1 Kings 9

“Now, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’” 1 Kings 9:4-6a (NKJV)

Years ago, while I was having lunch with a pastor friend, he casually mentioned the time “when I got shot.” This shocked me because I did not recall having ever met someone who had been shot, much less who lived to tell about it. Actually, the story was tragically comical. My friend was in grade school when he and a buddy found a .22 rifle cartridge in his father’s desk drawer. They decided to go to the garage and hit the cartridge with a hammer. BLAM! Gunshot. After all the instructions about staying away from guns, those boys had no idea the potential of getting shot lay less in the rifle and solely in the bullet!!

Nobody could say Solomon wasn’t warned – because the Lord told him precisely what the price tag of infidelity would be. God is so kind, isn’t He? He spells it all out; He warns clearly so that we will understand the urgent need for faithfulness.

And God hasn’t changed. The New Testament book of Hebrews (beginning in 2:1-3 and continuing throughout the epistle) scares the stew out of us! That is all to praise God’s grace and the safety of His people.

In today’s chapter, the Lord (through Solomon’s dedication prayer) authorizes the temple as a means of grace where Israel can access His sovereign (and caring) presence. Then, He assures Solomon that he will enjoy Davidic-style blessing so long as he lives a Davidic-like life.

But God’s sobering message is implicit: There is a high cost for apostasy. Infidelity will bring the loss of Territory, Temple, and Throne. The first involves the loss of land and further defines the Abrahamic covenant; the second involves the loss of sanctuary and the visible means of grace established under Solomon’s regime; and the third will entail the loss of kingship and affects the Davidic covenant.

Only a fool would flirt with faithlessness—fools like us. Let today’s chapter encourage us to stay humble, always seeking God’s Word with fearful respect, that all we are and have is because of God’s faithfulness. And that should empower us.