Here's the kicker - God and Solomon

In my devotions I was reading 1 Kings 3 - you know, the chapter about Solomon asking the LORD for wisdom, that well known one - and came upon something I never realized/saw before.

In 1 Kings 3:1 it reads, "Solmon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem."

If I learned ANYTHING from OT studies from Briercrest, it's that when Egypt and Israel make any sort of alliance, it's not going to end well for God's people. Isaiah years later said as much on the LORD'S behalf in Chapter 30 of his account: 

“Woe to the obstinate children,”

    declares the Lord,“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,   forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,    heaping sin upon sin;who go down to Egypt
without consulting me;

who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,
    to Egypt’s shade for refuge."

Already I'm already nodding, knowing how the end of Solomon's life goes. STILL, I continue reading. 

1 Kings 3:2-3, "The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places."

Allright, Israel is still being troublesome and rebellious as usual... But even KING SOLOMON is making sacrifices to other gods as well? Hmmm... this is REALLY not looking to good on his part... and he's JUST starting out as King too. What next? 

Here's the Kicker:

1 Kings 3:4-5: "The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

Animation: sWooZie (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUKi4zY5ETSqrKAjTBgjM-g)

So, author of 1 Kings, you're telling us readers that Solomon, now married to an Egyptian woman, and formed an alliance with Pharaoh, who's CURRENTLY in Gibeon at the MOST IMPORTANT HIGH PLACE FOR MAKING SACRIFICES TO OTHER GODS, is being approached by God during a dream AFTER A DAY OF MAKING A THOUSAND BURNT OFFERING TO FALSE GODS, and given the chance to ask for WHATEVER HE WANTS AND GOD'S GOING TO GIVE IT TO HIM?

What could God be thinking here? Is He just disregarding all that Solomon's done up till this point and is ridding the wave of His loving promise to the deceased King David? OR, Or... is God testing Solomon? God doesn't give a definitive affirmation that He will give whatever Solomon asks for. He says, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” So, Solomon could have asked for God to wipe out those who would oppose him, and maybe God would have been like, "Mmm, no bro, I don't like where your heart's at." 

I think something like that would have happened, because a few verses later, after Solomon's request for wisdom, it reads in 1 Kings 3:10, "The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this." Then in 1 Kings 3:11-12, "So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be."

Okay... so Solomon passed that test from God... but is God REALLY going to ignore the fact Solomon married the Egyptian woman, made an alliance with Pharaoh, and sacrificed A THOUSAND SACRIFICES to false gods at the MOST IMPORTANT HIGH PLACE? Really? God, you aren't going to say anything about that?

No? No, instead you're ALSO going to give Solomon more wealth and honour? (1 Kings 3:13). 

Well... I suppose 1 Kings 3:14 could be God noting that Solomon's acts outside covenant protocol could be made right if he stuck to them from there on out. "And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life," (1 Kings 3:14) So perhaps God was giving Solomon a chance to make up for the wrongs of making an alliance and sacrifices to false gods. 

However, we read that Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings (1 Kings 3:15b)... but nothing about sin offerings, or discontinuing his alliance with Pharaoh. 

So, we see the rise and fall of Solomon all in one chapter... but we also see the grace, love, and patience of God. He knew what He was doing all along with Solomon's blunders and his honourable request, if only Solomon used that wisdom to see how His relationship with God was in rocky territory to begin with. Thanks be to God for His grace, love, and patience with all of humanity. 

~To God be the Glory