The Key to Solomon’s Fall

1 Kings 1:37, 47

INTRODUCTION: What Solomon received from David and what he passed on to Rehoboam were as different as night and day. Solomon received no place of worship, but plenty of direction for worship. He passed on a place of worship, with no godly worship. Somewhere along the way, Solomon lost his way. If it can happen to him, it can happen to us.

I. HIS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

A. His Birth

1. The identity of his mother—Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5)
2. The afterthought of the son that was lost (2 Samuel 12:24)

B. His Rise to the Throne

1. The challenge to his throne (1 Kings 1:5-53)
2. The preparations of his father (1 Kings 2:1-9; 1 Chronicles 22:6-19; 1 Chronicles 28:1-21; 1 Chronicles 29:1-9)
a. The preparations of Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-9; 1 Chronicles 22:6-16; 1 Chronicles 28:6-21)
b. The preparations of the people (1 Chronicles 22:17-19; 1 Chronicles 28:1-5; 1 Chronicles 29:1-9)
3. The immaturity of his early walk (1 Kings 3:1-4)
a. He made affinity with Pharaoh (1 Kings 3:1).
b. He loved the Lord (1 Kings 3:3).
c. He sacrificed to the Lord in places notorious for false worship (1 Kings 3:3-4).

C. His Humility (1 Kings 3:5-15; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12)

1. His lack of self-confidence (1 Kings 3:5-8)
2. His request (1 Kings 3:9-15)

II. HIS ASCENSION TO GREATNESS

A. The Demonstration of His Wisdom (1 Kings 3:16-28)

1. The opportunity for his wisdom (1 Kings 3:16-27)
2. The fear of his wisdom (1 Kings 3:28)

B. The Days of Excess

1. The excess of personal provisions (1 Kings 4:20-28; 2 Chronicles 1:13-17)
2. The excess of wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34)
3. The excess of outside assistance (1 Kings 5:1-18; 2 Chronicles 2:1-18)
4. The excess of peace in building—7 years (1 Kings 6:1-38; 2 Chronicles 3:1-17)
5. The excess of personal building (1 Kings 7:1-12)
6. The excess of fellowship with God (1 Kings 8:1-66; 2 Chronicles 6:1-42; 2 Chronicles 7:1-11)
7. The excess of influence and riches (1 Kings 10:1-29; 2 Chronicles 9:1-28)

III. HIS SWIFT DECLINE (1 Kings 11:1-40)

A. His Love for Women (1 Kings 11:1-4)

1. He loved many strange/forbidden women (1 Kings 11:1-2).
2. Those women turned his heart away from God (1 Kings 11:3-4).

B. His Love for False Gods (1 Kings 11:5-8)

1. He went after false gods (1 Kings 11:5-6).
2. He built high places and worshipped false gods (1 Kings 11:7-8).

C. His Judgment from God (1 Kings 11:9-40)

1. The Lord was angry with Solomon (1 Kings 11:9-13).
2. The Lord stirred up adversaries against Solomon (1 Kings 11:14-40)
a. Hadad (1 Kings 11:14-22)
b. Rezon (1 Kings 11:23-25)
c. Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:26-40)

CONCLUSION: If Solomon can fall, I can fall. If Solomon can fall, you can fall. In many ways, Solomon is akin to the second generation Christian who had a wonderful heritage, sense of purpose, and direction for service. Yet, when he lost his sense of purpose, he sought his own. He went from following after God to following after women. He went from building for the Lord to building for gods. When Solomon lost his sense of direction for the Lord, he lost his direction altogether. Have you lost yours?