Summer with Elijah

Solomon
line of David
wise
temple
Shalom on the throne
prosperiety

Outside - everything was going great…but

Alliances
not embassies but wives
worship
loved them, so he gave them what they wanted

Idolatry and assimilation
Israel was created to be set apart
Molech and Asheroth

Idolatry
a question of who God really is
if he’s just one of many, than he is like the most annoying kid running for student council president
if God is an impersonal force that we can discover, than the Israelite message was just one of many ways
if He’s who he says he is, than worshipping other things makes us less and not more
if He’s who he says he is, AND he loves us - then this message against idolatry is a message of love

Solomon
wise, but thinks he knows better
king, and thinks he’s above God’s law
loves, but thinks he loves better than God loves

Jeroboam and Ahijah
good at organizing
rending of a new garment - sad
kingdom split in two

Next chapter
Jeroboam afraid
More idolatry - control it

For you and I - golden calf
maybe something cooler

Wasn’t either/or for them…but both/and
We live among people who worship other things…
Not terrible at first - making a good thing an ultimate thing

Money - control, security, fun, status
wisdom and value
but if those things move to the center…alongside God..
God AND…

Hope
God didn’t give them to their folly
Us neither

Did you hear the hope?
Not forever

Jesus
he came to show us our idolatries
true son of David

we always lift up the wrong things
he allowed us to lift him up…thinking our idol had won…yet they were defeated

true and better Solomon
actually brought in the nations - not by appeasing their idolatry but by defeating them
not in violence, but in grace and truth

son of peace
living wisdom

Come to the table