1 King and 2 King cover a period of over 400 years. They are historical books about the kingdom of Israel throughout the ages.Every time the people began to fall away, for one reason or another, God called a prophetic voice to lead the king and the people back, often through many adversaries. In the Books of Kings, it is Elijah and Elisha who give the word from the Lord.

With Israel was the foundation laid for an eternal kingdom. Jesus Christ became the seed that was sown in the carefully prepared ground, that represents the Old Testament. He became the true sacrificial lamb for sin, transgressions and shame and fulfilled the commandment of Moses by sacrificing himself once and for all time and eternity.Those who do not accept this sacrificial offer, will be judged in the end of time according to the commandments in the Torah, the books of Moses in the Old Testament

The richest man on this earth, was King Solomon, he started humbly and well, with the wisdom of God, but from the highest peak he fell and forgot too what he was called, to read the commandments day after day to be in God’s will, joy and pleasure. We always have to put God first.

Chapter 1: There were various problems that King Solomon had to overcome right from the start of his reign. He was confronted at first confronted with the problem, his half-brother Adonijah made by making himself king in the presence of David’s other sons, the priests Abiathar and Joab. The result – Solomon’s mother Bathsheba and the priest Zadok paid David, who by now was bedridden because he is old and weak, a visit.

David keeps his promise to Bathsheba and makes Solomon king. At Gihon, the priest Zadok took the horn, which was also used to keep the holy olive oil from the Tabernacle, when it was transported and anointed Solomon as king. Then the horns were blown and the people rejoiced and followed Solomon on the donkey all the way back to Jerusalem. Adonijah and his half-brothers and the guests now panic at this news and fled. Adonijah takes refuge in the tabernacle. where he grabs the horns of the altar.

Solomon’s first problem – what to do with the half-brother. He forgives him and gives him a second and final chance. Adonijah then asks Bathsheba to intercede for him with Solomon so that he can marry the beautiful Abishag who nursed David when he was sick. It was a weak attempt, to achieve something that would give him prestige, but he probably did not expect, that Solomon would refuse something his mother asked for. When Bathsheba appears before Solomon, he bows to her and has a throne set up next to him. He gives honor to her as the king’s mother. Bathsheba explains the matter and must realize that her son Solomon now makes his own decisions. Adonijah is executed the same day. Nothing is written about Bathsheba after this. One can also wonder how much David privately took care of his sons. Solomon had to learn to act against his own and his family’s private feelings, and to rely only on God. Through this he experiences God’s power and strength, with everything he needed for the kingdom.

Chapter 3: The people sacrificed to the Lord in various places in the country, because the temple had not been built. In Gibeon Solomon offered a thousand sacrifices. It must be assumed that there were several altars to sacrifice on and that Solomon perhaps sacrificed and prayed for a week. With this act, Solomon shows his true sincere heart towards God and at the same time he puts himself in a position to be blessed.

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked what he should give him. From verses 6 -10 Solomon’s honest answer: I am expected to rule your chosen people – a people so great that they cannot be counted. Therefore I ask for wisdom and discernment to be a good ruler who can distinguish between right and wrong. How else can I live up to my tasks and rule such a large people. God was very pleased with the answer and said – Because you asked for wisdom to lead my people, and did not only think about yourself, I will fulfill your request and give you greater wisdom than any of the others have ever received, and I will also give you, what you did not ask for, riches and fame. Wisdom and insight are among the greatest gifts a person can receive. The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about wisdom.

Chapter 2: Listen to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding. For if you search for deeper insight and discernment with the same diligence as one searches for money or hidden treasures, you will find the fear of God and the knowledge of God. Verse 9 He will give you a sense of what is right and wrong, and he will help you make the right decision.

Chapter 2. Verses 16-17-18: Wisdom gives the following results: A long life, material prosperity, honor, happiness, quality of life and security. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who grasp its fruit, happy is the one who keeps eating from it. The people began to talk about Solomon’s wisdom in the land after a case between 2 women.

Chapter 3 verse 16 and on. 2 prostitutes discussed about a child. One woman had come to lie on her infant at night causing the death of the child. She secretly swapped the child from the other woman, claiming it belonged to her. The matter was brought before Solomon. He said: Bring me a sword, the child shall be divided into two, so that each may have half. Then the woman, who was the real mother, cried out of love for her child: Oh no, don’t kill the child, give it to her. The other woman, answered: Well, if neither of us can have the child, then divide it into two. Then the king’s judgment: Give it to the one who would spare the child, for she is the real mother.

God had shown the people Solomon’s wisdom with this one incident. He became famous far beyond the borders of the country, there was no one who could compare in wisdom with him. Kings from many countries sent people to him for advice and guidance. The Queen of Sheba also visited Solomon, she says in chapter 10: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. I have never experienced the like of wealth and wisdom.

Solomon wrote 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs. He had a grasp of natural history and revealed a wide knowledge of animals, birds, reptiles and fish. He also knew everything about plants from the great cedar of Lebanon to the small hyssop that grows in cracks and crevices.

Chapter 2. King David instructed Solomon about his last wishes, advising him to obey the laws of Moses. King Solomon had a good relationship with the neighboring countries. He could never have reached the standard and fame he received alone. He understood how to take over David’s friendships and at the same time show a new and better way. We all need one another’s relationship. If we want a good team, we cannot put ourselves first. We have to be able to lift up the different people in the team so that everyone feels comfortable.

Romans chapter 12 verses 3 and 4: Do not overestimate your own importance, but try to judge yourself soberly, for just as our body consist of many members, each with its own function, so we are one body in Christ. Verse 6: Our gifts differ according to the grace that God has given us.

Chapter 5: Solomon wants to fulfill David’s and his own greatest desire to build a temple for the Lord. King Hiram of Tyre, in present-day Lebanon, was a great admirer of David. When he heard that Solomon had become king of Israel, he sent an ambassador to Solomon with congratulations.Solomon responded by informing King Hiram of his plans to build a temple for the Lord. Hiram is thrilled with Solomon’s plans and promise to support him with timber.

Verse 12: God keeps his promise and gives Solomon great wisdom, he makes a formal peace treaty with Hiram. From verse 13 onwards we see Solomon’s God-given talent in organizing a major project. The list is as follows: 10,000 are sent at one time to cut timber. 70,000 other laborers and 80,000 stonecutters, 3300 foremen.

Chapter 6: In the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, exactly 480 years after the people of Israel had left Egypt, Solomon begins to build the temple for the Lord. At first we are told how the temple is to be designed.

Exodus chapters 26-30. The Lord himself is the architect – The temple is double the measurements compared to the one the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai which was designed according to the commandments that Moses received.

Chapter 8: The Ark of the Covenant is placed in the temple, this event coincides with the Feast of Tabernacles in the month of October. The dedication took place with many expensive sacrifices and great splendor, for every one to take part in.

Verse 16: When the priests were on their way out of the temple after the dedication, a bright cloud filled the temple. God took himself up his abode in the temple and his glory filled it.

In verse 27 Solomon says: Is it possible for God himself to dwell on earth? If heaven is too small to contain you, Lord, how can you be in this temple that I have built for you?

The glory of God and his Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, manifested. The commandments in the Ark of the Covenant from the books of Moses had to be established, in preparation for the real sacrifice, Jesus Christ. Without that sacrifice, it would not be possible for us to receive the Holy Spirit.

John Chapter 16-7: It is better for you that I go away. If I do not do this, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of God’s judgment. Their sin is: That they do not believe in me. Verse 11: God’s judgment is – that the ruler of this world has already been judged.

Acts chapter 2 verse 17: In the last days, says the Lord, will I pour out my Spirit on all mankind, etc. Today the Holy Spirit has taken residence in our hearts as promised on the day of Pentecost.

In Chapter 9: God reveals himself to Solomon a second time and let him know that he has heard and accepted his prayer. But at the same time Solomon is warned against forsaking the Lord, this also applies to the people.

Chapter 10: describes King Solomon’s indescribable riches. Verse 23: King Solomon was wiser and richer than any other man on earth. Verse 27: Silver was as common as stones in the streets of Jerusalem. Verse 26: Militarily he was also well established. He built magnificent stables and had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen in total.

Chapter 11 verse 11: Solomon fell anyway in the end of his life. His many concubines and great wealth led to his downfall. For the third time, the Lord speaks to Solomon: Since you have not kept your word and have been disobedient, I will tear the kingdom from you and give it to another, however for your father’s sake, it will not happen in your days; your son will experience it. However, for David’s sake and for the sake of my chosen city Jerusalem, your son will be allowed to rule over one tribe. After the Lord had spoken to Solomon, he gradually began to hand over the land to other powers. Solomon died after reigning for 40 years, and his son Rehoboam took over the throne.

Deuteronomy 17:17: The king must not take many wives for him, for that could lead his heart to turn away from the Lord. As soon as he is installed and sits on the throne of the kingdom, he must make a copy of the book of the law, which is in the custody of the Levitical priests. This copy must always be with him and he must faithfully acquire the law, so that he may learn to fear the Lord and obey his commands and not feel superior to his people. Then he will be allowed to reign for a long time and his sons will succeed him on the throne of Israel.