The King Who Died with Heart Trouble

Jul 11, 2016
Doug Keppel

1 KINGS 11:1-13
1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.
11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.

Introduction:
We are told that in the physical realm heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in America.

Could I tell you that in the spiritual realm heart trouble is the leading causes of problems in our spiritual lives.

Our text deals with one of the more familiar characters of the Bible, King Solomon, David’s son who followed him on the throne as king of Israel.
He was the last king to reign over the entire kingdom before it was split. 

Solomon was a unique person. Most everyone knows that he was the wisest and richest man that has ever lived.

If you read Chapter 10, you will find that it gives an insight into all of Solomon’s wealth. It has been estimated to have been some 6 to 12 billion dollars by today’s standards.

However in Chapter 11 we find that Solomon had a heart problem. Not physically speaking, but spiritually speaking. In these 13 verses that we read, the word “heart” is used 6 times.

Solomon’s problem was that his heart was not sold out to God. (Vs. 6)

This is strange in a way because Solomon was a heart specialist.
(1 Kings 3:9, 12; 4:29)

One of the great themes of the book of Proverbs, which was written by Solomon, is the “heart”. It is mentioned some 81 times in the book of Proverbs.

The same Solomon who wrote in Proverbs 4:23–“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,” did not keep his own heart.

The same Solomon who wrote in Proverbs 3:5-6–“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths,” strayed from (these) wise words.

Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Therefore, we need to realize that if it was possible for one as wise as Solomon to have this kind of heart trouble, then it is also possible for us to have the same.

Let’s examine Solomon’s heart problems. As we do, let’s probe the inner-most depth of our own hearts to see if we suffer from heart trouble.

I.          SOLOMON HAD A DIVIDED HEART. (VS 1-5)
             Solomon tried to divide his heart between 1000 women and God.
             The women won out.

Deuteronomy 6:5–“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Matthew 10:37-38–“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

Matthew 6:24–“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

             Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 12:13-14

             Are we offering God a divided heart?

James 4:8–“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

II.         SOLOMON HAD A DEFAULTING HEART. (VS 6; 9:4-7)
             A.         He Did Not Walk As His Father Walked.

             B.         He Did Not Walk In Integrity Of The Heart.

             C.         He Did Not Walk In Uprightness.

III.       SOLOMON HAD A DISTANT HEART. (VS 4)
2 Chronicles 15:2–“And he [a Prophet named Azariah] went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.”

Now thank God that with regard to our salvation Hebrews 13:5-“for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
  
IV.       SOLOMON HAD A DISOBEDIENT HEART. (VS 7-10)
             A.         Solomon Knew What Needed To Be Done.
                          1.          Deuteronomy 17:15-20

                          2.          1 Kings 8:61; 9:1

             B.         Solomon Failed To Obey God. (Vs 10b)
                          “. . .but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.”

And because of his failure, the Lord divided the kingdom and gave it to one of his servants.

How about our hearts? Of what we know that God wants from us, how much of it are we obedient to?

Are we obedient to God or do we have a disobedient heart like Solomon?

Conclusion
Listen again to one of Solomon’s proverbs:

Proverbs 4:23–“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Is there a cure for this kind of heart trouble? Praise the Lord, there is! But Solomon died with his heart trouble.

What kind of heart do you have?

First, do you have a pure heart?
Matthew 5:8– “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

Only the blood of Jesus can give you a pure heart!
Acts 15:8-9–“And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.”

1 Peter 1:22–“…see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:”

Does the LORD have your whole heart? Or is your heart DIVIDED?

Are you walking in the way God has laid out for you? Or is your heart DEFAULTING?

Are you walking in fellowship with the LORD? Or is your heart DISTANT?

Are you walking in obedience to the LORD? Or is your heart DISOBEDIENT?

Psalms 51:6–Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”
Psalms 51:10–“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Additional Reading