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A reading from the book of 1 Kings. Now, King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh, Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian and Hittite women from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, you shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods. Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods. And his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David, his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father, had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and for Molech, the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives who made offerings and sacrifice to their gods. And the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. Yet, for the sake of David, your father, I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son. For the sake of David, my servant, and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen. And the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad, the Edomite. He was of the royal house in Edom. For when David was in Edom and Joab, the commander of the army, went up to bury the slain. He struck down every male in Edom for Joab. And all Israel remained there six months until he had cut off every male in Edom. But Hadad fled to Egypt together with certain Edomites of his father's servants. Hadad, still being a little child, they set out from Midian and came to Paran and took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who gave him a house and assigned him an allowance of food and gave him land. And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him in marriage the sister of his own wife. The sister of Tahpenes, the queen. And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubeth, his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house. And Genubeth was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh. But when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, let me depart, that I may go to my own country. But Pharaoh said to him, what have you lacked with me that you are now seeking to go to your own country? And he said to him, only, let me depart. God also raised up as an adversary to him, Rezin, the son of Elijah, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer, king of Zobah. And he gathered men about him and became leader of a marauding band after the killing by David. And they went to Damascus and lived there and made him king in Damascus. He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon, doing harm as Hadad did. And he loathed Israel and and reigned over Syria. Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zerada, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zerua, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king. And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king. Solomon built the millo and closed up the breach of the city of David. His father, the man Jeroboam, was very able. And when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite, found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country. Then Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him and tore it into 12 pieces. And he said to Jeroboam, Take for yourself 10 pieces. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes. But he shall have one tribe. For the sake of my servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh, the God of Moab, and Milcom, the God of the Ammonites. And they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight, and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, nor but I will make him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and will give it to you 10 tribes. Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel. And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes, by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you, and will build you a sure house, as I built for David. And I will give Israel to you. And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever. Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt to Shishak, king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. Now the rest of the Acts of Solomon and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the Acts of Solomon? And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was 40 years. And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son, reigned in his place. A reading from the Book of Psalms, A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand but with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope my soul waits for the Lord. More than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption, and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. A reading from the Book of Hebrews. Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the presence. It is called the holy place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the most holy place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant above it, were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties. But into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing, which is symbolic for the present age. According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshipper, but deal only with food and drink in various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop. And sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, this is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you. And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites. But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all, at the end of the ages, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry
Episode: June 11 (1 Kings 11; Psalm 130; Hebrews 9)
Release Date: June 11, 2025
Host/Author: Crossway
Duration: [Not specified]
In this episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year," hosted by Crossway and featuring the insightful narration of bestselling author Jackie Hill Perry, listeners embark on a spiritual journey through selected scriptures. The June 11 episode delves into 1 Kings 11, Psalm 130, and Hebrews 9, offering a comprehensive exploration of Solomon's reign, heartfelt prayers for redemption, and the profound theological insights of Christ's superior sacrifice. This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the readings.
Overview:
Jackie Hill Perry begins with a detailed reading of 1 Kings 11, which chronicles the latter part of King Solomon's reign. Despite his wisdom and the blessings bestowed upon him, Solomon's heart turns away from God due to his numerous foreign wives, leading to idolatry and the eventual division of the kingdom.
Key Points:
Solomon’s Foreign Marriages:
Solomon's love for foreign women, including princesses from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and Hittite nations, directly contravenes God's commandments.
“King Solomon loved many foreign women... and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David, his father.” [00:01]
Idolatry and Its Impact:
Solomon's wives led him to worship other gods such as Ashtoreth and Milcom, prompting God’s anger and judgment.
“The Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord.” [00:45]
Divine Judgment:
God declares the division of Solomon’s kingdom due to his disobedience, reserving unity for the sake of David and Jerusalem.
“I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant... I will give one tribe to your son.” [05:30]
Rise of Adversaries:
Figures like Hadad and Jeroboam emerge as adversaries to Israel, symbolizing the impending fragmentation and political strife.
“God raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad, the Edomite... Jeroboam... lifted up his hand against the king.” [09:15]
Jeroboam’s Prophetic Encounter:
The prophet Ahijah foretells the division of the kingdom, granting Jeroboam ten tribes, while preserving a single tribe for Solomon’s lineage.
“Take for yourself 10 pieces. For thus says the Lord... I will give you 10 tribes.” [14:20]
Insights:
Consequences of Compromise:
Solomon's deviation from divine commandments serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of compromising one's faith and values for personal desires.
Divine Sovereignty and Mercy:
Even in judgment, God's mercy is evident as He preserves a remnant for the sake of David and Jerusalem, highlighting His commitment to His promises.
Overview:
Transitioning to Psalm 130, Hill Perry reads a powerful prayer that expresses deep anguish, repentance, and unwavering hope in God's mercy. This psalm encapsulates the human experience of seeking divine forgiveness amidst personal and communal shortcomings.
Key Points:
Cry from the Depths:
The psalm begins with a heartfelt plea for God to hear the voice of the psalmist's pleas for mercy.
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. O Lord, hear my voice.” [17:05]
Acknowledgment of Sin and Forgiveness:
Recognizing human iniquities, the psalmist emphasizes that only God can provide true forgiveness.
“If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness...” [17:32]
Hope and Trust in God’s Redemption:
The psalmist places unwavering hope in the Lord’s steadfast love and abundant redemption.
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” [18:10]
Universal Call to Israel:
The psalm concludes with an exhortation for Israel to hope in the Lord, underscoring His love and redemptive power.
“O Israel, hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love... he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” [19:15]
Insights:
Depth of Human Emotion:
Psalm 130 vividly portrays the depths of human despair and the profound longing for divine intervention and forgiveness.
Assurance of God’s Mercy:
Despite acknowledging sin, the psalmist’s trust in God’s mercy underscores the belief in God's readiness to forgive and redeem.
Overview:
In the final segment, Jackie Hill Perry explores Hebrews 9, a theological exposition comparing the old covenant’s sacrificial system with the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. This reading articulates the transformative power of Christ's ministry and His role as the mediator of a new and better covenant.
Key Points:
Contrast Between Covenants:
The chapter begins by outlining the regulations for worship under the first covenant, emphasizing the earthly and imperfect nature of its rituals.
“Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.” [22:05]
Symbolism of the Holy Places:
Detailed descriptions of the holy and most holy places serve as symbols of the separated and unapproachable presence of God under the old covenant.
“...the ark of the covenant... covered on all sides with gold.” [22:40]
Limitations of the Old Sacrifices:
The sacrifices offered under the first covenant could not purify the conscience of the worshipper, highlighting their temporary and incomplete efficacy.
“Gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshipper.” [23:15]
Christ’s Superior Sacrifice:
Contrasting the old with the new, Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice provides eternal redemption, surpassing the repetitive and insufficient offerings of the past.
“He entered once for all into the holy places... by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” [25:50]
Mediator of the New Covenant:
Christ is depicted as the mediator who establishes a new covenant, enabling believers to receive the promised eternal inheritance.
“Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant... to receive the promised eternal inheritance.” [28:10]
Insights:
Efficacy of Christ's Sacrifice:
Hebrews 9 underscores the completeness and eternal nature of Christ’s sacrifice, affirming its superiority over the old covenant’s rituals.
Transition to the New Covenant:
The passage highlights the shift from the old to the new covenant, emphasizing believers' access to God through Christ’s mediation.
Theological Depth:
Hill Perry’s reading invites listeners to contemplate the profound theological implications of Christ’s work, encouraging a deeper appreciation of His role in salvation.
This June 11 episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year" offers a rich tapestry of biblical narratives and theological reflections. From King Solomon's tragic downfall due to misplaced affections to the earnest prayers for redemption in Psalm 130, and culminating in the profound theological insights of Hebrews 9, Jackie Hill Perry guides listeners through a journey of faith, repentance, and the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. The episode serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of steadfastness in faith, the depth of God's mercy, and the unparalleled significance of Jesus Christ in the Christian faith.
Notable Quotes:
This structured and detailed summary encapsulates the essence of the June 11 episode, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the key biblical passages and their profound implications for faith and life.