On Inauguration Day, Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, “and his kingdom was established greatly” (1Kings 2:12). Shortly thereafter, the Lord appeared unto him in a dream and said, “Ask what I shall give you?” (3:5). Amazingly, Solomon did not ask for riches or fame, nor the lives of his enemies. Feeling inadequate to step into his father’s larger-than-life shoes, his tender heart truly wanted to serve God’s people. His reply is more than admirable: “Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge your so great a people?” (3:9).
His answer so pleased the Lord that He gave him wisdom above all wise men and world leaders, and any who had come before him. He also gave him what he did not ask for: indescribable wealth and incomparable fame. So magnificent was Solomon’s kingdom, great leaders came from far and near, to see for themselves the glory and to hear the wisdom of Solomon. The Queen of Sheba declared: “I have heard of your wisdom, prosperity, and fame, and the half was not told me!” (10:7).
The Solomite Kingdom
Solomon was given the awesome privilege to build a glorious Temple of the Lord to house the Ark of the Covenant that dwelt in a tent of goat skins. This golden wonder took seven years to build, and no expense was spared to beautify the House of God. When all the furnishings were completed and the instruments prepared, it was time to bring the Ark to its resting place within the Holy of Holies. Only the priests could transport the Ark, carrying its poles upon their shoulders. They, with King Solomon and the congregation of Israel, led the procession into the Temple, sacrificing untold numbers of sheep and oxen every six paces along the way (2Sam.6:13).
On that Dedication Day when the Ark was safely installed, a cloud of glory filled the House of God: “So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the lord had filled the house of the lord” (1Kgs. 8:10-11). They literally could not stand on their feet because of God’s glory! Then Solomon and the people offered sacrifice before the Lord, and fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. It was in Solomon’s subsequent prayer that the Lord answered these famous words:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chron.7:14).
After Solomon had finished building the Temple, the Lord appeared unto him a second time, saying that he had hallowed this house to put His name there forever. Again, He promised to establish his throne forever if he would continue to walk in the integrity of his heart and in righteousness. But if he turned from following the Lord, He would remove this house, and evil would come upon Israel (1Kgs.9:1-9).
In spite of having two visitations from God, in time, Solomon’s heart was turned away from the Lord. He disobeyed the commandments God had given to Moses regarding Israel’s future kings. They were forbidden to multiply wives, gold, and horses (for which they would have to go to Egypt). Solomon did all three: he had gold laid up like dust; he sent to Egypt for horses. And he acquired the unbelievable number of 1000 wives and concubines, to his fatal detriment: “When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the lord his God.” Solomon went after the goddess of the Zidonians, and the abomination of the Ammonites. He built an altar to Chemosh and Molech, the gods of infanticide, to whom children were sacrificed with fire.
The book of Ecclesiastes chronicles his writings of “an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished” (4:13). Again and again, he lamented: “All is vanity and vexation of spirit—all is futile and does not benefit the spirit of man.”
Eventually the glory departed from the Temple, and the golden kingdom of Solomon’s fame ended with its kings captured and killed by invading kings. The city was burned with the Temple; its gold melted and scraped up by the invaders to be used in ungodly designs.
The Solomite Church
Like Solomon, the Church today has become rich, prosperous, and worldly. They have built elaborate edifices, mega-churches seating thousands. They have elevated preachers and pastors with great superfluous titles and with them entitlements. In 2012, one late pastor of a mega-church in Atlanta, Georgia who had been sued by male members on abusive sex charges, was crowned king. Wearing a crown and wrapped in a Jewish Torah scroll, he was lifted up on a throne by four men as the congregation hailed him as a king.
Fulfilling 1Timothy 6:5-10, prosperity preachers defend their gospel of gain: “Supposing that gain is godliness.” They point to their own lavish lifestyles, elaborate dwellings, and expensive cars and airplanes as proof that their self-serving prosperity message works. Peter commanded elders—pastors: “Feed the flock of God…. not by constraint, but willingly—not for filthy lucre…. Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock” (1Pet.5:1-3).
Sin—especially greed and sexual sin—are running rampant, even in the ministry. Many choose money over morality. Some now support homosexuality, including same-sex marriage, transgenderism, abortion, and heretical religions like Islam which denies the deity of Jesus Christ and salvation through His shed blood on the cross. In a nod to syncretism, they have manufactured “Chrislam,” blending Christianity and Islam and claiming the God of the Bible and the moon god Allah are one and the same.
When William Tyndale translated the first New Testament from the Greek into English, he was branded a heretic and eventually was burned at the stake in 1536. John Wycliffe was the first to work on translating the Bible into English in 1408. In 2012, Wycliffe Bible Translators, in their “Islam-friendly” version of the Bible has changed 91 references to “Son of God” in order to placate and not offend Muslims.
The message of the true Gospel is unpopular and unwelcome. More and more church audiences don’t want preachers who preach the Word of God rightly divided. As Paul warned: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn their ears away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2Tim.4:3-4).
The new gospel says: “Show Me the Money!” instead of “Show Me the Glory!”
Members now want to know Where’s the party? instead of Where’s the prayer meeting?
When was the last time the glory cloud came down in the midst of the Church? Not working up a shout and a dance with the flesh, but sanctifying the House of God in unrelenting holy hunger until His Presence comes down? Until His priests cannot stand. Until Heaven’s fire falls upon the sacrifice of spotless worship. Until the worshippers speak in tongues of men and angels, crying out, “Show me Your Glory!” Until unbelievers want to know “What is this? Are you drunk?” Until we can say, “Not as you suppose, but this is the outpouring of the Spirit of God as prophesied in days of old.”
It was Moses who first begged God: “I beseech you, Show me your glory!” (Exodus 33:18). When he came down from the holy mount with God, his face shone so bright with God’s glory, the people could not look on him. He had to cover his face with a veil. This was the manifestation of God’s Glory on human flesh. Today we are the temple of God:
“What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? ….Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1Cor.6:19-20).
It’s time to pray, “Lord, let me show your glory!”
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