Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
1 Kings 3:2
3:2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
A Temporary Place of Worship Should Have Been Prepared—
Solomon ... knew that it would take much time to carry out the grand designs given for the building of the temple; and before building the house of the Lord or the walls about Jerusalem, he should have prepared a temporary place of worship for the people of God. He should not have encouraged them, by his own example, to go to the high places to offer sacrifice. But we read, “Only the people of Israel sacrificed in high places.” This is mentioned as a matter that should have been otherwise. {2BC 1025.3}
Solomon changed his place of worship to Jerusalem, but his former act in sacrificing in a place not made sacred by the presence of the Lord, but dedicated to the worship of idols, removed from the minds of the people something of the repulsion with which they should have regarded the horrible performances practiced by idolaters. This mingling of the sacred and the profane was the first step in the practice of Solomon which led him to suppose that the Lord was not so particular in regard to the worship of His people. Thus he was educating himself to make still greater departures from God and His work. Little by little his heathen wives led him to make them altars on which to sacrifice to their gods (Manuscript 5, 1912). {2BC 1025.4}
This was Solomon’s downfall. His heathen wives that sacrificed unto idols blinded his eyes. Their customs became mingled in with the Holy. Solomon assumed it did not matter to God who he sacrificed to because of the influence of his idolatrous wives. He became complacent to God’s requirements, which affected the people in Israel to do the same. Instead of the people feeling repulsed by sacrifices in high places, they did not think anything of it because of Solomon’s example. Instead of Solomon providing a temporary place of worship in which to offer sacrifices to God, he continued to build altars for his heathen wives on which to sacrifice to their gods. Even after the building of the grand temple in Jerusalem, the people continued to mix the sacred and the profane, separating the people from God. Unfortunately, this creeping compromise continues today whereby professed Christians mingle with the world and practice customs of men and not of God. It is no wonder there are over three thousand denominations today, and counting. People rely on their own intellect and reasoning as opposed to believing and fully trusting in the Word of God. The Bible is the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian. The Bible alone should be every Christian’s creed.
Our kind and gracious heavenly Father,
We come to You in thanksgiving, praise, and prayer. We thank You for giving us Your Word in the Bible as our source of instruction for our life while we are here on earth. Thank You for providing the examples for us of what to do and not to do. While Solomon was finding his way through his Kingship, he made some mistakes along the way. However, he did find favor in Your eyes when he prayed to You for wisdom and understanding. We make this our prayer as well. We pray for the wisdom and understanding, as well as discernment, to do what is right, favorable, and well pleasing in Your sight. Just as Solomon, we are but little children that do not know how to go out or come in. We pray that as we learn of You, that You will help us from making mistakes, stumble or fall. We pray not to go to the right or to the left and for You to help us stay on the strait path that leads to Your heavenly kingdom. If we fall, we pray that You pick us up with Your right arm of power. You showed great mercy to Solomon and his father David. We pray to walk as they did: in truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart with You. We pray to receive Your kindness as You showed unto them. We pray for a kind and understanding heart like You gave to Solomon. We pray to walk in Your ways and to keep all Your statutes and commandments. Please help us to keep compromise of Your Holy Word from creeping into our churches. Help all the brothers and sisters stay faithful to the Bible and not follow the customs and traditions of men. We pray to uphold the Bible and the Bible alone, to be every Christian’s creed. We thank You and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
