11 Chronicles Chapter 1

Solomon Worships at Gibeon

• 2Chronicles 1:1  And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 
• 2  Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. 
• 3  So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 
• 4  But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 
• 5  Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. 
• 6  And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it. 

Solomon had a great beginning. He started his reign by worshipping the Lord and seeking Him. The kingdom of Israel was now about 81 years old. Saul had reigned 40 years. After him was David. Now it was Solomon's time to serve. Sadly after his reign the kingdom is divided into two. The northern kingdom was Israel and the Southern Kingdom was Judah.

Right at this time though things were great. Israel was a great nation. No enemies could defeat it but they had peace and God blessed them abundantly.

If only we would stay in our first love for the Lord and not get away from that wonderful time when we first came to Jesus and was born again by the Holy Spirit. This was years before Jesus came, died for sin and returned to the Father after the resurrection. He gave the Holy Spirit to all who would receive Him to abide with us forever. That first love, the beginning is wonderful. We are cleansed from sin, we have the joy of our salvation and much more. Yet the enemy of our souls tries hard to lure us back into sin. We have the power to resist it but sometimes we don't.

This leads to trouble. This is how sin entered the world in the beginning in the garden of Eden. This is why Jesus had to leave Heaven, live among us without sinning even once. yet paid for committing sin even though He had none. By faith in Him, repenting of sin and receiving Him into our lives, we start anew, we are born again by The Holy Spirit.

Even though the time of Solomon was before the coming of Jesus, by sacrifices and obedience to the law they were exercising faith in God to bring in the final sacrifice which was His own beloved Son, Jesus. They didn't have to forsake God for idols. Idolatry and departing from God was what caused the nation to be split into two nations after the death of Solomon.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

• 2Chronicles 1:7  In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. 
• 8  And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. 
• 9  Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
• 10  Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? 

If only all those in authority would feel this way whether they be kings, priests, governors, teachers, pastors, presidents, superintendents, managers and all that lead. To seek God for wisdom and guidance would be the best thing to do if one is sincere and not just praying or speaking that to make themselves appear to be a good leader.

• 2Chronicles 1:11  And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 
• 12  Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. 

God granted him all that most human beings would desire to have. What would most of us ask God for if we knew for certain He would give it?

• 2Chronicles 1:13  Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel. 

He must have felt very responsible and sincere about the task before Him. As we shall see though later in Solomon's life, he had his weaknesses, the same weakness as his father before him but David would have never tolerated idolatry for in spite of David's weaknesses, he loved God.

Solomon Given Wealth

• 2Chronicles 1:14  And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. 
• 15  And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance. 
• 16  And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. 
• 17  And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means. 

The law given by the hand of Moses forbade the multiplying of horses and wives.

• Deuteronomy 17:16  But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. 
• 17  Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 

This is what led Solomon into idolatry. Alliance with Egypt would cause going back into bondage for a different reason. Dependance upon Egypt is similar to having a love for the world instead of God. Many times they would go to Egypt in times of famine. Naomi and her family fled to Moab during a famine. She ended up losing her husband and sons. Good came from it though since she brought her daughter in law Ruth back to Israel. Ruth chose Israel's God over the false idols of her own nation. So in good came from it. God has mercy and sometimes will turn things around if we seek Him in sincerety and truth.

Multiplying wives led to idolatry when the beautiful women he desired caused him to build places of worship for the idols they worshipped. He could have used the wealth differently. All that God gives to us should be for good not evil. When we marry it should be to someone who loves God and puts Him first.

Right that this time in Solomon's life though, things were great. He was in his first love for the Lord and all was good.

11 Chronicles Chapter 2