Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Jonah 1:1&2 "1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me." Sermon Summary: Epic Fails, God Prevails Last week, we studied King Solomon, whose wisdom and success didn’t prevent his failures. We aim to resist cultural pressures, follow God’s plan, and repent quickly when we stray. Today, we explore Jonah’s story, a cautionary tale of fleeing God’s call. God’s plan for Jonah was clear: go to Nineveh, a powerful city hostile to Jews, and preach against its wickedness. This dangerous mission, akin to preaching to the Taliban, reflects God’s concern for all nations and His desire for their repentance. The phrase “its wickedness has come before Me” signals that Nineveh’s injustice and oppression demanded divine judgment, yet God’s command offered a chance for mercy through repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God did not immediately punish King Solomon when he allowed his foreign wives to build altars for false gods. Despite multiple compromises, God remained patient. Over time, Solomon’s endorsement of idolatry defied God’s covenant, leading to divine judgment, including the loss of the kingdom for his son. Some mistake God’s patience for indifference or inaction, but He follows His plan in His timing. If our nation, culture, church, or we ourselves stray like Solomon, we can repent and return to God’s path. And, should do so sooner than later! Amen!

1 Kings 11:7&8 "7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods." Solomon’s construction of high places for pagan worship violated God’s commands against idolatry. Chemosh, linked to war, and Molech, associated with child sacrifice, were abominations. Influenced by his foreign wives—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—Solomon turned from God, endorsing idolatry and defying the covenant. This compromise, starting subtly, led to overt disobedience and divine judgment, including the prophecy that the kingdom would be taken from his son. Solomon’s failure teaches us to set firm boundaries. A clear, confident “no” signals strength, resisting external pressures. Surrounding himself with faithful supporters could have countered his wives’ ...

1 Kings 11:5&6 "5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father." God doesn’t demand perfection from us, nor did He from Solomon. As King David’s son, Solomon inherited Jerusalem’s throne, a thriving trade hub at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia, amassing great wealth. Blessed with divine wisdom and creative gifts to write books and poetry, Solomon may have believed he could do no wrong. Yet, like all people, Solomon had a tendency to justify his actions, even when they were wrong. Despite being king, he faced pressure from his wives to satisfy their demands. Once he built an altar for one wife’s gods, fairness demanded he do the same for others. "For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites." This idolatry persisted...

1 Kings 11:4 "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." David was not perfect, nor did God expect perfection from Solomon. Perhaps Solomon’s first wife didn’t lead him astray, nor even the tenth. But with 700 wives and 300 concubines, Solomon courted trouble. Renowned for his wisdom in discerning right from wrong, Solomon also thrived as a businessman. Jerusalem, at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia, became a thriving trade hub with a toll road, bringing immense wealth. Yet, even the wisest can falter spiritually by ignoring God’s commands. Solomon’s story warns against letting worldly desires eclipse devotion to God. No matter how successful or wise you may be.

1 Kings 11:3 "And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart." Talk about excess! King Solomon’s 700 wives and 300 concubines scream extravagance. Some scholars question these numbers, noting they exceed other biblical accounts like the Song of Solomon, but they align with the large harems of ancient Eastern monarchs. This vast harem, including women from foreign nations like Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites, defied God’s command against intermarriage to prevent idolatry. Sadly, Solomon’s wives led him to worship foreign gods like Ashtoreth and Molek, causing him to stray from God, unlike his father, David. Using his God-given wisdom, Solomon built the First Temple and authored Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. Yet, his attachment to these women compromised his faith, showing that even the wisest can face spiritual consequences for ignoring God’s commands. Solomon’s story warns u...