02/21/112019

I Kings 3:1; 4:25

Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem.

²⁵ And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 

Solomon again.

In Solomon there is the best of Israel and the worst of Israel demonstrated.  Note in 3:1 the words Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt.  This is the common politics of Solomon that he practiced through 1000 wives and many concubines.  Solomon, according to what would be applauded as political savvy brought peace for Israel with marriage alliances.  Faith in God’s power and protection are never an issue with Solomon.  He doesn’t need them.  He is Pharaoh’s son-in-law.  His alliance with Egypt, the mightiest nation in their world, guaranteed the military safety of Israel.  And if not?  There were other marriages of convenience that would follow.

Look with me to Solomon’s integrity, I Kings 5:5-6, 12; 9:10-14.  If you carefully read these verses you probably will come away saying, “that Solomon is a crafty fellow”.  But whether you do or not there is surely a bad taste left with you, for Solomon uses his wisdom for political advantage and craft for his own gain.  But remember above all—remember his name, II Samuel 12:24-25.

²⁴ Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him ²⁵ and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.