https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1512648-solomon-sad-ending

Solomon - Sad Ending: Sermon Summary

This sermon explores the tragic downfall of King Solomon, one of history's most successful rulers who ultimately experienced spiritual bankruptcy despite his worldly achievements.

Solomon's Golden Age

Solomon began his reign with unprecedented blessings from God. As the son of David and Bathsheba, he fulfilled God's promise and when offered anything by God, wisely chose wisdom. This decision earned him not only wisdom but also immense riches and fame. Under his rule, Israel experienced its golden age—a time of unparalleled peace, prosperity, and security where "everyone lived under their own vine and fig tree" without fear.

Solomon's achievements were remarkable: he built the temple his father David had dreamed of, amassed great wealth detailed in 1 Kings 10, expanded Israel's borders, and gained recognition from world leaders. He truly "had it all," representing the pinnacle of ancient success.

The Shocking Turn

However, 1 Kings 11:9 reveals a startling reversal: "The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord." This dramatic fall stemmed from two primary failures:

Foreign Marriages: Solomon loved many foreign women—700 wives and 300 concubines from nations God had specifically forbidden Israel to intermarry with, knowing "they will surely turn your hearts after their gods."

Idol Worship: He built high places for false gods like Chemosh and Molek, essentially creating worship sites for each wife's deities, directly violating his covenant with God.

The Consequences

God's judgment was severe but measured. The kingdom would be torn from Solomon's lineage and divided—ten tribes going to Jeroboam and only two remaining with Solomon's son Rehoboam, spared only because of God's covenant with David. This division would permanently fracture Israel.

The Pattern of Downfall

The sermon identifies three critical factors in Solomon's spiritual bankruptcy:

1. Small Compromises

Solomon's downfall began early with seemingly minor violations of God's law—marrying Pharaoh's daughter, worshiping at high places, and accumulating horses from Egypt. These appeared logical and beneficial but directly contradicted Deuteronomy's commands for kings. Sin operates through "whispered justifications" that make wrong choices seem wise.

2. Heart Problems

The word "heart" appears five times in 1 Kings 11, showing how Solomon's heart gradually "turned away" from God. Unlike his beginning when "Solomon loved the Lord," his heart was eventually "stolen away" by his wives and their gods. All sin, as the sermon notes, is "an inside job" starting in the heart.

3. Persistent Sin

Solomon didn't just drift—he deliberately turned and followed other gods. Unlike his father David, who grieved over sin and wrote Psalm 51 in repentance, Solomon seemed to welcome sin and become comfortable with it, suggesting a hardened heart.

Personal Application

The sermon concludes with three searching questions for listeners:

• What compromises are you making? Sin's deception makes consequences seem distant until "the trap door opens."
• Where is your heart? Our treasures—time, money, thoughts—reveal our true loves.
• Has your heart become calloused to sin? Have we lost sensitivity to sin's reality and impact?

The sermon's powerful conclusion notes the irony that Solomon's fall occurs in "chapter 11"—a term synonymous with bankruptcy. Solomon achieved worldly success but became spiritually bankrupt, serving as a timeless warning that external prosperity cannot guarantee spiritual vitality.