Useful Bible Studies > 1 Kings Commentary > chapter 9
God made wonderful promises to David about the future rule of David’s family (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Solomon was David’s son and he became Israel’s king because of those promises (1 Chronicles 28:5-7).
Therefore, Solomon had the opportunity that his own family could have benefitted from those promises. God wanted Solomon’s son, and that son’s family after him, always to rule Israel. In fact, God even promised to Solomon that he (God) would bring that about.
God’s promise to David about these things was absolute, because his (God’s) future king, the Messiah, will rule always. God had promised David that the Messiah would come from David’s family (Jeremiah 23:5).
However, the promise to Solomon was not absolute. Rather, it depended on what Solomon, and his family after him, did. They had to choose whether they would be loyal to God. They had to decide whether to live selfishly, for their own benefit, or to serve God. God had given them his law (Deuteronomy 17:18-20); his commands would not change (Exodus 20:1-17). If they obeyed his law, they and their nation would know God’s kindness – if not, they would suffer God’s judgment (Deuteronomy chapter 28).
Solomon could have been the first of many kings from David’s family who ruled the whole of Israel. In fact, he was the last; the later kings from his family only ruled over the southern part of their nation. However the Messiah from the family of David will rule Israel and all the nations (Isaiah 11:1-11); it is he who will complete God’s promises to David.
Next part: God warns Solomon severely (1 Kings 9:6-7)
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