(9) В¶ 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.
Reader! let me beg you to make all suitable improvement of what is here contained within those verses. And may the Holy Ghost bless the reading of it to both our souls. Observe! how aggravated the sin of Solomon was, because it was in direct opposition to the former gracious manifestations the Lord had condescended to make him. And observe also how the Lord keeps account how often he visits his people. Sweet thought to the believer! Jesus marks down in his book of remembrance all his gracious love visits, though our forgetful hearts pass them by. And observe, moreover, from this passage, how very piercing the sins of believers are, above all others, to the heart of Jesus. Reader! think of this as it concerns yourself. Hath the Lord Jesus manifested himself otherwise to you than he doth to the world? hath God the Father given you Jesus? Hath the Holy Spirit set his love upon you, and opened to your view the glories of Jesus? And must not every act of unkindness after such tokens of special and distinguishing favor, be very, very cutting to the heart of so gracious a God; Hath not such a God in covenant a right to demand more from such souls than from all the unenlightened nations of the earth? May not every disobedient child of God hear that expostulating voice speaking to him after every transgression; "I awakened thee from darkness, delivered thee from Satan, gave thee redemption, and Jesus with all his mercies; for which of all these blessings is it, that thou thus rebellest against me?" But Reader! in the midst of our view of Solomon's crying sins, and the Lord's judgment, do observe how the name of David is introduced, as the cause for which he shall find mercy. And thus in the covenant of redemption for the sake of David's Lord, the gracious terms are the same. Sweet thought! both from our relation to Jesus, our Spiritual Head and Surety; and from the ransom Jehovah hath received in him; believers though chastened, are saved. See that sweet scripture; Psalms 89:30-37.