Listening to The LORD

I Kings 10:26

Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 

In Deuteronomy 17.16

The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 

I Kings 10.28-29

Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue–the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.

Why is it that something the LORD has told us plainly in His Word, ends up being the very thing people who profess to follow the LORD end up doing?

Add to that how can a man filled with all kinds of wisdom so that leaders from all over the world come to hear him end up missing some written right to him as a king? Something he was to read each day in his own handwriting?! 

These are questions that trouble the soul.

A closer look at this account will help us in our endeavor to listen to the LORD.

We can learn from Solomon's failures. 

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 

1. When This Command Was Given.

Before they entered the land.

The thought of horses at that point would have been foolish. They would have to care for them. These people were shepherds going down to Egypt, shepherds coming out of Egypt, led by a shepherd (Moses) and by the Shepherd of our Souls in heaven. David said, "The LORD is my Shepherd." We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, that Great Shepherd of the Sheep.

The LORD never intended for His people, Israel, to be horsemen. 

First and foremost, He has his own heavenly band.

2 Kings 2:11-12  As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 

Kings 6:17And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

The people tend to trust in what they can see.

Psalm 33:16-18 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

As we said before the way the LORD relates to us is as a Shepherd and His sheep, not a rancher and his horses. His people are to be led not driven.

Sheep listen to the Shepherd's voice. They know his voice. Horses need to be herded, corralled, broken.

Sheep need loving care, that of a Shepherd. In building up the cavalry, Solomon was moving the people away from the heart of God, the man after God's won heart, the forever shepherd, David.

The image of the sheep under the care of a faithful shepherd is what the LORD wanted to portray to Israel and to the church. It permeates God's Word.

This command regarding horse was given:

Before they asked for a king.

God knew they would.

Samuel took it personally even though it was foretold and he had the Word.

Why do not expect what God's Word tells us? We will suffer persecution. 

We will reap what we sow. 

Not everyone is healed.

During Moses' Farewell Speech.

Warned far in advance

For the king to read.

No excuses on the part of Solomon or Israel for this broken commandment.

2. Why This Command was Given.

Because they would want a king.

This would be a partial rejection of God.

Beware of wanting things that those around you have. 

Contentment is so valuable.

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 

That is Glorious Freedom!!!

Because  if he built up the cavalry the people would put their hope in it.

Their hope to be in the LORD.

Psalm 33:17-19 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from deathand keep them alive in famine. 

We must be on our guard for what we put our trust in. 

Paul write to Timothy

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 

Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 

Written as one of the Psalms of Ascents or the Psalms of the Goings Up

Jerusalem is fortified by the mountains which surround it. But the trust is to be in the LORD.

3.The Results of Disobedience on the Part of a Leader.

People follow his example.

Under Solomon the people strayed from God.

1 Kings 11:4-8 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. 

People lose their trust in God.

It is interesting that this sin was committed in the best times economically Israel had ever seen. Silver was not worth much because there was such an abundance of gold.

Beware of the good times. Many stray from the LORD when they are experiencing the greatest abundance in their lives.

We need to listen carefully.

Hebrews 2:1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 

Satan knows his time is short, the sands of time in the hour glass are falling. Soon Christ will come.

Since  his time is short he is doing everything he can to take out God's men and women. He has been successful with some. 

Don't let that happen to you!

Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.