1 Kings

1 Kings 11: The LORD judges Solomon's heart

Begin in prayer

Before we read how Solomon's heart was turned away from the LORD, let us come to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to keep our hearts from idols, and to show us the Son whose heart never turned away.

The earth is full of your loving kindness, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes.

Psalm 119:64

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You judge sin and keep Your promise, and help us to trust You and Your Son, Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Solomon loves many foreign women, including Pharaoh's daughter, though the LORD had warned Israel against this. His wives turn his heart away, so that he builds high places for Chemosh and Molech. The LORD is angry, and He tells Solomon that He will tear the kingdom from him, but not in his days, for David's sake. The LORD raises up adversaries, Hadad and Rezon. Ahijah the prophet tears his garment into twelve pieces and gives Jeroboam ten of them, and Solomon dies after forty years.

As you read 1 Kings 11, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God judges sin, but He keeps His promise to David.

Solomon loved many foreign women, though the LORD had said that such wives would turn Israel's heart after their gods (verses 1 and 2). God made marriage for one man and one woman (Genesis 2 verse 24, Matthew 19 verses 4 to 6). In his old age his wives turned his heart to other gods, and he built high places for their gods (verses 4 to 8). The writer says plainly that Solomon did what was evil in the LORD's sight (verse 6). The LORD was angry, because He had appeared to Solomon twice and warned him against other gods (verses 9 and 10). He would tear the kingdom away after Solomon's days, and leave one tribe, for David's sake (verses 11 to 13). Ahijah tore his new garment into twelve pieces and gave Jeroboam ten, a sign of the torn kingdom (verses 29 to 31). Even then the LORD kept a lamp for David in Jerusalem (verse 36). Jesus is the Son of David who never turned away (Hebrews 4 verse 15).

How does 1 Kings 11 show us that God judges sin, and that He keeps His promise to David?

Solomon's wives turned his heart away.

Solomon loved many foreign women, and his wives turned his heart away from the LORD (verses 1 to 4). He built high places for Chemosh and Molech, the gods of the nations (verses 7 and 8). His heart was not perfect with the LORD, as David's heart had been (verse 4). Solomon did what was evil in the LORD's sight (verse 6).

The LORD judges sin, and He keeps His word to David.

The LORD was angry, and He said He would tear the kingdom from Solomon (verses 9 to 11). Yet He would not do it in Solomon's days, for David's sake (verse 12). One tribe would stay with Solomon's son, for the sake of David, the LORD's servant (verse 13).

Jesus is the Son of David who never turned away.

Solomon's heart was turned away, and the kingdom was to be torn (verses 4 and 11). Hebrews says that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4 verse 15). He is holy, guiltless and undefiled, set apart from sinners (Hebrews 7 verse 26).

Memorise

However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant’s sake.

1 Kings 11:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, is any idol still holding my heart, and do I trust Jesus?

Solomon's heart was turned away, and the LORD said He would tear the kingdom from his house. Jesus is the Son of David whose heart never turned from the Father, not for one moment.

He took the judgment that falls on a turned-away heart. On the cross He bore God's anger against sin, and He cried out that it was finished. He rose from the dead, and He is alive today. His death is enough for a heart that has turned away.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Bring Him the idols of your heart, the things you love more than God. Forgiveness and a new heart are given to every sinner who looks to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God judges sin and keeps His promise, and that Jesus never turned from His Father. Parents, Solomon's many wives were sin, because God made marriage for one man and one woman (Genesis 2 verse 24). Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He judges sin and keeps His promise, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

Father, thank You that You judge sin and keep Your promises. Thank You for Jesus, who never turned from You. May the Lord move each of us to turn from sin and to trust Jesus. Guard our hearts this week, so that we keep close to You. Amen.