I Kings 11
Introduction
It is the Spirit of God who calls a people to Jesus and endows them with the capacity to become understand so that they to choose to respond to His call, believing in Jesus and thereby becoming a member of His bride. Those individuals are called upon to seek wisdom (New Testament phrase, “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)) as illustrated, for example, in Proverbs 1-3.
Solomon’s Example
Early in this book, we read of Solomon’s prayer at his inauguration as King in which he submitted this primary request to God:
7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
We then read God’s response:
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee (I Kings 3:7-12, KJV).
New Testament Parallel
So it is, when a person comes to Christ. He is given the Holy Spirit, which certainly means the wisdom of an understanding heart to judge (discern) people. He does so that we may discern good and bad. This is the essence of Hebrews 5:14, the theology of which can be summarized in following manner.
The development of the ability to discern good from evil by training and exercising one’s moral senses through consistent study and practice of God’s Word, prayer, and community guidance. This discernment goes beyond the obvious right and wrong, requiring a deeper understanding to distinguish subtle nuances and make ethical judgments aligned with a higher biblical moral standard, rather than relying on personal experience or societal trends.
Eroding wisdom Creates a Vacuum
By increasing foolishness through idolatry, one pushes God from one’s conscience and creates a vacuum that the evil one capitalizes.
How does a wiseman become a fool? How does a Christian man become and addict (a habituated sinner)? In the eleventh chapter of I Kings we find the answer for Solomon’s migration from wisdom to foolishness and from Solomon case, we learn how and why Christians become fools.
Solomon’s Model Is Instructive for Believers
- Solomon’s wisdom goes awry when he seeks good through sinful choices (11:1-2)
- Solomon’s wisdom goes awry when desires trump commands (11:3)
- Solomon’s wisdom goes awry when he ignores what he knows (11: 4-14). Compare and contrast Prov 15-23 with Prov 5:1-14.
- Solomon demonstrates that when a wiseman chooses to become a fool, he will earn a fool’s reward (11:15-23)
Conclusion
Drifting to the beckoning of the flesh is easy to do. It starts by moving from principle motivation to emotion motivation (James 4:1). It is fueled by pride, I deserve (2 Chronicles 32:25-25). The further we drift the more foolish we become. I am reminded of my read this morning in Jeremiah 4, “Thus says the Lord…, Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among the thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and remove the foreskins of your hearts.” Just one more way of saying, REPENT! And that is the implementation. When we drift, yield to desires, repent.