April 6 2026 - 1 Kings 5-8

A firmly established fact is that Solomon was a flawed character.  Wiser than all men, obeying God and trusting him in so many things, ruling wisely and protecting the nation; on the other hand, allowing idolatry, even introducing it to the nation through his many wives and concubines, and putting all sorts of burdens on the people by way of taxes and forced labor.  But there is also this, he built the temple, and the Lord said to him, “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.  And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel” (6:12-13).  This story reminds me of the situation in Jeremiah’s day.  The people had spurned God and had become idolaters.  When Jeremiah announced judgment, they thought they were safe because the physical temple was in their midst.  And so, they responded to Jeremiah:  “This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD” (Jeremiah 7:4).  This story reminds me of the prophets Amos and Micah.  The Lord, through Amos, rejected the people’s false religion and demanded, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24).  Similarly, Micah told the people of his day, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).  True religion consists not of physical buildings and empty religious ritual but of loving God and walking with him in daily obedience.  It was good that Solomon built the temple but even better is to love the Lord and live for him.

All to Jesus I surrender,

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.   --Judson W. Van DeVenter (1896)