There are some people who are born into a privileged situation. Their parents can afford to send them to Harvard. We call this being born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Another way to put is what my friend said to me, you are one of God’s spoiled children. But if anyone was ever born with a silver spoon in their mouth it was Solomon. He was born into a wealthy family of high social standing.
Solomon had all the advantages life could offer. He had a God- fearing home with his father being a man after God’s own heart. He inherited wealth and he was privilege to the best education. He had the equivalent of a PhD in many sciences, botany (study of plants), dendrology (study of trees), and zoology (study of animals). In addition, he was lettered in literature.
Then there were the political advantages that Solomon inherited. He received the throne of Israel when the kingdom was at its zenith. The death of King David meant the assent of Solomon to the throne of Israel. Solomon took the throne during what could be called the “golden age of Israel”. The entire world looked to Israel.
Solomon was David’s tenth son. He was the second son of Bathsheba. The first son died after King David’s sin, adultery and murder. But in God’s grace He gave David another son through Bathsheba.
In 2 Samuel 12:24-25 The Lord gave King David another son through Bathsheba. Nathan the prophet who seems to have had a special burden for Solomon brought word that the Lord had a special love for Solomon. He had two names.
Solomon: Which means Peace.
Jedidiah: Which means loved of the Lord.
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; 25 and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah (2 Samuel 12:24-25)
We find how David orchestrated so much for Solomon to follow as king and gave Solomon a great prayer blessing for him to prosper.
And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.” 20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king. (1 Chronicles 19-20)
Solomon was charged to build the great temple of God in Israel sometimes called “Solomon’s Temple.” Not because this temple was for Solomon but built during Solomon’s reign for the glory of Almighty God.
Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. 2 With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God—gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise,[a] stones of various colors, and all kinds of fine stone and marble—all of these in large quantities. 3 Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: 4 three thousand talents[b] of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents[c] of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the LORD today?” (1 Chronicles 29:1-5)
In verse 1 Chronicles 29:25 It says the Lord exalted Solomon at this time while King David was about to die. Royal majesty was bestowed on Solomon like had never been seen in Israel. There was joy and a giving spirit in Israel when David made these preparations.
The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. (1 Chronicles 29:9)
There was a challenge to Solomon taking the throne, but it was more of a final challenge to King David who was still living and declared Solomon the air to the throne. David’s oldest son Adonija made a self-proclaimed claim on the throne without David’s knowledge (1 Kings 1).
To get the wheels of justice turning Nathan the prophet begins to act. He tells Bathsheba that Adonijah is undermining her son Solomon’s claim to the throne (1 Kings 1:11). This caused Bathsheba to swing into action.
“My master,” she said, “you promised me in GOD’s name, ‘Your son Solomon will be king after me and sit on my throne.’ And now look what’s happened—Adonijah has taken over as king, and my master the king doesn’t even know it! He has thrown a huge coronation feast—cattle and grain-fed heifers and sheep—inviting all the king’s sons, the priest Abiathar, and Joab head of the army. But your servant Solomon was not invited. My master the king, every eye in Israel is watching you to see what you’ll do—to see who will sit on the throne of my master the king after him. If you fail to act, the moment you’re buried my son Solomon and I are as good as dead.” (1 Kings 1:17-21)
Solomon is anointed as King. The priest anointed Solomon with oil, blew the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long Live King Solomon!”
Zadok the priest brought a flask of oil from the sanctuary and anointed Solomon. They blew the ram’s horn trumpet and everyone shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” Everyone joined the fanfare, the band playing and the people singing, the very earth reverberating to the sound. (I Kings 1:39)
David gives a death bed challenge to King Solomon.
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘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.’ (1 Kings 2:1-4)
In 1 Kings 2:10-11 King David dies. The greatest King ever in the history of Israel except for the Messiah who came as the second King David. To whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48). Succeeding David as King will be a challenge.
Solomon faced his first test as king from his oldest brother Adonijah. This challenge came when their father David died, and it came to Solomon at the risk of his life. The foolish action of Adonijah results in the kingdom firmly established for Solomon.
The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands. (I Kings 2:46)
Solomon has been given much. Whom much is given much is required. (Luke 12:48) He has been given an inheritance, the throne of the most influential kingdom of Israel in a time of religious fervor.
You may have also been given much. For sure not as much as Solomon but much. A family to care for and teach to walk in the ways of the Lord. Your family is your great blessing and your great responsibility.
You also have a church family to build up. A place to exercise your spiritual gifts. God calls you to build up his church and care about fellow believers. You have a community that needs the good news of Jesus Christ. The lost need to know that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ was to pay the penalty for their sin that separates them from God.
The opportunities to serve all around you. You have the riches of the gospel placed in your hand. Your action step is to be available. You may not realize it but you too are one of God’s spoiled children. Jesus paid it all. To whom much is given much is required.
David’s pray for Solomon was this: And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.” (1 Chronicles 29:19)
Solomon was given much. Wholehearted devotion to God was required. Have you been given much? Wholehearted devotion to God is required.
