1 Kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
King David was a man after God’s own heart. Prior to reading about his reign, that expression “a man after God’s own heart” brought to mind images of perfection. But I am so incredibly far from perfect. However, upon reading about David’s life and reign, I see that he was incredibly far from perfect, too, that perfection isn’t at all what being a person after God’s own heart is about.
1 Kings 11:6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.
God Himself gives a good definition of being a person after His own heart in 1 Kings 9:4 “…if you walk before Me with integrity of heart and uprightness…and do all that I command and observe My decrees and laws….” Having a heart focused on Him, striving to be honorable and honest, walking in His ways, obeying His word, this is how to be a person after His own heart. It begins with mindfulness and intention, keeping our eyes and minds and hearts on Him.
1 Kings 11:9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You that You don’t demand perfection in our walk with You. Thank You that we can be people after Your own heart by staying focused on You, by striving to praise You and shine Your light. I am so far from perfect, Lord, but I strive to be a person after Your own heart. Take my fallible human efforts, and use them for my good and Your glory. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Kings 11:11 So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.”
Have a blessed day.
Walking faithfully before God…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 10:18 Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with fine gold.
I have made a concerted effort in the last 5-10 years to praise God always—when life is going well AND when it isn’t. I’m not going to lie, when clinging to God is the only way to get through the day, I have no trouble remembering how desperately I need Him in my life. But when life is going well, it’s much easier to take Him for granted, to neglect to praise Him for all that is good in my life.
1 Kings 10:20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.
I feel like this is what we are seeing with Solomon in this chapter. Things are good, REALLY good, for Solomon. He has riches. He has respect. He has power. He is God’s chosen king, but does he remember that God put him on that throne? Does he remember what God said to him in 1 Kings 9:4-5? Does he remember that he is to walk before God faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness? I do not get a sense of that here.
1 Kings 10:23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your presence in my life always. Help me to praise You every moment of every day, not just on those days that I know I can’t make it without You. You make my life worth living. Help me always be mindful of that truth. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Kings 10:24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God put in his heart.
Have a blessed day
The big dreams He has for us…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 9:1 When Solomon has finished building the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and he had achieved all he had desired to do….
I’ve always said that I would not want to win the lottery as unlimited money would give me nothing to dream about and work for. (For the record, I don’t play the lottery, so there was no danger of it.) I was reminded of that thought reading today’s scripture. Solomon “has achieved all he had desired to do.” Can you imagine? I bet that is at once exhilarating and terrifying. My biggest dreams have been accomplished. How amazing. Wait!! What do I do now?!?
1 Kings 9:2 …the LORD appeared to him a second time, as He appeared to him at Gideon.
And suddenly I am reminded of yesterday’s scripture, of the fact that God wants us to dream big, and He can help us dream big. If we allow Him, if we seek His will, He will show us His dreams for us, which are so much bigger than we could ever imagine. And knowing my precious Savior, I feel like His dreams for us as individuals are interwoven with His dreams for all His people. By seeking the big dreams He has for us, we are seeking to better love one another as He loves us.
1 Kings 9:4 “As for you, if you walk before Me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe My decrees and laws….”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the caution that when we achieve our dreams for ourselves, we need to seek Your dreams for us or we risk floundering in life and turning from You. Help us to seek You always. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Kings 9:5 “…I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever….”
Have a blessed day.
Teach me to dream big…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 8:24 “You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with Your mouth You have promised and with Your hand You have fulfilled it….”
God keeps His promises—not always in the time frame we want, not always in the way that we hope or imagine, but He is steadfast and true, and He ALWAYS keeps His promises. When life feels overwhelming and exhausting and I’m having trouble finding solid footing, it is helpful to look at all the promises He has faithfully fulfilled. I know He’s got me, no matter how tenuous life feels.
1 Kings 8:25a “Now LORD, the God of Israel, keep for Your servant David my father the promises You made to him when You said….”
I’ve heard before that God wants us to come to Him with big prayers, to trust that He has big things in store for us. After all, that’s where faith comes in, right? If I limit my hopes and dreams to what I can accomplish in my own strength, I do not grow any closer to God in the process, I do not get to watch Him do amazing things, I do not come to depend on Him even more because I know He is able.
1 Kings 8:25b …”‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before Me faithfully as you have done.’”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Teach me to dream big and to come to You with hopes and dreams that are bigger than I can accomplish on my own. Help me be ever mindful of Your faithfulness. Help me to draw closer to You with every breath. Know my heart and help me continue to seek to know Your heart better every day. Amen.
1 Kings 8:39 …for You alone know every human heart….
Have a blessed day.
Proper perspective…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 6:38 …[Solomon] had spent seven years building [the temple of the LORD].
At the end of chapter 6, seven years building the temple of the Lord sounds pretty impressive. But the first verse of chapter 7 puts that time in its proper perspective. Solomon spent seven years building God’s house but thirteen years building him own. That seems a bit problematic. Shouldn’t the greater time have been spent building God’s house?
1 Kings 7:1 It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace.
There has been enough mention of Solomon’s reign to know that he does not have the same heart for God that his father did. And the expense and time put into his palace certainly seems to indicate that he values his house over God’s. This seems to be a slippery slope away from God he is embarking on. I wonder if he saw the danger.
1 Kings 7:9 All these structures, from outside to the great courtyard and from foundation to waves, were made of blocks of high-grade stone cut to size and smoothed on their inner and outer faces.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the ability to understand what Solomon’s actions say about his priorities. Help me to have the same clarity when it comes to my own actions and priorities. Draw me closer. Help me to keep my eyes and heart focused on You. Amen.
1 Kings 7:10 The foundations were laid with large stones of good quality….
Have a blessed day.
If I seek Him…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 6:11 The word of the LORD came to Solomon….
This chapter is all about building God’s temple, which has me thinking about churches and dwelling places for God. I’ve seen gorgeous, elaborate cathedrals. I’ve seen modern structures, filled with clean lines and modern elements. I’ve seen tiny structures with pews and stained glass, though the cathedrals make them seem almost microscopic.
1 Kings 6:12 “As for this temple you are building, if you follow My decrees, observe My laws, and keep all My commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father.”
God’s house can come in many shapes and sizes. Since mid-March, God’s house has literally been my own as I tune in via Facebook Live for Sunday services. But I have found Jeremiah 29:13 to be exceptionally true: “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” No matter the place—my den, a mountain top, in the middle of the slogging rain, if I seek Him, He is there. Thank You, Jesus.
1 Kings 6:13 “And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon My people Israel.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for amazingly beautiful houses of worship. And thank You for slogging with us through the muck. Thank You for being there when we seek You. Help us to seek You always, every hour of every day. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Kings 6:38 In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.
Have a blessed day.
Metaphorical building…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 5:3 “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD put his enemies under his feet.”
Today’s chapter gives me much to think about. David’s battles paved the way for Solomon’s work building the temple for the Name of the LORD his God. David’s battles laid the foundation of peace needed for such a task. The building could not have happened had the battles not been fought and won.
1 Kings 5:4 “But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.”
I’ve often felt like God uses the difficult times in life to draw me closer, but I’ve never thought of it as a parallel like this before. The hardships happen to draw me closer to God, but is there a larger purpose? Is there metaphorical building He intends for me to do in His name as a result of the battles He has won? After all, this life is not about me. It’s about my precious Savior.
1 Kings 5:5a “I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the LORD my God, as the LORD told my father David….”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for this interesting parallel that I see this morning, that perhaps You draw me closer in hardship not simply for my good but for Your glory. Put in those terms, it makes perfect sense that You draw me closer to strengthen me for what You are calling me to do for You and in Your name. Give me strength, wisdom, and discernment to do Your will. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.
1 Kings 5:5b “…when He said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for My Name.’”
Have a blessed day.
Wisdom and very great insight…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 4:29a God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight….
Solomon asked God for wisdom and discernment, and it looks like God granted these to him abundantly, but commentary on this chapter keeps alluding to things to come and the fact that, though Solomon certainly appears wiser than his father, his relationship with God is not even close. All this wisdom, and Solomon isn’t wise enough to see that he must stay connected to and totally centered on God.
1 Kings 4:29b …and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.
Again I find myself wanting to judge. How can he be so wise and not see the source of his strength? How can he not understand that worldly wisdom is nothing if we aren’t grounded in God? But I know, even as I point my accusing finger, that I am just as guilty of allowing myself to be distracted by the world, of taking my eyes off of Jesus. Even though I have carved out daily time with my Savior for years, I know once I leave my recliner that if I don’t make a concerted effort to be mindful of Him, I will get distracted.
1 Kings 4:30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that I have to be consistent and diligent in my relationship with You because the world is waiting to distract me. Help me to see the world through Your eyes, with Your wisdom and discernment. Draw me closer. Help me center myself on You. Always. Amen.
1 Kings 4:31 He was wiser than anyone else….
Have a blessed day.
A discerning heart…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 3:5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.”
I no longer remember the circumstances of the first time I read these verses, but the impact has stayed with me for many years. I shared recently that one of my go-to verses is the King James Translation of Acts 9:6, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” The heart of this verse is the same as Solomon’s reply to 1 Kings 3:5. Both ask for God’s discernment in moving forward.
1 Kings 3:9 “…give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong….”
I am so far from perfect at seeking and following His discernment, but I’m getting better. I know without a doubt that if I DON’T seek His will, His discernment, I am much more prone to act in my own best interest, which is my human, fleshly side at work. When I seek His will and discernment for my life, it’s not about me. It’s about Him. And that’s the way it should be.
1 Kings 3:10 The LORD was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for allowing us to seek, ask, and knock (Matt 7:7) and for always responding when we seek You. Thank You that I am a smidge more adept now at listening and discerning Your will. Help me to get better at discernment daily. Help me to seek You always. Help me to listen and obey. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Kings 3:11-12 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have you asked for the death of your enemies…, I will do what you have asked….”
Have a blessed day.
He will provide…. (devo reflection)
1 Kings 2:2-3a “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” [David] said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires….”
This chapter covers the death of David through the establishing of Solomon’s reign. And I am struck, after all David’s missteps in life, by how confidently he approaches death. He knows he’s made peace with God. When it feels like my constant missteps put me too far outside of God’s grace to ever find my way back, may I remember that God knows my heart, and may I be encouraged.
1 Kings 2:3b Walk in obedience to Him, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses….”
David’s advice to Solomon echos the importance of centering himself on God. David tells Solomon to seek God, to walk with God, to obey God. We are given the same advice by Jesus in Matthew 6:32-33. God knows our needs. If we seek Him “…above all else, and live righteously, …He will give…” us everything we need. Seek God, walk with God, obey God, and He will provide.
1 Kings 2:3c-4a “Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the LORD may keep His promise to me….”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that we don’t have to be perfect, we just need to seek You with all that we are. Thank You for the ability to find hope and grace in Your word. Help me to stay focused on You always. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Kings 2:4b “‘…If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’”
Have a blessed day.