Lesson 7

THE PLAN OF THE TEMPLE

1st Kings 6:1-38

The Temple was built on one of the mountains of Moriah. There is an immense shelf of rock here which furnished a firm and splendid foundation for the building of the Temple. The Islamic Mosque of Omar is built there today, but will be removed for the building of the new Temple in days to come.

It is possible that this was the very mount where Abraham offered up Isaac as a sacrifice to God. Gen. 22:2, And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

We know that this choice site was obtained by King David long before. 2nd Chron. 3:1, Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

I. INTRODUCTION. v. 1

A. Date of Start on Temple Building.

1. 480 years from the Exodus Egypt. They only had this temple for 380 years when it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

2. 4th year of Solomon’s reign.

B. He Began.

1. Every great work has a beginning.

2. God’s work of redemption had its beginning before the foundation of the world. 1st Pet. 1:20, Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

II. GENERAL PLANS OF THE TEMPLE. v. 2-10

A. The Measurements.

1. It was 90 feet long; 30 feet wide; 45 feet high; and the porch was 30 feet long. v. 2, 3. This was exactly twice as large as the tabernacle.

2. Remember the foundation. 5:17

3. Christ the foundation of salvation and of the church.

a. Christ not Peter is the rock. Matt. 16:18, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

b. Christ is the one true foundation of the church that He founded. 1st Cor. 3:11, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

B. Windows Were for Light and Air. v. 4

1. The ark had a window in the top.

2. Light comes from God.

3. Jesus is the light of the world.

4. The tabernacle had no windows and did not depend on the natural light, but was lighted by the candlestick.

C. Chambers v. 5, 6, 8,10

1. The chambers were built along the outside wall of the temple.

2. These small rooms were for the priests to stay while they were serving in the temple.

3. The priests were organized in courses. There was a set rotation of the priests and when they finished their course they went back to their regular dwelling place. Luke 1:8, And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course.

D. Silence. v. 7

1. Imagine the skill that must have been required to fashion every piece where it fit exactly.

2. Not to violate the law. Deut. 27:5, 6

2. Fanfare and noise is not the mark of God’s work.

E. Doors. v. 8

1. These were functional doors.

1. Christ is the door of salvation. John 10:9, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

III. SOLOMON CHARGED. v. 11-13

A. God Delivers the Charge. v. 11

1. Man should listen carefully when God speaks. 1st Pet. 1:25, But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

2. All scripture reveals what God has said to man. 2nd Tim. 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

B. The Content of the Charge. v. 12

1. If thou wilt walk in my statutes.

2. If thou wilt execute my judgments.

3. If thou wilt keep all my commandments to walk in them.

C. The Promise of the Charge. v. 12-13

1. Then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father. v. 12

2. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. v. 13

IV. FINISHING, FURNISHINGS AND ORNAMENTATION OF THE TEMPLE. v. 14-38

A. Materials v. 15

B. The Most Holy Place. v. 16-22

1. Materials and size

a. Gold is typical of divinity

b. Oracle — A technical term for both the ark and the room where it was kept the most holy place in the temple. v. 19

C. The Cherubim v. 23-28

1. Size and location.

2. The material used.

D. Walls and Floors. v. 29-30

1. Beauty wrought by skilled men.

2. Palm trees are typical of uprightness & fruitfulness.

3. Flowers are typical of beauty, fragrance and purity. Christ is upright, fruitful, and pure,

E. Doors and Carvings. v. 31-35

F. Seven Years in Building. v. 36-38

1. Many things that are worthwhile, take a long time to produce.

2. Seven is the number of divine perfection. Example: God created the heavens and the earth in six days and on the seventh He rested. Gen. 2:2, And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

V. THE TYPOLOGY OF THE TEMPLE

A. Like the Tabernacle, the Temple is typical of Christ and His work in many different ways.

B. Jesus spoke of His body as a temple. John 2:19, 21, Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up... But he spake of the temple of his body.

C. The believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. 1st Cor. 6:19, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 2nd Cor. 6:16-17, And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

D. The local Church is a temple. The saved and scripturally baptized Church member is a part of that building. Eph. 2:19-22, Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

— Lesson by E. L. Bynum

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Lesson 8

SOLOMON’S HOUSE & THE TEMPLE FURNISHINGS

1st Kings 7:1-51

Solomon launched into a vast building program early in his reign. The temple required seven years, and his own house and the other building took thirteen to complete. This means that twenty years of his forty year reign was spent in building. This was a costly undertaking that required high taxes and the conscription of much labor. This led to a feeling of discontent among the people and contributed greatly to the division of the kingdom.

I. SOLOMON’S HOUSE. v. 1-12

A. The Measurements & Types of Building Described. v. 1-8

1. Thirteen years in building. v. 1. No extensive preparation had been made for this, and there was no hast in building as in the case of the Temple.

2. The House of the forest of Lebanon. v. 2-5. This seems to have been an armory, 150' x 75' x 45' high. 1st Kings 10:17, And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. Isa. 22:8, And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.

3. The Porch of Pillars. v. 6 75' x 45'

4. The Porch of judgment. v. 7. 1 Kings 10:18, Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.

a. We need to be reminded that God has a judgment throne for the lost. Rev. 20:11, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

b. There is also a judgment seat for Christians. 2nd Cor. 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

5. The Kings own house. v. 8-a

6. The Queens House. v. 8-b.

a. Christ’s bride will dwell with Him. Rev. 21:2, And 1st John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

b. Paul described who the bride would be in his letter to the Corinthians. 2nd Cor. 11:2, For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

B. A Description of the Building Materials. v. 9-12

1. The materials. v. 9-11

2. The Great Court. v.12

II. THE FURNISHINGS OF THE TEMPLE BUILT. v. 13-51

A. The Description of Hiram’s Workings in Bras. 13-40

1. Hiram the Craftsman. v. 13-14. His mother was an Israelite woman of the tribe of Naphtali and his father was a gentile of Tyre. (Do not confuse Hiram with King Hiram).

a. The temple and its furnishings not only typify Christ, but also the believer.

b. This Temple should be as beautiful as the Holy Spirit can make it, therefore we should be yielded to His master strokes.

(1) Our bodies are called temples. I Cor. 3:16-17, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Cor. 6:19, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? Heb. 3:6, But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

(2) Solomon’s temple was costly, but the temple of the Holy Ghost cost much more, because it required the sacrifice of God’s dear son.

2. The two Pillars v. 15-22. “Jachin” means “He shall establish.” “Boaz” means “in it is strength.”

a. God’s promise to the overcomers. Rev. 3:12, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

b. Prophecy and fulfillment of their destruction found in Jer. 27:19-22; 52:17 and 2nd Kings 25:13-17.

3. The Altar of Brass. 2nd Chron. 4:1. This stood outside the Temple. The burnt offerings and sacrifices offered on this altar.30' x 30' x 15' high. Type of the cross and brass is typical of judgment.

4. The Molten Sea. v. 23-26. This furnished water for the cleansing of the priests. The believer today is a priest (I Peter 2:9) and needs the daily cleansing of the Word of God (Eph. 5:25-27).

a. Contained approx. 16,250 gallons of water.

b. Supported by 12 oxen. The oxen were burden bearers and typical of service.

5. The 10 Lavers and their bases. v. 27-39. The molten sea furnished water for the Lavers.

B. Summary of Hiram’s Work in Brass. v. 40-47

C. Summary of Golden Vessels. v. 48-51 Gold is typical of Divinity

1. The golden altar of incense. v. 48. See Ex. 30:1-10. Incense offered on this altar. This stands for the place of prayer where prayers ascend as incense to the Lord. Ex. 30:8; Heb. 13:15.

2. The golden table for shewbread. v. 48. Christ is the bread of life, for the believer priest to feed upon.

3. The golden candlesticks. See v. 49 & Ex. 25:31-40. Golden candlesticks typify Christ, oil the Holy Spirit, the wicks typify the believer. Only as we are in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit, can we let the light of God shine from us, showing the beauty of Christ.

4. Misc. articles. V.50. Even the doors were swinging on golden hinges. Actually everything hinges on Christ.

5. Work completed and treasures brought in. V. 51. David had supplied these treasures. All the treasures of God are found in Jesus Christ.

—Lesson by E. L. Bynum

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Lesson 9

THE GLORY OF GOD FILLS THE TEMPLE

1st Kings 8:1-53

Be sure and read 2nd Chronicles 5 and 6. They shed additional light on this lesson today.

I. THE ARK BROUGHT INTO THE TEMPLE. v. 1-11

A. Israel Assembled. v. 1-2

1. Note the different classes invited.

2. This was 11 months after completion of the Temple. Compare 6:38 with 8:2

B. The Moving of the Ark. v. 3-9

1. The priests, Sons of Kohath, moved the ark. v. 3. See Num. 4:15. He had learned from David’s mistake. 2nd Sam. 6:3-13

2. Ark, Tabernacle and holy vessels brought. v. 4

3. Sacrifices made along the way. v. 5

4. Ark brought into the Holy of Holies. v. 6-7.

a. The ark was the inclusive type of any one of the vessels of the Tabernacle. When they brought the ark in they were in fact enthroning Christ in the temple Ex. 25:8-10, And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. And they shall make an ark of shittim wood....

b. When the Christ takes up residence in our bodies, we should enthrone Him in our body which is the temple of the Holy Ghost. 1st Cor. 6:19-20; Eph. 5:18

5. The staves of the ark. v. 8. They are no longer needed but remained as a memorial of their journeys and the faithfulness of the Lord in bringing them into the land of rest.

6. The LAW in the Ark. v. 9. According to Heb. 9:4, the Tabernacle in the wilderness contained much more than the law. Aaron’s rod and the pot of manna were provisions for the wilderness; they would not have been in keeping with the reign of glory and peace, as well as the rest they now enjoyed. The time of their removal is unknown.

C. The Ark and the Divine Word in Type.

1. The Ark a type of Christ. He kept the law perfectly in heart, mind and body. He can and does love a sinful people because of the blood sprinkled mercy seat.

2. The Tables of Law (Word of God) held a supreme place in the Temple, so it should do in the Church and in the heart of the redeemed.

3. Ark a type of the believer. God’s Word entrusted to us, but can only be kept on the basis of the blood sprinkled mercy seat.

D. The Glory of the Lord. v. 10-11. 2nd Chron. 5:13b

1. The Cloud was the visible symbol of the Divine presence.

2. All the labor would have been in vain, if God’s presence had not filled the Temple. It is the same in the Church. Someone said, “the average Church today would not notice a thing if the Holy Spirit was removed.” They would continue to function in the same way, because their program does not have the Holy Spirit anyway.

3. All pretense of salvation is useless. Only when God saves us, does the Divine Holy Spirit move in.

4. They had the word of God in the ark, and God’s presence in the house. That is what is needed in the house of God, which is the Church.

II. SOLOMON’S MESSAGE. v. 12-21

A. Opening Remarks. v. 12-14

1. Glory of God concealed by darkness. v. 12

2. A place for God. v. 13 compare with v. 27. Do we make room for Him in our hearts, lives, homes and Church?

3. The Blessing on the People. v. 14

B. David’s relationship with the building of the Temple. v. 15-21

III. SOLOMON’S PRAYER OF DEDICATION v. 22-53

A. God’s Presence and Protection Sought. v. 22-30

1. No God like thee. v. 22-23. Monotheism was all but unknown among the heathen.

2. His appeal to the Lord. v. 24-30

a. Promise of God kept. v. 24

b. An appeal to the promises. v. 25-26

c. The greatness of God. v. 27

d. A plea for God to hear. v. 28-30

B. Intercession For Possible Emergencies v. 31-53 These verses could almost be declared prophecy, since all of these things did happen to Israel. Look for and underline the IF’s, WHEN’s and THEN’s. Also note that SIN is the cause of all these problems.

1. A Plea for just judgment. v. 31-32 (Note: Oaths and swearing, as sometimes found in the Bible, is not cursing or taking God’s name in vain. See Ex. 22:11; Num. 5:19; Deut. 6:13; Jer. 12:16) (For New Test. teaching Gal. 1:20; 1st Thess. 5:27 contrast with Matt. 5:33; James 5:12) (See also Rom. 4:5 on justification.)

2. A Plea for restoration from Captivity. v. 33-34

3. A Plea for rain in time of drouth. v. 35-36. Isa. 5:6, And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

4. A Plea for help in time of famine and pestilence. v. 37-40

5. A Plea for the Gentiles. v. 41-43. Gen. 22:18, And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Psa. 22:27, All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. Isa. 49:6, And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Isa. 60:3, And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Eph. 3:6, That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.

6. A Plea for help in time of battle. v. 44-45. 2nd Chron. 20:29, And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 2nd Chron. 32:8, With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. Psa. 5:11, But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psa. 31:2, Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. Isa. 31:5, As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. Isa 37:35, For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

7. A Plea for help in time of Captivity. v. 46-53

C. Solomon’s Benediction. v. 54-61

1. His humility. v. 54. No believer should be so proud that he cannot bow his knees to God. The extended hands acknowledged that the blessings came down from God.

2. Past blessings. v. 55-56. Psa. 36:5, Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Psa. 93:5, Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever. Rom. 4:21, And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

3. Future blessings sought. v. 57-58

a. He has promised the believer that He will never forsake. Heb. 13:5, Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

b. If man is going to live according God’s word, his heart must be inclined toward God, and this is a work of God. v. 58

4. The reason for the request. v. 59-61

a. That all the people of the earth would know God, and Him alone. v. 60

b. This can never be without obedience to God. v. 61

D. The Divine Confirmation. 2nd Chron. 7:1-3

E. The Sacrifices and the Rejoicing. v. 62-66. Gal.5:22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

1. Solomon is a type of Christ interceding for His people. Ingathering of the nations. Zech. 2:11; 8:23.

2. It is a great thing when a nation’s ruler can be led of the Spirit in prayer and when he realizes that all answers to prayers must be on the ground of the shed blood of Christ. v. 22, 62; Heb. 9:22; 10:19-20

—Lesson by E. L. Bynum

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Lesson 10

SOLOMON’S PRAYER OF DEDICATION

1st Kings 9:1-28

Solomon’s prayer is one of the great prayers of the Bible. Some of the other great ones are found in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel 9. Of course the prayer of our Lord in John 17.

I. GOD’S SECOND APPEARANCE TO SOLOMON v. 1-9

“The second time” is a phrase worth tracing through the Word. “The Word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time” Jonah 3:1. Here Solomon was privileged with a second appearance of God, coming to him on the night following the dedication of the temple. This supernatural vision contained direct answers to Solomon’s inaugural prayers. Details of Solomon’s commercial enterprises, and his ambition of earth, are before us. Alas, these rapidly corrupted his mind, turning King and people away from God. The temple was high in ideals as well as in elevation, and apostasy was inexcusable Yet, in spite of warning against disobedience, Solomon turned from God. The remarkable achievement recorded in this chapter resounded through the world, but, turning to Ecclesiastes, we hear the cry of an unsatisfied heart: “All is vanity” (Eccl. 1:1). Earthly glory disappeared as a soap bubble. God has set eternity in the heart of man, and thus no earthly splendor or wealth can ever fully satisfy that heart. (Lockyer)

A. Lessons from a Divine Manifestation to Man. v. 1-2

1. It is an act of gracious condescension, that is undeserved by man.

2. The Divine manifestation occured at a critical time.

a. God appeared at Gibeon at the beginning of his career.

b. He appears again at the pinnacle of his career, to warn Solomon when he needed to be warned.

3. The Divine manifestation involved a solemn responsibility.

a. A responsibility to apprehend and appreciate its significance.

b. A responsibility to carry out the Divine command.

c. A responsibility because it was possible to abuse the blessing conferred.

B. Lessons from a Divine Covenant. v. 3-9

1. The TRUE Religion of a nation does not consist in anything external. v. 3

a. It is not in the grandeur of its temples.

b. It is not in the elaborateness of its ritual.

c. True religion consists in the sincere worship of God, according to the Bible.

d. True religion is dependent on the presence and approval of God. v. 3

2. The true religion of a nation depends for its permanence on obedience to God. v. 4-5

a. Obedience is regulated by clearly defined commands. v. 4

b. Obedience is to be genuine and complete. v. 4

c. Obedience illustrated by the life of David. v. 4

d. Obedience insures perpetuity of blessing. v. 5

e. Obedience is better than burnt offerings and sacrifices. 1st Sam. 15:22, And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

3. The decay of true religion in a nation is followed by national ruin. v. 6-9

a. The ruin of its national greatness. v. 7a

b. The ruin of its religious prestige. v. 7b

c. The ruin is held up as a terrible warning to all generations. v. 7c-8. Please note 2nd Chron. 7:14, which is a parallel passage. See also 2nd Chron. 15:2.

4. Forsaking God is a very serious sin. v. 9. Past blessings cannot guarantee future blessings when a people depart from God. This should serve as a serious warning to our own nation.

II. SOLOMON’S DEALINGS WITH HIRAM. v. 10-14

A. A Tardy Gift. v. 10-11.

1. He had waited 20 years which seems to have too long.

2. One city for each year of building. v. 10-11

3. Did Solomon disobey God’s command? Lev. 25:23, The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.

B. A Disappointed King. v. 12-13

1. He was expecting greater cities.

2. We must be clear in our promises so that others will not misunderstand what we are promising.

C. An Honorable King. v. 14 Evidently the deal had been made, but Hiram did not back out, but sent several million dollars worth of Gold. You would not really expect this of Hiram.

III. THE MATERIAL PROSPERITY OF HIS KINGDOM. v. 15-28

A. An Extensive Building Program. v. 15-19

1. He built the House of the Lord & his own house. v. 15

2. Milo was a fortress to protect Jerusalem. v. 15

3. Hazor became a stronghold to protect from Syria. v. 15

4. Megiddo, a fortress protecting the plains of Jezreel, where many historical events have taken place. v. 15. The valley or plain of Megiddo was part of the plain of Esdraelon, the great battle-field of Palestine. It was here Barak gained a notable victory over Jabin, the king of Hazor, whose general, Sisera, led on the hostile army. Barak rallied the warriors of the northern tribes, and under the encouragement of Deborah, the prophetess, attacked the Canaanites in the great plain. The army of Sisera was thrown into complete confusion, and was engulfed in the waters of the Kishon, which had risen and overflowed its banks (Jud. 4:5).

Many years after this (B.C. 610) Pharaohnecho II, on his march against the king of Assyria, passed through the plains of Philistia and Sharon; and King Josiah, attempting to bar his progress in the plain of Megiddo, was defeated by the Egyptians. He was wounded in battle, and died as they bore him away in his chariot towards Jerusalem (2nd Kings 23:29; 2nd Chron. 35:22-24) and all Israel mourned for him.

Armageddon occurs only in (Rev. 16:16), as designating the place where the “battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Rev. 16:14), shall be fought. The word properly means the “mount of Megiddo.” It is the scene of the final conflict between Christ and Antichrist. The idea of such a scene was suggested by the Old Testament great battle-field, the plain of Esdraelon.

B. Forced labor used. v. 15, 20, 21 Levy means forced labor and perhaps forced taxes.

C. A Costly Court Maintained. v. 22-23 This is what Samuel told Israel (1st Sam. 8:11-18) that a king would do. This what people want today, that is a government that will take care of them, but it never turns out the way they expected.

D. Solomon’s wife moves to her home. v. 24 Someday Christ’s bride shall move into the prepared place. John 14:1-3

E. A regular system of Sacrifice. v. 25

F. The navy and commerce. v. 26-28

1. Look up Eziongeber and Eloth on your Bible map.

1. Ophir may have been in Africa, Arabia or India.

2. Take note of the great wealth brought in!!

—Lesson by E. L. Bynum

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Lesson 11

THE QUEEN OF SHEBA VISITS SOLOMON

1st Kings 10:1-29

Sheba was a kingdom in Arabia Felix. Sheba, in fact, was Saba in Southern Arabia, the Sabaeans of classical geography, who carried on the trade in spices with the other peoples of the ancient world. They were Semites, speaking one of the two main dialects of Himyaritic or South Arabic. Sheba had become a monarchy before the days of Solomon. Its queen brought him gold, spices, and precious stones. She is called by our Lord the “queen of the south”

Matt. 12:42, The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Some tradition says that she was from Ethiopia, but this we believe is pure fiction.

I. A QUEEN SEARCHING FOR WISDOM. v. 1-13 Psa. 72:15; Jer. 6:20; Ezek. 27:22; 38:13.

A. She Came. v. 1, 2-a

1. She came because she had heard of Solomon and his Lord. Fiction writers and movies have distorted this beautiful story, by injecting the idea that Solomon and the queen of Sheba carried on a romance and that even a child was born to them. This is wicked and vile fiction, and there is not one word of evidence in the bible that this is so. Don’t get your bible knowledge from such a foolish source.

2. She came with hard questions. No doubt she was an intelligent woman with many questions she wanted answered.

3. She came with great wealth. v. 2

B. She Communed. v. 2-b, 3

1. She came with an open heart.

2. She came with an inquiring mind. Her mind was not closed to new knowledge, so she came to the right place.

C. She Testified. v. 4-7

1. Of his wisdom. v. 4

2. Of his household. v. 4-5

3. Of his worship. v. 5

4. Of her previous doubts. v. 6-7

5. Of her present belief. v. 7. “The half was not told”

D. She Praised. v. 8-9

1. Solomon for the wisdom he gave to his servants. v. 8

2. God for being the source of all these blessings. v. 9

E. She Gave. v. 10-11

1. She gave well over 3 million dollars in value.

2. The almug trees were of great value. Almug tree —“a tree providing a sweet-scented timber which is black outside and ruby-red inside. It is a native of India and takes a high polish. It is known as red sandalwood. The wood is strong and so antiseptic that it is insecticidal. King Solomon’s builders undoubtedly deliberately selected the wood of the almug tree for the pillars of the temple because of its specific qualities of strength, beauty, and long life.”
—Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary

F. She Received. v. 13

Note that Solomon is a type of Christ in the Kingdom age. Then the world will pay to Him the homage and honor that He deserves. See Psa. 72:7-18;

Isa. 60:1-6; Zech. 14:8-9, And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Isa 9:6-7, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

II. THE FLOOD TIDE OF PROSPERITY & BLESSING FROM GOD v. 14-29

A. Seen in the Abundance of Wealth. v. 14-17, 21-23

1. The amount of the gold alone is staggering. v. 14. Eccl. 5:19, Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

2. The spice trade came from the east, right through the Solomon’s kingdom, and there was tremendous profit in trading spices and the taxes or duty for passing through the land. v. 15

3. Shields of gold made for pomp and ceremony. v. 16-17

B. Seen in the External Grandeur of the Throne. v. 18-20

1. The ivory throne overlaid with pure gold. v. 18

2. The lions were a symbol of authority and power. v. 19-20. The English have used images of lions in their governmental affairs. It also looks to the future. Rev. 5:5, And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

D. Seen in the Prevalence of Expensive Luxuries. v. 21-23

1. Luxurious drinking vessels made from pure gold. v. 21

2. He was a partner with Hiram in a great trading venture that opened their ships up to the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and all the coast of Africa. v. 22-23a

E. Seen in the Great Wisdom of the Ruler. v. 23b-25

1. He exceeded all the kings in wealth. and wisdom. v. 23b

2. They came to seek his wisdom. v. 24. Of course we can be glad that we have access to a greater wisdom. 1st Cor. 1:30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

1st Cor. 2:9-10, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

3. According to the custom, they would be obligated by their beliefs to bring great gifts. v. 25. We also have opportunity to seek wisdom. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

F. This Marks the Beginning of National Decline. v. 26-29

1. Solomon’s disobedience to God. Deut. 17:15-20, Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. 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. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

2. He disobeyed by multiply horses. Deut. 17:16

3. He disobeyed by taking many wives. Deut. 17:17

4. He disobeyed by amassing great amounts of silver and gold. Deut. 17:17

5. He may well have had a copy of the law, but he did not follow it. Deut. 17:18-20

6. Dangers of great prosperity. Psa. 62:11, God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Psa. 52:9, I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

1st Tim. 6:6-11, For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

—Lesson by E. L. Bynum

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Lesson 12

SOLOMON’S SINS AND HIS DECLINE

1st Kings 11:1-13

“The way of sin is down hill and those who get into it cannot easily get untangled. God at first appointed one woman for one man, and he who things one not enough, will not be satisfied with two. When our love is set on the things of the flesh, we may be sure we have lost our love for God and are on the way to trouble.”

—Keith Brooks

I. SOLOMON’S SINS v. 1-8

A. Solomon’s Strange Wives & Polygamy. v. 1-3

1. Rules for kings.

a. Not to multiply horses. 1st Kings 4:26; 9:19; 10:28. Isa. 31:1, Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

Deut. 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.

b. Not to multiply wives. Deut. 17:17a, Neither shall he multiply wives to himself that his heart turn not away...

c. Not to seek great amounts of silver and gold. Deut. 17b, ... neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

d. Have his own copy of the Law and obey it. Deut. 17:18-20, And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them.

2. Polygamy has always been wrong.

a. God created one wife for Adam.

b. God preserved one wife for each man saved from the flood. Gen. 7:13, In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark.

c. The words of Jesus. Matt. 19:5, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

d. Those who practiced polygamy in the Old Testament found it to be a source of trouble. There is not one instance where this did not happen. The first polygamist was Lamech the ungodly son of Cain an ungodly man and the first murderer. Gen. 4:23

e. It almost amusing how modern day Mormons have so many advertisements offering to help people strengthen their marriages. They would be more believable if they would repudiate the practice of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. They along with many of the other founders of Mormonism were notorious polygamists. It is history and they cannot deny it.

3. Strange (foreign unbelieving) wives were wrong. Deut. 7:1-4; Josh. 23:12,13; Ex. 34:11, 12, 16, Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee. ... And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

Neh. 13:26, Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

4. Solomon gave many warnings that reveal the result of the wrong kind of a relationship with women. It is a shame that he did not head his own warnings. See Prov. 7:1-27. Prov. 5:3-5, For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

Prov. 31:3, Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

5. A Godly woman that knows the Lord is a great blessing to a man, but if she is strange (does not know the Lord), then she becomes a curse to him. Prov. 18:22, Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

B. Solomon’s Idolatry. V. 4-8

1. Reason why foreign wives forbidden. Deut. 7:1-4, When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

2. No Christian should marry a lost person today for the same reason. They should be of the same faith and be of the same mind which Church they will attend. 2nd Cor. 6:14, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

3. In his old age his heart was not right with God, and his wives turned him to other gods. v. 4. We learn from this that even his great wisdom did not keep him out of sin.

4. The idol gods he honored. v. 5-8

a. “Ashtoreth” a Phoenician goddess of sexual love who was worshiped with impure rites. v. 5. She was supposed to be the consort or lover of the god Baal. She was called the queen of heaven. Jer. 7:17-18. The Phoenicians called her Astarte.

b. “Milcom” or “Molech” idol god of Ammonites. v. 5. They burned their children by making them sacrifice to Molech. Some Israelites sacrificed their infants in the valley of Hinnom.

Lev. 18:21, And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

c. “Chemosh” the sun-god and the god of war, worshiped by the Moabites.

d. Many others. v. 8. All of these idol places of worship were eventually destroyed, but this would be about 300 years latter under the reign of Josiah. Think of the evil that continued on and on because of Solomon’s sin. 2nd Kings 23:13-14, And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.

3. Doubtful if Solomon ever lived with all these women as husband and wife. Among kings, they were judged by the size of his harem. This in no way justifies his disobedience in marrying them in the first place. James 1:15, Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

4. It is clear (v. 4-8) that Solomon was personally turned to idolatry. This is tragic for this noble man of God to fall, but it should be a warning to all today. 1st Cor. 10:12, Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

II. GOD’S ANGER AGAINST SOLOMON. v. 9-13

A. Solomon Without Excuse. v. 9-10

1. God is angry with the wicked. v. 9. Psa. 7:11, God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. It is amazing that so many people think that they can sin and God will not be angry for their rejection of His truth.

2. The above Scripture reveals that God will judge the righteous for their sin. It is even more amazing that saved people have such a casual attitude toward sin and God’s judgment. 2nd Cor. 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

3. God had appeared to him twice. v. 9. It is not as though Solomon did not know. He knew but he did not obey. Every one of God’s children need to diligently study 1st Cor. 3, and then consider what is going to happen to their works.

2. God had warned Solomon. v. 10

B. God Announces His Judgment. v. 11-13

1. All but one tribe to be removed from kingdom. What a shameful end for a servant of the Lord and his work.

2. For David’s sake, one tribe to remain. “The house of David must, in spite of everything, be kept intact, because out of it was to come the Messiah. As it was spared on account of the promise to David, so all God’s favors shown to us are for Christ’s sake and the covenant made with Him.” —Keith Brooks

3. When God’s judgment falls after His warnings, it will be irrevocable and severe.

—Lesson by E. L. Bynum

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