Solomon has come to the completion of his work to establish both the Temple of God and his own palace in 2 Chronicles 8. The text makes clear that Solomon was well established by the Lord and his kingdom, as promised, was strong and blessed.
2 Chronicles 8:1–2, 6 (ESV) At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house, 2 Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them... 6b ... and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
But later in the passage, there's a hint of impending compromise in Solomon's life. An interesting notation occurs in verse 11:
2 Chronicles 8:11 (ESV) Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.”
Solomon's kingdom will begin its demise on the love he has for foreign women. The love was not just for the women but for the political strength these alliances afforded him with foreign kings. Yet the notation here is ironic. For Israel, the Ark was the symbol of God's presence among them. He would dwell with them and be their protection and provision. The Ark went into the Jordan and divided the waters for Israel as they entered the promised land. The Ark decimated the Philistines when they took it captive.
It was on the Ark God was considered to be invisibly enthroned among the Israelites:
Psalm 99:1 (ESV) The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
It was from that mercy seat on the top of the Ark that God spoke to Moses.
Numbers 7:89 (ESV) And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.
The Ark was everything Israel needed to succeed.
Yet Solomon brings Pharaoh's daughter out of the city where the Ark has been before he built the temple. He must have already known his heart was turning from trusting the Lord to trust in men. He began to compartmentalize his faith. He began to play both sides of the fence with God. He would honor the Lord and His dwelling among the Israelites but also devise a way to establish his political ambitions through illicit relationships.
You see, Solomon believed in God but was drawn to diplomatic strategy to build his life. Solomon sets the stage here for the struggle successive kings will have with faith for generations. They will continually turn more and more to the natural order than God's supernatural provision and direction.
So Solomon keeps the unclean away from the holy with a compromise of his faith.
We need a better Solomon.
In Jesus, we have a true King who fully trusts God without reservation. And we have a king who makes it possible for the foreigner to come in and dwell where God's presence dwells. Solomon's failure points to Christ's success. He brings the stranger in, not because it makes Him strong, but because it makes us strong. He unites us with the God of heaven by cleansing us of our sins seating us in heavenly places with Him (Ephesians 2:6).
Solomon thought he "needed" the daughter of Pharaoh to establish his kingdom. Jesus never needs any of us and yet lays down His life to establish us in His Kingdom. We serve Christ because He's able to bring a Holy God and unholy people together by His blood. He does this by fully obeying the Father for us. His Holiness leads to our habitation in the presence of our Father.
/// Check out my upcoming book:
Comments
Post a Comment