1 Kings

1 Kings 9: The LORD keeps His word

Begin in prayer

Before we read how the LORD answers Solomon's prayer, let us draw near to the Lord together. Ask Him to give us hearts that trust Him alone, and to show us the Saviour who bore the curse for His people.

He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.

Psalm 40:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You keep Your word in blessing and in warning, 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

When Solomon finishes the LORD's house and his own house, the LORD appears to him a second time, as He had at Gibeon. The LORD says He has heard his prayer and made the house holy for His name. He promises a throne forever if Solomon walks in His ways, but warns that turning to other gods brings judgment. Solomon gives Hiram twenty cities in Galilee, and he builds Millo, the wall of Jerusalem and storage cities. Ships from Ezion Geber bring back four hundred and twenty talents of gold from Ophir.

As you read 1 Kings 9, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD keeps His word, and turning to other gods brings His judgment.

The LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had at Gibeon, once the building was finished (verses 1 and 2). He said that He had heard Solomon's prayer and made the house holy for His name (verse 3). If Solomon walked before Him as David did, in integrity of heart, his throne over Israel would stand (verses 4 and 5). If he or his children turned to other gods, the LORD would cut Israel off from the land (verses 6 and 7). He would also cast the house out of His sight, and passers-by would ask why (verses 7 and 8). The answer would be that the people abandoned the LORD, who brought their fathers out of Egypt (verse 9). The promise and the warning stood together, and both rested on the LORD's word. A holy house could not protect a people who turned from the LORD. Christ redeemed His people from the curse of the law (Galatians 3 verse 13).

How does 1 Kings 9 show us that the LORD keeps His word, and that turning to other gods brings His judgment?

The LORD keeps His word in blessing and warning.

The LORD promised to establish Solomon's throne if he walked in God's ways (verses 4 and 5). He also warned that turning to other gods would bring evil on the land and the house (verses 6 and 7). Both the promise and the warning came from the LORD's own word.

Turning to other gods brings the LORD's judgment.

The LORD said He would cut off Israel from the land He had given them (verse 7). Passers-by would see the ruin of the house and ask why (verse 8). They would answer that the people had forsaken the LORD who brought their fathers out of Egypt (verse 9).

Christ bore the curse for His people.

The LORD's warning fell on a people who broke His covenant. Paul wrote that Christ redeemed His people from the law's curse by becoming a curse for them (Galatians 3 verse 13). He took the judgment that their disobedience earned.

Memorise

Because they abandoned Yahweh their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold of other gods, and worshiped them, and served them. Therefore Yahweh has brought all this evil on them.

1 Kings 9:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what do I love more than the LORD, and do I turn to Jesus?

The LORD warned that a people who abandon Him and serve other gods would lose the land and the house. Jesus is the Son who never turned from His Father, and He came to bear the curse for His people.

On the cross He became a curse for His people, and He took the judgment on Himself. God raised Him from the grave, and He is alive. Nothing is left owing to the law.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Do not trust a holy house or your own goodness. He does not cast off those who take refuge in Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD keeps His word, and that turning to other gods brings His judgment. Parents, the warnings in verses 6 to 9 are plain, so explain them with care and in your own words. 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 His mercy is great, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For the Lord will not cast off forever. For though he cause grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

Lamentations 3:31-32

Father, thank You that You keep Your word in blessing and in warning. Thank You for Jesus, who bore the curse for His people. Please bring our family to turn from sin and to trust Jesus. Keep our hearts close to You this week, and help us to serve You alone. Amen.