The Final Years of Solomon

INTRODUCTION: Solomon had been blessed by God above all others on the earth. Yet, he allowed his love for the things of the world to draw him away from God. He began well but finished poorly. We need to listen and learn from the lesson of Solomon.

1. SOLOMON TURNED AFTER OTHER GODS (1 Kings 11:1-8)
1. The Many Wives of Solomon (1 Kings 11:1-3)
1. His unrestrained love (1 Kings 11:1-2)
1. Solomon loved many strange women (1 Kings 11:1); in context, the phrase strange women refers to foreign women, as those who were strangers to the land of Israel. However, the term also refers to harlots or prostitutes (that is, women who do not belong with you and should be foreign to any intimacy with you see Proverbs 5:20; Proverbs 7:5). This also was Solomons problem. Though as a great king, he could call it marriage. His real problem was that he saw, he coveted, and he took (cp. Joshua 7:21).
2. Solomon loved outside Gods permissible bounds (1 Kings 11:2; Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3-4).
2. His many marriages (1 Kings 11:3)
1. Seven hundred wives
2. Three hundred concubines
3. They turned away his heart from God.
2. The Other Gods of Solomon (1 Kings 11:4-8)
1. His gradual turning from God (1 Kings 11:4, 6, 8)
1. When he was old (1 Kings 11:4)
2. His wives turned away his heart (1 Kings 11:4).
3. His heart was not perfect with the Lord (1 Kings 11:4).
4. He did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 11:6).
5. He went not fully after the Lord (1 Kings 11:6).
6. He burnt incense unto their gods (1 Kings 11:8).
7. He sacrificed unto their gods (1 Kings 11:8).
2. The gods to whom he turned (1 Kings 11:5, 7)
1. Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians (1 Kings 11:5)
2. Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:5)
3. Chemosh, the abomination of Moab (1 Kings 11:7)
1. He built a high place.
2. In the hill before Jeruaslem
4. Molech, the abomination of Ammon (1 Kings 11:7; Leviticus 20:1-5)
2. THE LORD DECLARED JUDGMENT ON SOLOMON (1 Kings 11:9-13)
1. The Lords Anger against Solomon (1 Kings 11:9-10)
1. Because his heart was turned from the Lord (1 Kings 11:9)
2. The Lord had appeared to him two times (1 Kings 11:9).
1. At Gibeon (1 Kings 3:5) and at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 9:1-3)
2. Greater blessing brings greater responsibility (Luke 12:48).
3. Because he had been specifically warned against this (1 Kings 11:10)
4. Because he kept not the commandment of the Lord (1 Kings 11:10)
2. The Lords Judgment of Solomon (1 Kings 11:11-13)
1. The kingdom will be taken from Solomon and given to a servant (1 Kings 11:11).
2. For Davids sake, this will happen to Solomons son (1 Kings 11:12).
3. One tribe will be reserved for the son (1 Kings 11:13).
1. For Davids sake
2. For Jerusalems sake
3. THE LORD STIRRED UP HADAD THE EDOMITE (1 Kings 11:14-22)
1. Hadads Case against David (1 Kings 11:14-17)
1. Davids destruction of Edom (1 Kings 11:14-16)
2. Hadads flight from Edom (1 Kings 11:17)
2. Hadads Refuge in Egypt (1 Kings 11:18-20)
1. Hadads place in Egypt (1 Kings 11:18)
2. Hadads favor with Pharaoh (1 Kings 11:19-20)
1. Giving him his wifes sister as a wife (1 Kings 11:19)
2. Treating his son as his own (1 Kings 11:20)
3. Note: Solomons affinity with Egypt and marriage to Pharaohs daughter (1 Kings 3:1) did him no good. Gods people never win by making friendship with the world (James 4:4).
3. Hadads Return to Edom (1 Kings 11:21-22)
1. Hadad heard of the death of David (1 Kings 11:21).
2. Hadad returned to his own country (1 Kings 11:22).
4. THE LORD STIRRED UP REZON OF ZOBAH (1 Kings 11:23-25)
1. Rezons Flight from Hadadezer (1 Kings 11:23)
2. Rezons Reign in Damascus (1 Kings 11:24)
1. He gathered men unto himself.
2. He became captain over a band of men.
3. Rezons Hatred of Israel (1 Kings 11:25)
5. THE LORD STIRRED UP JEROBOAM THE SON OF NEBAT (1 Kings 11:26-40)
1. Jeroboams Service to Solomon (1 Kings 11:26-28)
1. He was promoted by Solomon (1 Kings 11:28).
2. He became discontent with Solomon (1 Kings 11:27).
3. He rose up against Solomon (1 Kings 11:26).
2. Ahijahs Prophecy Concerning Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:29-39)
1. The rending of the garment (1 Kings 11:29-30)
2. The rending of the kingdom (1 Kings 11:31-36)
3. The offer made to Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:37-38)
4. The hope left for Davids seed (1 Kings 11:39)
1. God will afflict the seed of David.
2. But not forever (Psalm 89:33-34; Lamentation 3:31-32)
3. Jeroboams Flight from Solomon (1 Kings 11:40)
6. SOLOMON COMPLETED THE YEARS OF HIS REIGN (1 Kings 11:41-43)
1. The Remainder of Solomons Reign (1 Kings 11:41)
2. The Years of Solomons Reign (1 Kings 11:42) forty years
3. The End of Solomons Reign (1 Kings 11:43)
1. Buried in the city of David
2. Rehoboam to reign in his stead

CONCLUSION: Solomon had it all and lost much of it before his death and even more afterwards. Will you allow your love of the things of the world to draw you away from God as the years go by?