WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.640 Well, good evening. It is good to be together, even if it is a bit damp, and we're all feeling 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:17.019 a little bit moist this evening. As Pete mentioned, this is the second in our series on Solomon. 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:22.480 We've had last week and this week. Next week, Sunday evening, we have a break. The following 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:28.940 two weeks, John will continue in Solomon's story. Those of you who were here last week, 00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:37.039 remember we talked about Solomon's slide with the overarching theme of these four evenings on 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:47.920 Solomon. How does the wisest of Israel's kings, so favored by God, seemingly start so well and yet 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:55.120 finish so badly? Thinking about last night and tonight, there's no surprise ending. We know the 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:01.140 story, and it's not a sort of cliffhanger. There's no spoiler alert. You know things are going to end 00:01:01.140 --> 00:01:10.019 wrong. It feels a little bit awkward constructing a sermon where we hold up a picture and the pictures 00:01:10.019 --> 00:01:19.340 are negative. That's for those of you who remember a thing called film. It was the inverse of what you 00:01:19.340 --> 00:01:23.859 wanted to see, and when the photograph was developed, you saw the positive picture. Well, we're holding up 00:01:23.859 --> 00:01:32.739 in some ways negatives in these four evenings, but I hope tonight as well, by the time we're finished, 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:40.879 we'll see some positives too. Well, let's just pause as we come to God's Word and seek His help again in 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:55.939 prayer. Ponder anew what the Almighty can do. Lord, we want to take that invitation this evening 00:01:55.939 --> 00:02:03.840 seriously as we look again into your Word. So we ask that you would incline our hearts to your testimony 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:13.780 and away from selfish gain. And so do your work in our hearts for your glory's sake. It's in Jesus' name we ask it. Amen. 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:24.939 Well, last week as we began this series, we started with Solomon's wisdom, and this evening we look at 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:32.300 Solomon's worship. And last week we saw that his wisdom was compromised from the start and remained so, 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:41.680 and so maybe the slide wasn't as steeply sloped as we might have thought. In fact, it started at a fairly low level already. 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:49.560 Well, like last week, this week we'll be moving around in Solomon's story in 1 Kings, but we'll camp out a little bit 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:55.700 in 1 Kings chapter 8. So I'd invite you to turn to 1 Kings chapter 8, 00:02:55.699 --> 00:03:02.819 and then keep your Bibles open in front of you. 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:10.179 Those who were here this morning, we had quite a long prayer which focused on Israel's sin, 00:03:10.259 --> 00:03:17.500 and those of you who know 1 Kings chapter 8 will know that it's a long prayer that focuses on Israel's sin. 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:27.620 But we won't be looking at the whole of the passage, and our focus is Solomon's worship. 00:03:28.099 --> 00:03:35.199 We saw last week already that Solomon was a keen worshiper. He was an enthusiast. 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:43.740 And so this week as we explore his worship, we want to see how someone so eager to be in God's presence 00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:48.040 could end up by experiencing God's absence. 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:57.580 So 1 Kings chapter 8 is the story of the dedication of the temple that Solomon built, 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:00.020 or that was built under Solomon's direction. 00:04:00.260 --> 00:04:08.780 And we'll just read the first 13 verses to start to explore Solomon at worship. 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:12.420 So this is 1 Kings 8 verse 1. 00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:43.720 1 Kings 8 verse 1. 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:50.040 And they brought up the ark of the Lord and the tent of meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:52.980 The priests and the Levites carried them up. 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:59.100 And King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, 00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:05.379 sacrificing so many sheep and cattle they could not be recorded or counted. 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:12.439 The priests then brought the ark of the Lord's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:17.360 the most holy place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:24.000 The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:30.980 These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, 00:05:30.980 --> 00:05:34.319 but not from outside the holy place. 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:36.500 And they're still there today. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:42.819 There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed in it at Horeb, 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:47.420 where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:54.340 When the priests withdrew from the holy place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord, 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:58.819 and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, 00:05:59.280 --> 00:06:02.680 for the glory of the Lord filled his temple. 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:05.259 Then Solomon said, 00:06:06.200 --> 00:06:09.620 The Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud. 00:06:10.420 --> 00:06:16.800 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell. 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:18.100 Forever. 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:23.220 And so we see Solomon at worship. 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:29.000 Now, we could spend weeks looking at the theme of worship. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:32.460 It's a very rich theme to dig into. 00:06:32.640 --> 00:06:40.160 Already in the things that Pete's put together for us to our singing and in our prayers and in our reading, 00:06:40.460 --> 00:06:44.980 we'll have seen lots of pointers to true worship and what it's about and so on. 00:06:44.980 --> 00:06:51.840 But we'll be looking at four moments in Solomon's life where we see Solomon at worship. 00:06:53.340 --> 00:06:56.900 And it would help to have some definition of what worship is. 00:06:57.900 --> 00:07:00.000 And worship can mean different things. 00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:02.220 It means different things in different contexts. 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:06.820 But my working definition for us this evening runs this way. 00:07:08.380 --> 00:07:15.860 Worship is the recognition and respect offered to God in public and private life, 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:19.860 by which we enjoy communion with him. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:25.700 And that captures quite a bit, perhaps not everything, but quite a bit of what worship is about. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:32.259 The recognition and respect offered to God in our public and private life, 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:35.979 by which we enjoy communion with him. 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:40.839 So everything isn't worship, but a lot of things are worship. 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:46.159 What we do here together is worship, but what we do on our own is worship. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:54.680 The four moments that we'll press into in Solomon's life have a little slide of their own. 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:55.700 There's four of them. 00:07:56.080 --> 00:07:59.260 Well, they go down and down and down. 00:07:59.780 --> 00:08:02.100 And then we get a nice little flip up at the end. 00:08:02.400 --> 00:08:04.240 At least that's the hope. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:10.980 We'll see that Solomon's worship involves him in expensive building, 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:17.300 in exuberant sacrifices, in expansive spirituality, 00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:21.840 but also brings up emphatic obedience. 00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:27.360 And as we move through his building work, his sacrificing, 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:32.039 his spirituality and his note of obedience, 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:37.080 we'll see that Solomon's external and visible actions, 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:43.440 what he did, held at best an uncertain relationship 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:47.379 to his internal and actual standing before God. 00:08:48.060 --> 00:08:50.580 The old adage, you can't tell a book by its cover. 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:57.039 What Solomon's doing externally in worship bears an uncertain relationship. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:02.080 To what's going on internally between him and God. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:06.300 And of course, the overarching question as we look at Solomon at worship is, 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:11.060 is this also true for us, for me? 00:09:12.300 --> 00:09:15.860 Well, we start then with Solomon's expensive building. 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:19.159 And the passage we read at the beginning of 1 Kings 8 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:23.940 comes towards the culmination of Solomon's temple building project. 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:27.500 It's a project he inherited from his father. 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:31.820 You might remember that when David intended to build a temple, 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:35.560 initially the prophet Nathan came to him and said, 00:09:36.060 --> 00:09:37.220 right, on you go. 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:39.740 All that is in your heart, it's good to do, do it. 00:09:39.880 --> 00:09:43.220 And the prophet went away and the Lord said to Nathan, 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:45.420 no, that's not my plan. 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:51.640 Go back to David and tell him that he won't be the one to build a house for me. 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:58.939 And so this task of building a temple for the Lord is inherited, in a sense, by Solomon. 00:09:59.539 --> 00:10:04.439 And it dominates Solomon's story in 1 Kings 1 to 11. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.860 That's where Solomon's story runs. 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:09.919 And actually, it's the whole central section. 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:13.419 It amounts to almost half of Solomon's story. 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:18.519 It's the story from chapter 5 to chapter 8 of Solomon preparing to build the temple, 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:21.519 setting people up out to build the temple, 00:10:22.079 --> 00:10:26.000 getting, moving into the temple, and dedicating the temple. 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:28.840 Almost half of Solomon's story. 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:32.899 Like we saw with kingship last week, 00:10:33.199 --> 00:10:36.000 the temple is quite late coming to Israel. 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:37.360 Everybody had temples. 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:39.639 Every good king has a temple. 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:43.779 And with the late coming of kingship to Israel, 00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:48.819 so we have a late coming to Israel of a temple. 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:51.319 Now, it's not to say that the temple, 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:55.899 nor to say that the king was a bad thing in coming to Israel. 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:58.699 And you'll have seen in the reading that we had 00:10:58.699 --> 00:11:03.000 that the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:09.519 So, this is the place that God has chosen to mark his presence with his people. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:11.980 But we know its late coming. 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:16.899 There's a couple of things to note about the timing of its coming to Israel 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:21.360 that help us to see the place it has in Solomon's life of worship. 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:24.220 Take us into that, at any case. 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:29.019 Turn back a couple of pages to 1 Kings chapter 6. 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:34.079 So, chapter 5 is all preparations for temple building. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:36.539 In chapter 6, they get started. 00:11:38.319 --> 00:11:40.620 So, chapter 6, verse 1. 00:11:41.319 --> 00:11:45.779 In the 480th year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, 00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:49.199 in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:51.759 in the month of Ziv, the second month, 00:11:52.319 --> 00:11:55.039 he began to build the temple of the Lord. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:12:02.279 Well, I note this not because we just like all the technical details. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:06.799 You know, it's like getting a car or a computer or a new appliance. 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:11.039 And we just love reading the manual and the specifications. 00:12:11.319 --> 00:12:12.639 That's not quite it. 00:12:13.099 --> 00:12:19.039 It's because our historian puts this timing here for a reason. 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:22.039 As far as this historian is concerned, 00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:30.599 the temple comes at the precise midpoint of God's national life with his people Israel. 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:32.500 It's a very significant moment. 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:37.159 480 years after the Israelites came out of Egypt. 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:42.419 Well, what had happened in this chronology 480 years earlier? 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:50.199 Well, it's the exodus from Egypt, but it's also the dedication of the tabernacle. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:57.659 And some of you might have heard an echo of the end of exodus in our passage from 1 Kings 8. 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:01.399 This is what happens when the tabernacle is dedicated. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:04.839 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:07.559 and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:11.919 Moses couldn't enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:15.399 and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 00:13:16.099 --> 00:13:17.659 That's the exodus event. 00:13:18.479 --> 00:13:21.379 480 years, we're at Solomon in the temple, 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:24.159 and the glory of the Lord fills the temple. 00:13:25.219 --> 00:13:28.719 And 480 years on this reckoning later, 00:13:29.579 --> 00:13:32.579 we'll get Ezra founding the second temple. 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:36.519 And we have these markers of Israel's worship life with God. 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:40.559 And here we have Solomon's temple right at the fulcrum, 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:45.000 the center point of that history of this God and this people. 00:13:46.119 --> 00:13:50.119 So it shows us something of the importance accorded to the temple. 00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:54.239 But what kind of importance did it have for Solomon? 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:56.779 Well, clearly it was important. 00:13:57.119 --> 00:14:02.979 But if we go to the end of chapter 6, we can start to qualify that. 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:10.000 So the end of chapter 6, we'll pick it up in verse 37, 00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:12.039 which repeats verse 1, basically. 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:16.899 The foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid in the fourth year, 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:17.779 in the month of Ziv. 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.500 That's what we read in verse 1. 00:14:19.920 --> 00:14:21.860 Solomon's fourth year, he starts building. 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:26.940 In the eleventh year, the month of Bul, the eighth month, 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:30.080 the temple was finished in all its details, 00:14:30.180 --> 00:14:31.700 according to its specifications. 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:33.860 To save us from doing the maths, 00:14:34.640 --> 00:14:37.460 he had spent seven years building it. 00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:41.180 That's a pretty substantial building project on any reckoning. 00:14:43.140 --> 00:14:45.780 But we keep reading across the chapter division. 00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:48.040 Let's continue into chapter 7. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:52.379 It took Solomon 13 years, however, 00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:56.019 to complete the construction of his palace. 00:14:56.699 --> 00:15:01.079 And its construction then is briefly told. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:04.519 Well, it's a joint building project then. 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:07.279 And Solomon's building for a long time. 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.679 Seven years on the temple, 00:15:10.459 --> 00:15:13.679 13 years on the palace complex. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:18.979 Three observations about this. 00:15:19.359 --> 00:15:21.099 First, as I've noted already, 00:15:21.339 --> 00:15:24.819 our interest this evening isn't on the fact of the temple. 00:15:26.479 --> 00:15:28.959 It's the place of the Lord's choosing 00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:31.139 to mark his presence with his people. 00:15:31.479 --> 00:15:34.219 But it's on Solomon's building as an act of worship. 00:15:35.239 --> 00:15:36.979 And if we have that in mind, 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:41.879 and if worship is that offering 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:45.059 of recognition and respect given to God, 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:48.539 and by which we enjoy communion with him, 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.320 then for all its grandeur, 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:55.480 Solomon's building of this temple 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:57.340 seems at best partial. 00:15:58.779 --> 00:16:00.659 Maybe we're not intended to think 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:02.519 that it's half as important to him 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:04.080 as the building of his own palace. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:08.299 But it invites us to at least raise that question. 00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:13.000 Solomon's building as an act of worship towards God 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.159 seems at best partial. 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:18.699 Well, beyond this is the observation that 00:16:18.699 --> 00:16:21.859 repeatedly through chapter 8, 00:16:21.959 --> 00:16:23.459 as the temple is dedicated, 00:16:23.979 --> 00:16:25.379 five times in all, 00:16:25.859 --> 00:16:29.259 we read that this is the house that Solomon built. 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:32.479 And we know that because Solomon is the one telling us 00:16:32.479 --> 00:16:34.299 that this is the house that Solomon built. 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:37.259 I mean, we saw the first of these in verse 13 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.779 as we finish that passage. 00:16:39.479 --> 00:16:40.099 Solomon said, 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.539 the Lord, 00:16:41.099 --> 00:16:42.120 Solomon said, 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:46.120 the Lord has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud. 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:50.279 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:52.459 a place for you to dwell forever. 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:55.679 And four more times as chapter 8 unfolds, 00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:57.719 the house that I have built, 00:16:58.079 --> 00:16:59.359 the house that I have built, 00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:03.120 do this in the house that I have built. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:08.119 Well, it's worth recalling a Psalm of Solomon. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:12.039 There's two Psalms of Solomon in the 150 in the Psalms. 00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:14.720 Last week we looked briefly at Psalm 72. 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:18.000 The other one is Psalm 127. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.579 Do you remember how that one begins? 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.759 Some of you will. 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:26.799 Unless the Lord builds the house, 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:30.140 the builders labor in vain. 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:34.040 Solomon loved building. 00:17:35.040 --> 00:17:36.759 He built all kinds of things. 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:41.200 As we see the end of the dedication of the temple in chapter 9, 00:17:41.560 --> 00:17:44.140 when Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:45.320 and the royal palace 00:17:45.320 --> 00:17:48.100 and had built all he had desired to build, 00:17:48.780 --> 00:17:49.580 on it goes. 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.960 And later on in chapter 9, 00:17:52.020 --> 00:17:55.320 it gives us a further account of Solomon's building activities. 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:59.339 This is verse 17. 00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:03.460 Although it starts before that, 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:05.200 Solomon rebuilt Gezer. 00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:07.279 He built lower Bet-Horon, 00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:12.679 Balat, and Tadmor in the desert within his land. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:14.799 He built all his store cities 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:17.139 and the towns for his chariots and his horses. 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:20.920 Whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:21.759 in Lebanon, 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:24.380 and throughout all the territory he ruled. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:28.660 He was a bit of a compulsive builder, in fact. 00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:31.180 It's like a kid with a Lego set. 00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:32.340 He just kept on building, 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.600 giving me more Lego, 00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:34.860 more buildings. 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.400 And that was Solomon. 00:18:37.040 --> 00:18:39.080 Again, we put this beside his insistence, 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:40.560 this is the house that I've built. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:42.379 It starts to qualify 00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:44.839 how we see the place of temple building 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:47.299 in Solomon's life of worship. 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:50.339 And just to finish this one off, 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:52.779 recall that promise to David 00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:54.240 I mentioned a moment ago. 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:57.059 When David purposed to build a house, 00:18:57.399 --> 00:19:00.240 eventually Nathan came to him and said, 00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:02.319 the Lord declares to you 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:06.119 that the Lord himself will build a house for you. 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:10.000 And David replied to Nathan the prophet, 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:12.980 Lord Almighty, God of Israel, 00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:15.019 you have revealed this to your servants, 00:19:15.159 --> 00:19:17.839 saying, I will build a house for you. 00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.980 It's worth bearing in mind 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:23.079 that when God builds a house, 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.679 he builds it with people. 00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:28.460 He builds it of people. 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:33.619 It's perhaps an irony 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:35.859 that the word for worship occurs 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:38.759 quite infrequently in Solomon's story, 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.200 just two places, in fact. 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:43.259 And one of the places is in the end of chapter 11, 00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:47.019 when the prophet comes to Jeroboam 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.960 and says that the people's worship 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:51.759 has turned away from the true God. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.740 Solomon was very much concerned 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.920 with his bricks and mortar. 00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:59.860 He wasn't concerned about the house building 00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:03.259 that goes on with the people of God. 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:07.579 For me, it very much shunts my thoughts forward 00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:09.500 towards what we read in 1 Peter, 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:11.859 that when we come into the kingdom of God, 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:14.460 when there is a new king who comes to build. 00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:17.160 We read in 1 Peter 2, 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.740 as you come to him, 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:21.160 to the living stone, that is Christ, 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:23.259 rejected by humans, 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.559 but chosen by God and precious to him, 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:28.259 you also, like living stones, 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:31.740 are being built into a spiritual house 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:33.259 to be a holy priesthood, 00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:36.160 offering spiritual sacrifices 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:39.720 acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:44.379 So Solomon, expensive building, 00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:47.620 but perhaps not the right kind of building 00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:51.280 to reflect worship to the true and living God. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.980 But we've just heard of offering sacrifices, 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:57.460 and that's the second thing we want to look at, 00:20:57.860 --> 00:21:01.500 not just, not only expensive building, 00:21:01.760 --> 00:21:03.960 but exuberant sacrifice. 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:07.320 We've seen this already in our reading, 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.700 but a reminder again for those of you 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:11.000 who were here last week, 00:21:11.600 --> 00:21:13.380 in 1 Kings chapter 3, 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:15.140 that's the dream at Gibeon. 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:17.500 Solomon goes to Gibeon, 00:21:17.820 --> 00:21:18.920 has the dream, 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:21.840 and that's where God gifts him wisdom. 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:25.040 And as that chapter begins, 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.040 verse 4, 00:21:26.520 --> 00:21:30.240 still setting the scene in 1 Kings chapter 3, 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:32.400 at verse 4 we read, 00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:35.840 the king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:40.000 for that was the most important high place. 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:43.040 Kings got to go to the most important high place. 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:46.820 And Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings 00:21:46.820 --> 00:21:47.700 on that altar. 00:21:49.300 --> 00:21:50.840 And after the dream, 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:52.180 he returns to Jerusalem, 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.220 verse 15, 00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:55.680 stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant, 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:59.860 sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:03.960 So he's an enthusiastic sacrificer, 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:08.060 which on the face of it seems a good thing. 00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:10.360 Seems a good thing. 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:13.000 Let's look a little further. 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.819 So we've seen already, 00:22:14.959 --> 00:22:16.959 as we read in 1 Kings 8, 00:22:17.719 --> 00:22:19.479 that they start off with this 00:22:19.479 --> 00:22:27.519 unimaginable sacrificing. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:29.279 1 Kings 8, 5, 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:30.160 King Solomon, 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:33.319 the entire assembly of Israel gathered about him, 00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:34.240 were before the ark, 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:37.519 sacrificing so many sheep and cattle, 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:40.180 they could not be recorded or counted. 00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:43.359 The dedication takes place, 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:45.220 and at the end of chapter 8, 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:49.279 they've found enough accountants 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:51.000 to manage the job. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.819 So at 1 Kings 8, 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:56.259 start at verse 62, 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:59.799 then the king and all Israel with him 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:02.059 offered sacrifices before the Lord. 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:04.180 Solomon offered a sacrifice 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:06.059 of fellowship offerings to the Lord, 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:08.319 22,000 cattle, 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:11.319 and 120,000 sheep and goats. 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:14.160 So the king and all the Israelites 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:16.839 dedicated the temple of the Lord. 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:21.599 Well, this is sacrifice on a grand scale. 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:25.879 Commentators have interesting discussions 00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:26.859 about these numbers, 00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:28.000 as you could well imagine. 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:30.199 I'm not great with numbers, 00:23:30.919 --> 00:23:34.079 but we know that the festival of dedication 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:35.279 took two weeks. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.119 So, 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.960 140, 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.920 what's that? 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.139 See, I'm not good with numbers. 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:45.220 143,000 offerings, 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.859 sacrifices. 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:48.480 That comes out to roughly, 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.379 I've written it down, 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:53.700 10,143 sacrifices a day, 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:56.480 or if you imagine this is just during waking hours, 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:58.039 845 an hour. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.680 It's pretty good going. 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.420 It's extravagant. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:09.119 And I think at one level we think, 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:09.779 wow, 00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:12.839 I wish I could sacrifice like that. 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:16.899 But his father again said something interesting. 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:20.779 When he acquired the place 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:22.200 on which the temple was to be built, 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:24.819 he was offered some cattle 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:27.960 and some wood to sacrifice on the spot. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.420 And David said, 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:29.740 no, 00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:32.319 I will not offer to the Lord 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:34.759 sacrifices that cost me nothing. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.740 And we start to think, 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:37.899 well, 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:40.639 what do these sacrifices mean, 00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:41.539 in fact? 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:47.399 And I got a bit of help thinking about this 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:48.399 from Jonathan Edwards. 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:49.500 Now, 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.279 Jonathan Edwards 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:52.879 was a pastor 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:55.980 philosopher in New England 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.300 in the 18th century, 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.400 something like 1700 something, 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.100 1758 roughly, 00:25:03.300 --> 00:25:05.320 his life. 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:07.820 He was the preacher 00:25:07.820 --> 00:25:09.700 in one of the New England churches 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.240 in 1734 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:13.840 when there was a dramatic revival, 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:15.900 such a dramatic revival, 00:25:16.020 --> 00:25:19.000 there was international interest in it. 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:22.480 15 or so years later, 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:24.240 there was another sort of echo 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:25.380 of that revival. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:27.000 And as often happens 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.160 in times of revival, 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.640 there's controversy. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.720 And Edwards 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.980 looked back 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:36.839 on the 1734 revival 00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:39.579 in which he was deeply involved. 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:41.579 His family affected deeply, 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.500 his own wife, 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.480 experiencing quite amazing things 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.839 during that period. 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:48.939 And he wrote a book 00:25:48.939 --> 00:25:49.720 called 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:51.079 A Treatise Concerning 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:52.759 Religious Affections, 00:25:53.199 --> 00:25:54.699 which still bears reading today. 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.819 You can download it 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.559 on the internet. 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.959 The PDF's 304 pages. 00:26:01.439 --> 00:26:03.279 But he thinks about, 00:26:03.679 --> 00:26:04.859 in this context, 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.720 controversy over revival. 00:26:06.959 --> 00:26:08.019 What's a true sign 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.899 of God at work? 00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:11.559 Those crazy people 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.179 down the street, 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.319 is God at work in them? 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.859 What's a true sign 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.599 of revival? 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:18.319 And much of the work 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.039 is taken up 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.879 with discerning 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:21.419 and discussing biblically 00:26:21.419 --> 00:26:22.839 what are true signs 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:25.039 and what are no true signs, 00:26:25.159 --> 00:26:26.839 or at least uncertain signs. 00:26:27.199 --> 00:26:28.319 And the first thing 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.659 he starts off with 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:31.719 in the middle section 00:26:31.719 --> 00:26:32.339 of the book, 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:35.439 which bears the title, 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.659 this is part two, 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:40.699 showing what are no certain signs 00:26:40.699 --> 00:26:42.599 that religious affections 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.419 are gracious. 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:46.380 These are not certain signs. 00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:47.940 And the very first of these 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:49.620 is that it is no sign 00:26:49.620 --> 00:26:51.060 one way or the other 00:26:51.060 --> 00:26:52.700 that religious affections 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:54.039 are very great 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:56.180 or raised very high. 00:26:57.060 --> 00:26:57.960 He says, 00:26:58.300 --> 00:26:59.100 after considering 00:26:59.100 --> 00:27:00.000 that it's important 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.800 that we have affection 00:27:01.800 --> 00:27:02.600 in worship, 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.120 he writes this, 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:06.000 it's no evidence 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.559 that religious affections 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.639 are of a spiritual 00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.939 and gracious nature 00:27:09.939 --> 00:27:12.359 because they are great. 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:14.839 It is very manifest 00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:16.199 by the Holy Scripture, 00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:18.679 our sure and infallible rule 00:27:18.679 --> 00:27:19.639 to judge of things 00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.379 of this nature, 00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:21.719 that there are 00:27:21.719 --> 00:27:23.079 religious affections 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:24.639 which are very high, 00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:27.619 which are not spiritual 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:29.319 or saving. 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.939 some are, 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:31.559 he says, 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:32.599 some aren't. 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.159 So here we have 00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:36.720 no true sign. 00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:39.399 And as we reflect 00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.179 in this way 00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:41.339 on Solomon's story, 00:27:41.419 --> 00:27:41.939 we recall 00:27:41.939 --> 00:27:42.939 that the Old Testament 00:27:42.939 --> 00:27:44.599 has no requirements 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.759 for sacrifice 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.159 on this scale 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:48.899 that Solomon's offering. 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:50.139 In fact, 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.139 there's something 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:52.319 like the opposite. 00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:53.659 Now, 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.240 it comes from 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.159 a later time, 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:57.220 but in Micah, 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.279 chapter 6, 00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.299 we have a reflection 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:01.299 on exactly this dynamic. 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.799 I'll read it for you. 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:03.660 It's Micah, 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.519 chapter 6, 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.700 verse 6, 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.259 to verse 8. 00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.879 And the prophet asks, 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.740 with what shall I 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.879 come before the Lord? 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.539 And that's our question. 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:15.799 How shall I come 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.619 before the Lord? 00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:19.220 And bow down 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:20.759 before the exalted God. 00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:23.319 Shall I come before him 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:26.379 with burnt offerings, 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.119 with calves, 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.939 a year old? 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.979 It's a good starting point. 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:33.359 Or will the Lord 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:34.039 be pleased 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.919 with thousands of rams, 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:38.519 with 10,000 rivers 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.099 of oil? 00:28:39.979 --> 00:28:40.959 We're getting into 00:28:40.959 --> 00:28:42.439 Solomon territory now. 00:28:45.219 --> 00:28:47.099 Or shall I offer 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:48.779 my firstborn 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:50.500 for my transgression? 00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.899 Maybe now I'm going 00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:53.579 too far. 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:55.819 The fruit of my body 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.959 for the sin of my soul. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:58.220 What's the ultimate 00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.980 sacrifice I can make? 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.980 And the response comes. 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.840 He has shown you, 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.740 O mortal, 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.600 what is good. 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.840 And what does 00:29:08.840 --> 00:29:10.420 the Lord require of you 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:13.140 but to act justly, 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:15.420 to love mercy, 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:18.100 and to walk humbly 00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:19.579 with your God? 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:22.639 not the extravagant 00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:23.759 sacrifices. 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.899 So again, 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:27.460 we put a question mark 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.000 over that 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.960 and say with, 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:29.500 perhaps, 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.399 Jonathan Edwards, 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:32.639 no true sign. 00:29:34.439 --> 00:29:34.619 Well, 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.059 we have 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:36.480 expensive building. 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.279 We have 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.639 exuberant sacrifice. 00:29:39.439 --> 00:29:40.599 A third place 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.079 we see 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:42.220 Solomon at worship 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.759 is in what I've called 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.699 expansive 00:29:44.699 --> 00:29:45.779 spirituality. 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.099 spirituality. 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.639 And we need to 00:29:47.639 --> 00:29:48.339 turn over 00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:49.359 a couple of pages 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.480 to get 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.619 our best glimpse 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.099 of this, 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:52.460 although, 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.119 again, 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:54.220 we've seen it already 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:54.960 in what we've been 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.899 reading this evening. 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.079 So to look at 00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:59.779 1 Kings chapter 11. 00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.639 When we were back 00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.180 at Gibeon 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.059 in chapter 3, 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:06.000 Solomon's there. 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:07.000 It's a high place. 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.000 It's the most important 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.680 high place, 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.519 and you get the sense 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.500 that Solomon's a bit 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.839 of a spiritual tourist. 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.119 He'll go where he needs 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.740 to go to get 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:15.599 to the best high place. 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.819 And that kind of openness 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:19.519 to spiritual experience 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:23.500 grows to alarming proportions 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.620 later in life. 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.220 My hunch is 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.339 this is possibly 00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:27.920 a passage 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:28.680 that John will be 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:29.420 looking at later 00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.400 for other reasons, 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.799 but let's read 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:33.160 1 Kings 11. 00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:35.440 We'll start at verse 4. 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:39.799 Read just a few verses. 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.420 As Solomon grew old, 00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:44.400 his wives turned his heart 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:45.640 after other gods, 00:30:46.300 --> 00:30:47.279 and his heart was not 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.740 fully devoted to the Lord, 00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:49.500 his God, 00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:51.220 as the heart of David, 00:30:51.320 --> 00:30:51.779 his father, 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.360 had been. 00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:54.820 He followed Ashtoreth, 00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:56.600 the goddess of the Sidonians, 00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:57.620 and Molech, 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.720 the detestable god 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.600 of the Ammonites. 00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:01.420 So Solomon did evil 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:02.519 in the eyes of the Lord. 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.880 He did not follow 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.820 the Lord completely 00:31:04.820 --> 00:31:05.460 as David, 00:31:05.800 --> 00:31:06.279 his father, 00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:06.900 had done. 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.620 On a hill 00:31:08.620 --> 00:31:10.100 east of Jerusalem, 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.399 Solomon built 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:12.279 a high place 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:13.139 for Chemosh, 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.259 the detestable god 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.839 of Moab, 00:31:15.459 --> 00:31:16.299 and for Molech, 00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.339 the detestable god 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:18.819 of the Ammonites. 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:20.559 He did the same 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:22.539 for all his foreign wives. 00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:24.159 He burned incense 00:31:24.159 --> 00:31:26.379 and offered sacrifices 00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:27.639 to their god. 00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:31.199 The Lord became angry 00:31:31.199 --> 00:31:31.819 with Solomon. 00:31:32.679 --> 00:31:33.939 This is not a good thing. 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:37.900 So Solomon's kind 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:38.840 of inclusiveness 00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:39.500 in worship 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.539 starts welcoming 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:42.279 in these foreign cults 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:44.380 into his own palace, 00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:46.080 and he even makes 00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:47.019 a home for them 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:48.380 in Jerusalem. 00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:51.500 It's quite sobering 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.279 to observe 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.580 that Solomon's 00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:55.299 pagan sanctuaries 00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:57.600 persisted in Jerusalem 00:31:57.600 --> 00:32:00.380 for 300 years. 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.500 Right towards the end 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.119 of the history 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:04.259 of Judah, 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:06.819 before the Babylonian exile, 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.500 of which we've been 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.339 thinking in our 00:32:08.339 --> 00:32:09.240 morning services, 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.440 there was a great 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.299 reforming king 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.279 named Josiah. 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:16.660 And 2 Kings 23, 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.599 the other end 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.700 of the story of Israel, 00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:19.440 we read about 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.660 Josiah's reforms, 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.599 and among them 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.400 we read this. 00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:24.960 It's 2 Kings 23, 13. 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:26.859 The king, 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:27.759 in this case, 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.539 it's Josiah. 00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:31.200 The king also 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.539 desecrated the high 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.440 places that were 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.519 east of Jerusalem 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:35.340 on the south 00:32:35.340 --> 00:32:35.840 of the hill 00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:36.580 of corruption, 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.559 the ones Solomon, 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.460 king of Israel, 00:32:39.580 --> 00:32:40.920 had built for Ashtoret, 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.400 the vile goddess 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.640 of the Sidonians, 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:44.660 for Chemosh, 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.039 the vile god of Moab, 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:47.380 and for Molech, 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.920 the detestable god 00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:49.559 of the people 00:32:49.559 --> 00:32:50.259 of Ammon. 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:53.740 So for 300 years, 00:32:54.860 --> 00:32:56.380 Solomon's mix-and-match 00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.740 worship had been there 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.080 as a snare and temptation 00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:00.720 for the people 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.859 of Judah 00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:03.779 in Jerusalem. 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.339 And as I 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:08.199 pondered this 00:33:08.199 --> 00:33:11.279 circumstance, 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:13.619 I couldn't help 00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.399 but ask myself 00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:15.319 my own question, 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.799 what illicit shrines 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.419 do I build 00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:17.939 in harbor 00:33:17.939 --> 00:33:18.799 in my life? 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:21.519 What illicit shrines 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.299 have been built 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.679 generations ago 00:33:23.679 --> 00:33:24.919 that might still be 00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:26.259 sullying, 00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:27.839 polluting 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:29.440 the spiritual 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.000 inheritance 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.480 that we have 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:32.619 in our families? 00:33:34.879 --> 00:33:37.319 And it came to mind 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.119 again a program 00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.900 that aired 00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:40.220 last Christmas, 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.460 just before last Christmas 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:42.559 on Radio 4. 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.779 Chrismica 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.799 and other 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:47.059 cultural mash-ups. 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.759 Sounds a bit 00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.500 Solomonic. 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.519 This is our religious 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.900 and cultural context. 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:54.200 Here's a part 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.799 of the program 00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.400 description. 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.839 As the number 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.720 of interfaith 00:33:57.720 --> 00:33:58.200 marriages 00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:58.779 in Britain 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.460 increases, 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.819 we uncover 00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:02.400 a growing phenomenon, 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.539 the cultural 00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.480 mash-up. 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.839 Families who are 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:06.720 getting creative 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:08.099 as they combine 00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:09.000 different religious 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.760 and cultural 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:11.019 traditions to create 00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:11.980 their own 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:13.500 unique festivals. 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.460 Well, there was 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.119 a review of the 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:16.820 program in the 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:17.619 Radio Times. 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.840 The viewer loved it. 00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:21.940 This program, 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.579 all about pluralism 00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.380 and integration, 00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.619 provides the right 00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.599 kind of balance 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:28.079 this holiday season. 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.740 The reviewer noted, 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.740 we hear, for example, 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.860 of a Muslim Easter 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.480 egg hunt. 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:37.200 It's wrong on quite a 00:34:37.200 --> 00:34:37.940 number of levels. 00:34:39.220 --> 00:34:39.940 And he finishes, 00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:40.840 truly, 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.460 a glimmer of light 00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:43.500 in the darkness, 00:34:44.180 --> 00:34:44.700 echoing, 00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:45.820 knowingly or not, 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:47.680 John 1 00:34:47.680 --> 00:34:49.599 at Advent season. 00:34:50.319 --> 00:34:51.159 This is our 00:34:51.159 --> 00:34:52.119 cultural milieu. 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.279 And this is the 00:34:53.279 --> 00:34:54.179 temptation that we'll 00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:55.099 be facing in our 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:56.059 generation, 00:34:56.380 --> 00:34:57.339 as this kind of 00:34:57.339 --> 00:34:59.500 thing is approved. 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.719 But there are 00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.519 other shrines, 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:03.599 other forms of 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:04.699 illicit spirituality 00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:05.739 we build into 00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:06.599 our lives, 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:09.159 and that have the 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:10.599 potential to pollute 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:12.099 across generations. 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:15.579 I remember a good 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.400 Christian friend 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.839 who said how 00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:18.799 hard it was for 00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.400 her to break 00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:20.460 away from her 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:21.319 devotion to 00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:22.679 horoscopes. 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.139 Tarot, 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:27.159 down the 00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:27.579 center of 00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:27.900 Edinburgh. 00:35:29.799 --> 00:35:30.639 Many families, 00:35:30.819 --> 00:35:31.319 I think, 00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:32.519 feeling the 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.339 effects of 00:35:33.339 --> 00:35:34.440 Masonic 00:35:34.440 --> 00:35:35.579 involvement, 00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:37.139 going on 00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:38.019 through generations. 00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:39.940 What other 00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:40.639 forms of 00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:41.179 illicit 00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:42.079 spirituality 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.340 spirituality 00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:42.779 do we 00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:43.579 domesticate 00:35:43.579 --> 00:35:43.900 in our 00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.380 homes? 00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:46.199 I know 00:35:46.199 --> 00:35:46.400 it's 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.000 controversial, 00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:48.480 but what 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:48.880 about 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.900 Harry Potter 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:51.000 and many 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:52.059 other forms 00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:52.340 of 00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.460 supernatural, 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.460 illicit 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:55.119 supernatural 00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:56.019 powers that 00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:56.400 we just 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:57.539 make a 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.400 space for 00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:59.759 and enjoy 00:35:59.759 --> 00:36:00.079 in our 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:00.519 homes? 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.279 Are we 00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:03.279 doing what 00:36:03.279 --> 00:36:04.039 Solomon was 00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:04.860 doing when 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:05.360 we make a 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:05.840 place for 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:06.599 these shrines 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:07.279 that do not 00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:08.239 honor the 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:09.279 true and 00:36:09.279 --> 00:36:10.039 living God? 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:10.179 God? 00:36:11.719 --> 00:36:12.019 Well, 00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:12.320 one 00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:13.219 commentator 00:36:13.219 --> 00:36:14.320 on these 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:14.800 passages 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.300 put it 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:15.880 this way. 00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:18.039 Ultimately, 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:19.159 even a 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.960 faithful king, 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.460 he was 00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:21.199 referring to 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:21.800 Josiah, 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:22.960 ultimately, 00:36:23.159 --> 00:36:23.659 even a 00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.400 faithful king 00:36:24.400 --> 00:36:25.019 will not 00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:25.940 be able to 00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:26.719 undo the 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.719 idolatries 00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:29.259 of generations. 00:36:30.759 --> 00:36:31.300 Josiah's 00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:32.219 reform flickered 00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:33.539 briefly and 00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.380 then snuffed 00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:35.599 out as the 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.579 Babylonian exile 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.079 came. 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:37.779 amidst the 00:36:37.779 --> 00:36:38.360 cries of 00:36:38.360 --> 00:36:38.779 the people 00:36:38.779 --> 00:36:39.199 that we 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:40.179 worship the 00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:41.199 queen of 00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:41.559 heaven. 00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:43.940 It will 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.519 take a 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:44.920 king of 00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:45.719 an entirely 00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:46.340 different 00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:47.360 order of 00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:48.880 fidelity to 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:49.960 deal decisively 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.860 with his 00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:51.920 people's sin. 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.159 So, 00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:54.699 expensive 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.799 building, 00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:57.219 exuberant, 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.779 sacrificing, 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:00.139 expansive 00:37:00.139 --> 00:37:01.219 spirituality, 00:37:01.799 --> 00:37:02.420 and finally, 00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:04.239 finally, 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:06.419 emphatic 00:37:06.419 --> 00:37:07.519 obedience. 00:37:07.899 --> 00:37:08.219 It's that 00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:09.199 little ramp 00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:09.459 at the 00:37:09.459 --> 00:37:09.699 end of 00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:10.259 the slide. 00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:13.839 Solomon 00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:14.319 seemed to 00:37:14.319 --> 00:37:14.639 have learned 00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:15.859 something from 00:37:15.859 --> 00:37:16.599 his father. 00:37:17.319 --> 00:37:17.819 And you'll 00:37:17.819 --> 00:37:18.559 recall that 00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:19.579 after David's 00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.500 adultery 00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:22.319 with Bathsheba, 00:37:22.879 --> 00:37:24.019 he repented, 00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:25.219 and we have 00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:25.899 the prayer of 00:37:25.899 --> 00:37:26.699 repentance in 00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:27.779 Psalm 51. 00:37:28.339 --> 00:37:29.000 As part of 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.919 that, David 00:37:29.919 --> 00:37:30.819 prayed this, 00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:32.120 you do 00:37:32.120 --> 00:37:32.760 not delight 00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:33.780 in sacrifice, 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.480 or I would 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:34.980 bring it. 00:37:35.559 --> 00:37:35.920 You do 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.440 not take 00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:37.500 pleasure in 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.320 burnt offerings. 00:37:39.460 --> 00:37:40.580 The sacrifices 00:37:40.580 --> 00:37:41.360 of God 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:42.740 are a broken 00:37:42.740 --> 00:37:44.120 spirit, a 00:37:44.120 --> 00:37:44.840 broken and 00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.860 contrite heart. 00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:46.720 O God, you 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:47.220 will not 00:37:47.220 --> 00:37:48.039 despise. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:49.380 And what 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:50.220 does God 00:37:50.220 --> 00:37:51.180 desire? 00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:52.800 It's in 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:54.080 Psalm 51. 00:37:54.080 --> 00:37:54.700 6. 00:37:55.660 --> 00:37:56.539 You desired 00:37:56.539 --> 00:37:58.100 faithfulness, 00:37:58.600 --> 00:37:59.539 even in the 00:37:59.539 --> 00:37:59.880 womb. 00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:01.840 At some 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:02.660 level, Solomon 00:38:02.660 --> 00:38:03.260 must have 00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:04.120 learned this 00:38:04.120 --> 00:38:04.680 lesson. 00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:05.700 And the 00:38:05.700 --> 00:38:06.740 closing petition 00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:07.320 in his 00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:08.080 lengthy prayer, 00:38:08.160 --> 00:38:08.720 we saw a 00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:09.460 closing petition 00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:10.440 this morning, 00:38:11.620 --> 00:38:13.080 comes at 00:38:13.080 --> 00:38:14.240 verse 56 00:38:14.240 --> 00:38:15.100 of chapter 00:38:15.100 --> 00:38:15.480 8. 00:38:15.660 --> 00:38:16.200 1 Kings 00:38:16.200 --> 00:38:17.120 8, 56. 00:38:17.460 --> 00:38:17.720 And we'll 00:38:17.720 --> 00:38:18.559 just read a 00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:19.120 couple of 00:38:19.120 --> 00:38:20.780 passages here 00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:21.539 as we draw 00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:22.300 towards an 00:38:22.300 --> 00:38:22.640 end. 00:38:25.200 --> 00:38:25.860 Solomon's 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:26.720 closing petition, 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.860 praise be to 00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:28.539 the Lord who 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:29.000 has given 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:29.700 rest to his 00:38:29.700 --> 00:38:30.440 people Israel, 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:31.460 just as he 00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:31.980 promised. 00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:33.420 Not one 00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:34.000 word has 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:34.519 failed of 00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:35.000 all the 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:35.679 good promises 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:36.539 he gave 00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:37.039 through his 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:37.940 servant Moses, 00:38:38.200 --> 00:38:39.079 echoing the 00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:39.440 words of 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.960 Joshua centuries 00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:41.440 earlier. 00:38:42.720 --> 00:38:43.519 May the 00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:44.139 Lord our 00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:44.980 God be with 00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:45.519 us as he 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:45.920 was with 00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:46.800 our ancestors. 00:38:47.500 --> 00:38:47.860 May he 00:38:47.860 --> 00:38:48.420 never leave 00:38:48.420 --> 00:38:48.840 us nor 00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.720 forsake us. 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:50.720 May he 00:38:50.720 --> 00:38:51.480 turn our 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.240 hearts to 00:38:52.240 --> 00:38:53.280 him, to 00:38:53.280 --> 00:38:53.679 walk in 00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.519 obedience to 00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:55.500 him, and 00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:55.960 keep the 00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:56.400 commands, 00:38:56.599 --> 00:38:57.200 decrees, and 00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:57.619 laws he 00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.039 gave our 00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.639 ancestors. 00:38:58.639 --> 00:38:59.759 And may 00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:00.359 these words 00:39:00.359 --> 00:39:00.859 of mine, 00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:01.379 which I 00:39:01.379 --> 00:39:01.859 have prayed 00:39:01.859 --> 00:39:02.500 before the 00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:03.379 Lord, be 00:39:03.379 --> 00:39:03.980 near the 00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.759 Lord our 00:39:04.759 --> 00:39:05.480 God day 00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:06.019 and night, 00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:06.859 that he 00:39:06.859 --> 00:39:07.539 may uphold 00:39:07.539 --> 00:39:08.079 the cause 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:08.420 of his 00:39:08.420 --> 00:39:09.460 servant, and 00:39:09.460 --> 00:39:09.900 the cause 00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:10.199 of his 00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:11.039 people Israel, 00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:12.699 according to 00:39:12.699 --> 00:39:13.519 each day's 00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:15.279 need, so 00:39:15.279 --> 00:39:15.900 that all the 00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.379 peoples of 00:39:16.379 --> 00:39:16.980 the earth may 00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.920 know that the 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:18.900 Lord is God, 00:39:19.379 --> 00:39:20.279 there is no 00:39:20.279 --> 00:39:20.619 other. 00:39:21.719 --> 00:39:23.079 And may your 00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:23.940 hearts be fully 00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:24.719 committed to the 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:25.719 Lord, to live 00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:26.759 by his decrees, 00:39:26.760 --> 00:39:27.780 and obey his 00:39:27.780 --> 00:39:29.040 commands, as 00:39:29.040 --> 00:39:29.880 at this time. 00:39:32.080 --> 00:39:32.900 It's a good 00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.360 prayer. 00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:35.140 It speaks to 00:39:35.140 --> 00:39:35.720 many of the 00:39:35.720 --> 00:39:36.360 concerns that 00:39:36.360 --> 00:39:37.040 we've raised as 00:39:37.040 --> 00:39:37.600 we've looked at 00:39:37.600 --> 00:39:39.500 the building, the 00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:41.040 sacrificing, and 00:39:41.040 --> 00:39:42.000 the inclusive 00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:43.220 spirituality. 00:39:44.740 --> 00:39:45.640 It's a prayer 00:39:45.640 --> 00:39:46.480 that God heard 00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:47.080 and answered. 00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:48.300 And we know 00:39:48.300 --> 00:39:49.140 that, because 00:39:49.140 --> 00:39:49.940 that's what we 00:39:49.940 --> 00:39:50.940 read of in 00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.760 chapter 9. 00:39:52.140 --> 00:39:52.660 So I'll just 00:39:52.660 --> 00:39:54.720 continue in 00:39:54.720 --> 00:39:55.520 chapter 9. 00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.840 when Solomon 00:39:56.840 --> 00:39:57.380 had finished 00:39:57.380 --> 00:39:57.940 building the 00:39:57.940 --> 00:39:58.539 temple of the 00:39:58.539 --> 00:39:59.139 Lord and the 00:39:59.139 --> 00:40:00.119 royal palace and 00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:01.039 had achieved all 00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:01.920 he had desired 00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:03.300 to do, the 00:40:03.300 --> 00:40:04.019 Lord appeared to 00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:04.599 him a second 00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:05.500 time as he had 00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.079 appeared to him 00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:06.679 at Gibeon. 00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:08.340 The Lord said 00:40:08.340 --> 00:40:08.759 to him, 00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:11.199 I have heard 00:40:11.199 --> 00:40:12.259 the prayer and 00:40:12.259 --> 00:40:12.980 plea you have 00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:13.880 made before me. 00:40:14.380 --> 00:40:15.699 I have consecrated 00:40:15.699 --> 00:40:16.380 this temple, 00:40:16.659 --> 00:40:17.280 which you have 00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:18.659 built, by putting 00:40:18.659 --> 00:40:19.460 my name there 00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:19.960 forever. 00:40:20.699 --> 00:40:21.579 My eyes and 00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:22.679 my heart will 00:40:22.679 --> 00:40:23.599 always be there. 00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:25.559 As for you, 00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:27.319 if you walk 00:40:27.319 --> 00:40:27.960 before me 00:40:27.960 --> 00:40:28.900 faithfully with 00:40:28.900 --> 00:40:29.719 integrity of 00:40:29.719 --> 00:40:30.259 heart and 00:40:30.259 --> 00:40:31.179 uprightness, as 00:40:31.179 --> 00:40:31.699 David your 00:40:31.699 --> 00:40:33.239 father did, and 00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:33.819 do all I 00:40:33.819 --> 00:40:34.339 command and 00:40:34.339 --> 00:40:35.039 observe my 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:35.699 decrees and 00:40:35.699 --> 00:40:37.219 laws, I will 00:40:37.219 --> 00:40:38.079 establish your 00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:39.039 royal throne over 00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:40.019 Israel forever, 00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:41.279 as I promised 00:40:41.279 --> 00:40:41.900 David your 00:40:41.900 --> 00:40:42.779 father when I 00:40:42.779 --> 00:40:43.880 said, you 00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:44.460 shall never 00:40:44.460 --> 00:40:45.679 fail to have 00:40:45.679 --> 00:40:46.299 a successor 00:40:46.299 --> 00:40:46.940 on the throne 00:40:46.940 --> 00:40:47.519 of Israel. 00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:49.960 But if you 00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:50.259 or your 00:40:50.259 --> 00:40:51.099 descendants turn 00:40:51.099 --> 00:40:51.840 away from me 00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:52.380 and do not 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:53.019 observe the 00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:53.739 commands and 00:40:53.739 --> 00:40:54.559 decrees I have 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:55.259 given you and 00:40:55.259 --> 00:40:56.519 go off to serve 00:40:56.519 --> 00:40:57.340 other gods and 00:40:57.340 --> 00:40:58.019 worship them, 00:40:58.679 --> 00:40:59.599 then I will cut 00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:00.500 off Israel from 00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:01.239 the land I have 00:41:01.239 --> 00:41:02.519 given them and 00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.420 will reject this 00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:04.119 temple I have 00:41:04.119 --> 00:41:05.019 consecrated for 00:41:05.019 --> 00:41:05.619 my name. 00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:07.179 Israel will 00:41:07.179 --> 00:41:07.900 then become a 00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:08.759 byword and an 00:41:08.759 --> 00:41:09.940 object of ridicule 00:41:09.940 --> 00:41:10.860 among all 00:41:10.860 --> 00:41:11.280 peoples. 00:41:12.139 --> 00:41:12.780 This temple 00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:13.840 will become a 00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:14.759 heap of rubble. 00:41:15.519 --> 00:41:16.300 All who pass 00:41:16.300 --> 00:41:16.940 by will be 00:41:16.940 --> 00:41:18.300 appalled and 00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:19.200 will scoff and 00:41:19.200 --> 00:41:20.500 say, why has 00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:21.120 the Lord done 00:41:21.120 --> 00:41:22.039 such a thing to 00:41:22.039 --> 00:41:22.800 this land and 00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:23.480 to this temple? 00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:25.039 People will 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:26.380 answer, because 00:41:26.380 --> 00:41:27.620 they have forsaken 00:41:27.620 --> 00:41:28.280 the Lord their 00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:29.780 God, who brought 00:41:29.780 --> 00:41:30.860 their ancestors out 00:41:30.860 --> 00:41:31.960 of Egypt and 00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.560 have embraced 00:41:32.560 --> 00:41:33.400 other gods, 00:41:33.580 --> 00:41:34.760 worshipping and 00:41:34.760 --> 00:41:35.560 serving them. 00:41:36.380 --> 00:41:37.760 That is why the 00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:38.960 Lord brought all 00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:40.720 this disaster on 00:41:40.720 --> 00:41:40.960 them. 00:41:42.840 --> 00:41:43.940 As we began, 00:41:44.060 --> 00:41:44.700 we wanted to 00:41:44.700 --> 00:41:45.519 see how someone 00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:46.360 so eager to 00:41:46.360 --> 00:41:47.259 be in God's 00:41:47.259 --> 00:41:48.360 presence would 00:41:48.360 --> 00:41:49.440 end by experiencing 00:41:49.440 --> 00:41:50.500 God's absence. 00:41:51.420 --> 00:41:52.619 And this is 00:41:52.619 --> 00:41:53.719 precisely how. 00:41:54.239 --> 00:41:55.139 It comes back 00:41:55.139 --> 00:41:56.460 again to a 00:41:56.460 --> 00:41:57.340 life of 00:41:57.340 --> 00:41:57.780 obedience. 00:41:59.360 --> 00:42:00.739 And it's not 00:42:00.739 --> 00:42:01.840 an irony that 00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:03.019 immediately after 00:42:03.019 --> 00:42:04.460 this great high 00:42:04.460 --> 00:42:05.039 point of 00:42:05.039 --> 00:42:05.759 dedicating the 00:42:05.759 --> 00:42:06.320 temple, the 00:42:06.320 --> 00:42:07.639 first thing 00:42:07.639 --> 00:42:09.059 Solomon hears is 00:42:09.059 --> 00:42:09.679 a warning. 00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:11.579 Much as in his 00:42:11.579 --> 00:42:12.960 first dream in 00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:14.219 Gibeon, God's 00:42:14.219 --> 00:42:15.559 God wants him 00:42:15.559 --> 00:42:16.059 to be. 00:42:16.059 --> 00:42:16.859 In a sense, 00:42:16.859 --> 00:42:17.099 in a sense, 00:42:17.099 --> 00:42:19.019 warning him by 00:42:19.019 --> 00:42:19.959 putting before him 00:42:19.959 --> 00:42:21.599 the man God wants 00:42:21.599 --> 00:42:22.159 him to be. 00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:22.639 And again, here, the 00:42:22.639 --> 00:42:24.359 Lord warns him to be 00:42:24.359 --> 00:42:25.519 the man that God 00:42:25.519 --> 00:42:26.819 wants him to be. 00:42:27.699 --> 00:42:28.759 The temple was 00:42:28.759 --> 00:42:29.339 destroyed. 00:42:29.699 --> 00:42:31.199 It was reduced to 00:42:31.199 --> 00:42:31.559 rubble. 00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:33.579 And yet God was 00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.799 faithful to his 00:42:34.799 --> 00:42:35.319 promise. 00:42:35.320 --> 00:42:39.720 Well, expensive 00:42:39.720 --> 00:42:41.740 building, exuberant 00:42:41.740 --> 00:42:44.000 sacrifice, expensive 00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:47.120 spirituality, emphatic 00:42:47.120 --> 00:42:47.880 obedience. 00:42:47.880 --> 00:42:49.059 This gives us a 00:42:49.059 --> 00:42:50.740 profile of Solomon 00:42:50.740 --> 00:42:51.860 at worship. 00:42:53.180 --> 00:42:54.320 But in a sense, it's 00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:55.340 that negative, isn't 00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:55.559 it? 00:42:55.660 --> 00:42:56.340 Even with the 00:42:56.340 --> 00:42:57.160 little positive 00:42:57.160 --> 00:42:58.059 kick at the end 00:42:58.059 --> 00:42:58.720 that came with a 00:42:58.720 --> 00:43:00.080 warning, it still is 00:43:00.080 --> 00:43:00.559 a negative. 00:43:00.780 --> 00:43:01.620 Well, how do we see 00:43:01.620 --> 00:43:02.720 this picture as a 00:43:02.720 --> 00:43:03.080 positive? 00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:04.580 Just in a few 00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:05.059 minutes. 00:43:09.179 --> 00:43:10.819 Jesus perfectly 00:43:10.819 --> 00:43:12.659 fulfills the 00:43:12.659 --> 00:43:14.119 worship that Solomon 00:43:14.119 --> 00:43:16.199 imperfectly signaled. 00:43:17.059 --> 00:43:18.420 Jesus perfectly 00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:19.279 fulfills the 00:43:19.279 --> 00:43:20.400 worship that Solomon 00:43:20.400 --> 00:43:22.239 imperfectly signaled. 00:43:22.599 --> 00:43:24.039 Jesus is that 00:43:24.039 --> 00:43:25.360 temple towards 00:43:25.360 --> 00:43:26.779 which Solomon's 00:43:26.779 --> 00:43:27.559 temple was 00:43:27.559 --> 00:43:28.019 pointing. 00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:29.539 Remember in 00:43:29.539 --> 00:43:30.599 John, a few 00:43:30.599 --> 00:43:31.380 texts from John 00:43:31.380 --> 00:43:34.559 here, Jesus 00:43:34.559 --> 00:43:35.340 answered them, 00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:36.199 destroy this 00:43:36.199 --> 00:43:36.880 temple and I 00:43:36.880 --> 00:43:37.420 will raise it 00:43:37.420 --> 00:43:38.199 again in three 00:43:38.199 --> 00:43:38.799 days. 00:43:39.400 --> 00:43:40.500 They replied, it 00:43:40.500 --> 00:43:41.380 has taken 46 00:43:41.380 --> 00:43:42.279 years to build 00:43:42.279 --> 00:43:43.199 this Herod's 00:43:43.199 --> 00:43:43.599 temple. 00:43:43.920 --> 00:43:44.579 You're going to 00:43:44.579 --> 00:43:45.279 raise it in three 00:43:45.279 --> 00:43:45.739 days? 00:43:46.320 --> 00:43:47.400 But the temple he 00:43:47.400 --> 00:43:48.519 had spoken of was 00:43:48.519 --> 00:43:49.860 his body. 00:43:51.000 --> 00:43:51.599 Of course, in 00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:53.380 Revelation 21, there 00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:54.360 will be no temple 00:43:54.360 --> 00:43:55.579 when the Lord's 00:43:55.579 --> 00:43:56.619 presence is there 00:43:56.619 --> 00:43:57.920 unmediated. 00:43:57.920 --> 00:44:00.240 Jesus is the 00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:01.960 temple and he's 00:44:01.960 --> 00:44:03.400 building us, as we 00:44:03.400 --> 00:44:04.220 read earlier, as 00:44:04.220 --> 00:44:06.700 living stones into a 00:44:06.700 --> 00:44:08.519 spiritual temple for 00:44:08.519 --> 00:44:08.800 him. 00:44:10.420 --> 00:44:11.860 Jesus wasn't about 00:44:11.860 --> 00:44:14.000 exuberant sacrificing. 00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:17.019 Jesus was the 00:44:17.019 --> 00:44:17.519 sacrifice. 00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:20.420 Jesus wasn't about 00:44:20.420 --> 00:44:21.519 inclusive worship. 00:44:22.840 --> 00:44:24.460 Jesus pointed all 00:44:24.460 --> 00:44:26.119 mankind to 00:44:26.119 --> 00:44:26.679 himself. 00:44:28.679 --> 00:44:29.780 As he said in 00:44:29.780 --> 00:44:31.159 John 10, I am the 00:44:31.159 --> 00:44:31.720 good shepherd. 00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:33.860 I know my sheep, my 00:44:33.860 --> 00:44:35.760 sheep know me, just 00:44:35.760 --> 00:44:36.699 as the Father knows 00:44:36.699 --> 00:44:37.619 me and I know the 00:44:37.619 --> 00:44:37.980 Father. 00:44:38.679 --> 00:44:41.059 I lay down my 00:44:41.059 --> 00:44:41.900 life for the 00:44:41.900 --> 00:44:42.199 sheep. 00:44:42.559 --> 00:44:43.099 That's the 00:44:43.099 --> 00:44:43.599 sacrifice. 00:44:45.240 --> 00:44:46.220 I have other 00:44:46.220 --> 00:44:47.000 sheep that are not 00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:47.699 of this fold. 00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:49.920 I must bring them 00:44:49.920 --> 00:44:50.440 too. 00:44:52.019 --> 00:44:53.179 Or as he said a 00:44:53.179 --> 00:44:53.960 little later to his 00:44:53.960 --> 00:44:54.899 disciples, when I 00:44:54.899 --> 00:44:56.219 am lifted up, there's 00:44:56.219 --> 00:44:58.199 that sacrifice again, I 00:44:58.199 --> 00:45:00.059 will draw all people 00:45:00.059 --> 00:45:01.419 to myself. 00:45:03.259 --> 00:45:05.059 And finally, Jesus' 00:45:05.319 --> 00:45:07.119 obedience invites a 00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:08.559 response of obedience. 00:45:09.679 --> 00:45:11.339 As he spoke to his 00:45:11.339 --> 00:45:12.299 disciples in the 00:45:12.299 --> 00:45:13.579 hours before his 00:45:13.579 --> 00:45:15.719 sacrifice, he said, 00:45:15.819 --> 00:45:17.699 greater love has no 00:45:17.699 --> 00:45:19.199 one than this to lay 00:45:19.199 --> 00:45:20.539 down one's life for 00:45:20.539 --> 00:45:21.759 one's friends. 00:45:23.179 --> 00:45:25.359 You are my friends if 00:45:25.359 --> 00:45:25.960 you do what I 00:45:25.960 --> 00:45:26.299 command. 00:45:28.299 --> 00:45:29.859 Our worship then 00:45:29.859 --> 00:45:31.059 takes a Christ-like 00:45:31.059 --> 00:45:32.440 shape as we are 00:45:32.440 --> 00:45:33.899 transformed by him 00:45:33.899 --> 00:45:35.839 and have his mind 00:45:35.839 --> 00:45:36.899 in us. 00:45:37.639 --> 00:45:38.659 Or to finish that 00:45:38.659 --> 00:45:40.899 allusion to Romans 00:45:40.899 --> 00:45:42.659 12, where Paul 00:45:42.659 --> 00:45:44.399 writes, I urge you, 00:45:44.519 --> 00:45:45.139 brothers and 00:45:45.139 --> 00:45:47.199 sisters, in view of 00:45:47.199 --> 00:45:48.899 God's mercy, offer 00:45:48.899 --> 00:45:50.559 your bodies a living 00:45:50.559 --> 00:45:53.320 sacrifice, holy and 00:45:53.320 --> 00:45:54.259 pleasing to God. 00:45:54.679 --> 00:45:56.139 This is your true and 00:45:56.139 --> 00:45:56.940 proper worship. 00:45:57.699 --> 00:45:59.099 Do not conform to the 00:45:59.099 --> 00:46:00.179 pattern of this world, 00:46:00.679 --> 00:46:02.659 but be transformed by 00:46:02.659 --> 00:46:03.820 the renewing of your 00:46:03.820 --> 00:46:04.279 mind. 00:46:05.019 --> 00:46:06.299 Then you will be able to 00:46:06.299 --> 00:46:07.440 test and approve what 00:46:07.440 --> 00:46:09.820 God's will is, his 00:46:09.820 --> 00:46:11.900 good, pleasing, and 00:46:11.900 --> 00:46:12.659 perfect will. 00:46:12.659 --> 00:46:15.980 In a sense, Solomon's 00:46:15.980 --> 00:46:17.480 life is a bit of a 00:46:17.480 --> 00:46:19.359 counter example to 00:46:19.359 --> 00:46:23.000 that instruction from 00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:24.039 the Apostle Paul. 00:46:25.079 --> 00:46:26.259 As I'm sure many of you 00:46:26.259 --> 00:46:27.259 realize, there's one 00:46:27.259 --> 00:46:29.440 flaw in Paul's request 00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:31.039 when he calls us to 00:46:31.039 --> 00:46:32.519 offer our bodies as a 00:46:32.519 --> 00:46:33.399 living sacrifice. 00:46:35.399 --> 00:46:36.659 The problem with a 00:46:36.659 --> 00:46:38.099 living sacrifice is it 00:46:38.099 --> 00:46:39.239 always crawls off the 00:46:39.239 --> 00:46:39.539 altar. 00:46:39.539 --> 00:46:39.699 death. 00:46:41.480 --> 00:46:42.800 And so we want to 00:46:42.800 --> 00:46:44.340 look to Christ, to 00:46:44.340 --> 00:46:45.460 find our obedience in 00:46:45.460 --> 00:46:47.500 his obedience, and to 00:46:47.500 --> 00:46:48.619 offer worship, to 00:46:48.619 --> 00:46:51.059 recognize and respect 00:46:51.059 --> 00:46:52.679 God in our lives so 00:46:52.679 --> 00:46:54.420 that others see him 00:46:54.420 --> 00:46:55.860 there too, and we 00:46:55.860 --> 00:46:57.599 enjoy fellowship and 00:46:57.599 --> 00:46:59.079 communion with him. 00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:00.719 Let's pray. 00:47:04.440 --> 00:47:05.900 Our Father, we thank 00:47:05.900 --> 00:47:07.699 you that you desire to 00:47:07.699 --> 00:47:09.179 have fellowship with 00:47:09.179 --> 00:47:10.779 us, and that you 00:47:10.779 --> 00:47:12.439 want us to enjoy you. 00:47:13.500 --> 00:47:14.980 So we're sorry for the 00:47:14.980 --> 00:47:16.519 many ways in which our 00:47:16.519 --> 00:47:18.199 thoughts and words and 00:47:18.199 --> 00:47:19.539 deeds offend you. 00:47:20.199 --> 00:47:21.639 And we thank you for a 00:47:21.639 --> 00:47:22.960 Savior and the Redeemer 00:47:22.960 --> 00:47:24.219 and the Lord Jesus who 00:47:24.219 --> 00:47:26.239 lived the life we could 00:47:26.239 --> 00:47:28.339 not live and died the 00:47:28.339 --> 00:47:29.219 death we should have 00:47:29.219 --> 00:47:30.679 died so that we might 00:47:30.679 --> 00:47:32.259 have new life in him. 00:47:32.599 --> 00:47:33.779 Help us as we look to 00:47:33.779 --> 00:47:35.579 him day by day, moment 00:47:35.579 --> 00:47:37.039 by moment, to live lives 00:47:37.039 --> 00:47:38.019 that are pleasing to 00:47:38.019 --> 00:47:39.599 you, offering you the 00:47:39.599 --> 00:47:40.920 recognition and respect 00:47:40.920 --> 00:47:43.019 you deserve, and so 00:47:43.019 --> 00:47:44.860 enjoying communion with 00:47:44.860 --> 00:47:46.940 you as you enable us 00:47:46.940 --> 00:47:47.800 by your Spirit. 00:47:48.539 --> 00:47:49.679 It's in Jesus' name we 00:47:49.679 --> 00:47:49.960 pray. 00:47:50.300 --> 00:47:50.639 Amen. 00:47:50.639 --> 00:47:50.759 Amen. 00:47:50.759 --> 00:47:50.800 Amen. 00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:50.820 Amen. 00:47:50.820 --> 00:47:50.840 Amen. 00:47:50.840 --> 00:47:50.860 Amen. 00:47:50.860 --> 00:47:50.880 Amen. 00:47:50.880 --> 00:47:50.900 Amen. 00:47:50.900 --> 00:47:52.880 Amen. 00:47:52.880 --> 00:47:52.900 Amen. 00:47:52.900 --> 00:47:54.900 Amen. 00:47:54.900 --> 00:47:54.920 Amen. 00:47:54.920 --> 00:47:54.960 Amen. 00:47:54.960 --> 00:47:54.980 Amen. 00:47:54.980 --> 00:47:55.000 Amen. 00:47:55.000 --> 00:47:55.039 Amen.