OT Series. 31. 1 Kings XICF Gabe Orea 27/Jan/2018 Solomon part 2

Our Sacred Scriptures 1 Kings 8, 11 LEB

pray

NT Landmarks

* Not legalistic NT Landmarks OT Theology Not legalistic does not mean there are no rules to follow. We cannot say Jesus was legalist. However, he said, if you love me, obey my commandments. Therefore, not being legalistic does not mean you can do whatever you want. What it means is that we learn to obey the law of God out of love, with a sincere heart, and not just to avoid punishment. That is the real meaning of not being legalistic.

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place Both Jesus and the apostles taught that God could be worshipped everywhere because He does not indwell in only one specific place.

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place * Sin/Repentance/Forgiveness

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place * Sin/Repentance/Forgiveness Grace is to receive a type of favor that we do not deserve. Grace is in the DNA of the Gospel. We did not deserve that an innocent and perfect man would die for us, but he did. This is Grace. Jesus treated his disciples with tons of Grace, even after serious failures on their part. That is daily grace. We cannot imagine the NT without grace. * Grace

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place * Sin/Repentance/Forgiveness We can define “evangelism” as all efforts related to let other people know about the good news of Jesus Christ. In the famous passage at the end of Matthew, called the “Great Commission,” Jesus instructs his disciples to make disciples in all nations. The call for evangelism aims to reach all nations. This is always associated with the NT. * Grace * Evangelism -> All nations

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place * Sin/Repentance/Forgiveness * Grace * Evangelism -> All nations

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place * Sin/Repentance/Forgiveness * Grace * Evangelism -> All nations

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place * Sin/Repentance/Forgiveness Sometimes we have imagined the OT as if someone breaks the law, the goal is to punish him and destroy him. But the goal is not that. Solomon makes a clear call to reconsider our ways if e have sinned. Then he calls to “turn around.” This “turning around” in Solomon’s language is the equivalent of “to repent” in the NT. And, just as in the NT, Solomon says that if we repent, all our unrighteousness will be forgiven. All of them. This is also pure gospel message. * Grace * Evangelism -> All nations

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place * Sin/Repentance/Forgiveness As we read the stories of David, Solomon and others in the OT we can clearly see how the Lord treats them with grace. Grace is present in the OT as much as it is present in the NT. * Grace * Evangelism -> All nations

41 Also for the foreigner who is not from your people Israel, and he comes from a distant land because of your name, 42 (for they shall hear of your great name and your powerful hand and your outstretched arm), and he shall come and pray toward this house, 43 you shall hear in heaven, the place of your dwelling, and act according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, A distant land has the direct meaning of geographical distance. That is, foreigners, not Israelites, coming from other lands. They didn’t know God because of their residence far away from Israel. But nowadays with our more globalized world, physical distance is not the main issue, but cultural and ideological distance. There are cities in the world like New York in America or Melbourne in Australia or Shanghai in China, where you can find people from all over the world in just one town. But still many of them have not met the living God. Solomon is saying that this “distant” people can come to the Lord because of what he has done for his people. The purpose is stated in verse 43, that “all the peoples of the earth may know” the name of the Lord. Therefore, when the Lord blesses you, it is not only for your own sake, but for you to proclaim what the Lord has done for you, so that the “distant” people will get to know him as well. The Lord wants to bless them as well! Do not keep quiet when the Lord has blessed you! 1 Kings 8

by day and by night, to maintain the justice of his servant and 59 Let these my words which I pleaded before Yahweh be near to Yahweh our God, by day and by night, to maintain the justice of his servant and the justice of his people Israel as each day requires 60 so that all of the people of the earth may know that Yahweh, he is God; there is none other. 1 Kings 8

* God’s indwelling place NT Landmarks OT Theology * Not legalistic * God’s indwelling place * Sin/Repentance/Forgiveness From this perspective there is full harmony between the Old and the New Testaments. Solomon’s speech and prayer, written centuries before Christ came to earth, speaks the same themes and the same theology as the Gospels. How awesome is that! * Grace * Evangelism -> All nations

by day and by night, to maintain the justice of his servant and 59 Let these my words which I pleaded before Yahweh be near to Yahweh our God, by day and by night, to maintain the justice of his servant and the justice of his people Israel as each day requires 60 so that all of the people of the earth may know that Yahweh, he is God; there is none other. Justice from both sides in society: from the king in the matters that he ruled, but also from the common people, in their daily affairs. One common complain you hear in Mexico is about our government. Many Mexicans would complain about corruption and injustice in society. However, in small issues, in their daily life, if they have a chance to steal something, which is a form of corruption, most people would steal. Most people would cheat; most people would not fulfill their obligations if they have the opportunity to omit them and not get caught. That is also a form of injustice and corruption. In this way, how can common people complain about their government if they themselves are not honest in their daily affairs? Here Solomon stresses that justice should be maintained not only by the king, but also by the common people. Only in this way a nation may truly prosper. But the benefit will not be only for Israel, that is, when justice is done at all levels, but the result will also be that the name of God will be known among other nations because they will hear about God’s works among his people. 1 Kings 8

1 King Solomon loved many foreign women: the daughter of Pharaoh, Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, Hittite; 2 from the nations which Yahweh had said to the Israelites, “You shall not marry them, and they shall not marry you. They will certainly turn your heart after their gods.” But Solomon clung to them to love. 3 He had seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart. 1 Kings 11

4 It happened at the time of Solomon’s old age that his wives guided his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully with Yahweh his God… 5 Solomon went after Ashtoreth the god of the Sidonians and after Molech the abhorrence of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of Yahweh … 1 Kings 11

9 Yahweh was angry with Solomon, for he had turned his heart from Yahweh, the God of Israel who had appeared to him twice. 10 And he had commanded him concerning this matter not to go after other gods, but he did not keep that which Yahweh commanded. 11 So Yahweh said to Solomon, “Because this was with you, and you did not keep my covenant and my ordinances which I have commanded you, I will certainly tear the kingdom from you, 1 Kings 11

7  Take Aways

1 Continuity between the two Testaments.

2 No to legalism. Yes to sincerity in obedience.

3 God’s abiding presence outside of man-made buildings.

4 Sin / Repentance / Forgiveness

5 Grateful for Grace

6 This blessing is for All nations; don’t be quiet!

7 Let’s finish well.