1 Kings 6-8
Which Path?
In the first verse of Chapter 6 we find that it has been four hundred and eighty years since God brought the people out from slavery in Egypt. God certainly has been patient with all the rebellion that took place in the wilderness and also the period of the Judges after God brought them into the Promised Land. But now they are in the Kingdom Age and construction has begun on the Temple.
The Temple represents God with His people. The building, the articles, and furniture we will read about today represents and shows us how man is to relate to God in love, sacrifice, prayer, and service. The Ark and the room it resides in, represents God with his people. The ark represents God’s mercy and acceptance of the people. It also contains the Law that the people were to live and demonstrate to the world. Aaron’s staff and the jar of manna represents God’s provision, power, and leadership, which also demonstrates God’s desire to free his people and bless them.
Back in Deuteronomy 4:1-16 God wanted His blessing to His people to be observed by the other nations showing His love not only to Israel but for the world. His blessing was to be a witness to the other nations.
So as the Temple is being constructed things are finally coming together and God gives Solomon a warning in verses 12&13. “Concerning this house which you are building, ‘If you will walk in My Statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.’” NASB
God sets before Solomon the path in life He wants Solomon to take so that the nation and Temple can be God’s witness to the world of his desire to show the world the way that they might relate to God and be blessed by God because God loves the world. There is only one problem. There is another path that man can take and had taken. It is also a love for the world but not the same world that God loves. This path is a love for the trinkets, toys, pleasures, wealth, and power. On this path it is truly the survival of the fittest for anything goes when it comes to getting these things. This path also exalts man. God’s path is righteousness and justice for mankind. This is what God desires. It is not that wealth and prosperity are wrong it is the attitude toward them that can be the problem. God wants man to realize that He is the author of life and the one who blesses and provides. On the other path man thinks that everything he has obtained was because he was so smart and better than his closest competitor.
So, in the verses above, God tells Solomon which path to take in life to remain in the place of God’s blessing. Which path will Solomon choose? Well, we need to read on to find out but one thing is for certain; each of us has, or will, come to the same two paths where we are faced with the same two choices. So, the better question would be, which path are we on?
Deuteronomy 30:11-20 is our homework today.
Pastor Dave