Don't Mistake God's Mercy For Approval by Brother Curtis Hansen

         This morning we are going to turn to the book of Romans chapter 8. We are going to read verse 20. Now, the subject of this message is going to be King Solomon and his reign, but I wanted to say that if there was a title for this message this morning, it is Don't mistake God's mercy for approval. That statement has been spoken a few times before behind this pulpit, and given the subject of last week's message, it is important to return to this statement this morning.

        20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

        You and I are subject to vanity by our job, children, lifestyle, possessions. Anything that pulls our focus from God, no matter how important you and I may think of it, is vanity. The amount of vanity you have in your life is dependent on you. You can strive towards hope as the way to combat vanity.

        Now, if the tone of that verse sounds familiar, its because Paul was paraphrasing Solomon. King Solomon is known for his great wisdom, his large and rich kingdom, and his many many wives. Through his reign, God had allowed Solomon these things. Allowance is not the same as approval. You have some problems in your life which you haven't dealt with just yet. Just because God has not struck you down doesn't mean he is okay with you and your iniquities. To gain spiritual wisdom is reading scripture, studying scripture, and see the principles written thousands of years ago which you can apply in 2024.

        Solomon's marital decisions were against the established law of the Hebrews. He didn't begin his reign as a law breaker. He began his reign in humility requesting wisdom from the Lord. If you turn to 1 Kings chapter 2 and verse 23, we will read the following;

        23 Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

        Now, let's go to chapter 3 of 1 Kings and start reading at verse 5.

        5 In Gibeon, the lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

        6 And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

        7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I an but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

        8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou has chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

        9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

        Wisdom is applied knowledge. It agrees with the scripture. You get knowledge from reading those scriptures. Wisdom is putting the knowledge to use in your life. If you don't want a piece of God, don't use the wisdom.

        God didn't destroy Solomon because of his father David's prayers. One of the books Solomon wrote was Proverbs. As he asked in verse 9, Solomon knew what was right, but during his reign he chose the wrong thing. Let's go to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 17. We will read verse 14.

        14 Which thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me.

        God chose the king who ruled Israel through the prophet Samuel. First it was Saul and then it was David. There is a difference between choosing a brother and a stranger. Moving further in this scripture from Deuteronomy, we will note 3 rules in selecting a king.

        15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shall thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

        16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

        17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

        Solomon was about 20 years old when he became king. By the time he had gotten old, his heart had turned from God, as he sought to appease his many wives. Let's read verse 18 and further.

        18 And it shall be, when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:

        19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

        20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

        God laid out the rules for the kingdom in Israel. Let's recap them. No amassing a large military and taking credit for it rather than give glory to God. No having multiple wives as well as no greatly multiplying to himself silver and gold. If you're going to be salt of the earth, know that salt hold back decay. You prevent that decay in your life, you will reflect the light of God.

        Where was the wisdom of Solomon? He had broken all 3 of these rules in Deuteronomy. Man's flesh is such where if you break a rule once and you don't receive any judgement on it, your flesh will deceive your spirit that you're good.

        Let's go back to 1 Kings again, but we are going to chapter 11. We will start reading at verse 1.

        But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites.

        2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods, Solomon clave unto these in love.

        Why did Solomon have so many wives? He was pursuing love. Fulfillment, often fleeting, which cannot fill the hole within you is vanity.

        3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

        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.

        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.

        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.

        There were many accomplishments and financial growth during Solomon's reign. He had built the first temple of the Hebrews. He had also built temples for the wicked and pagan religions of that time which he was married into.

        9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice.

        God had appeared unto Solomon twice. Solomon could not follow the commandment. It comes down that there isn't an issue with the brain, but of the heart.

        10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.

        11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

        12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rent it out of the hand of thy son.

        God allowed Solomon to make his choices without a penalty until later in his life. Don't mistake God's approval for grace. Solomon's mindset through his reign is still in the church today. We mistake riches, possessions, land as markers of being blessed. Every choice you make also brings a consequence. The kings were not puppets which God played with, and neither are you today. God laid out his will, he gave Solomon wisdom, and he expected obedience. He will bless you in the same way and expects obedience.

        What is the hope which Paul writes about? You will have vanity in your life. That is inescapable. Don't mistake vanity as a blessing. Our hope is in Jesus and salvation. Let's close with Romans 8:21.

        21 Because the creature itself also shale delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

        Our quest for salvation will be tried by temptation to fulfill our life by other things than by Jesus. Watch and be aware of these temptations.