of a delayed judgment with warning signs present point us to the reality of God’s ultimate judgment against a lost world?
5. How does the promise God made to David in 2 Samuel 7 play a role in 1 Kings 11? How does God’s grace have the final word despite Solomon’s sins? In what ways does God’s grace have the final word in our lives as well? Read Romans 8:31-39 for further insight.
For Further Reading: Leon Morris, The Cross of Jesus Christ (Eerdmans, 1988)