Foundations Matter

[in the United States too!]

Jesus told a story illustrating a critical truth – foundations matter, especially when storms arise! There was a wise man who built on a rock and withstood a storm, while a foolish man built on lots and lots of little rocks – on sand – and the house collapsed in a storm (Matthew 7).  [“Little rocks” include money, education, military, past successes, reputation, nice streets, home amenities, fancy construction, etc.] 

The importance of a good foundation is illustrated in the second and third kings of Israel: David and Solomon.  David’s reign, while bloody with war and troubled with serious sin and rebellion within the king’s family, was very much about God.  In God was his trust and his nation was under God. 

II Samuel 7:3, Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

Psalm 51:3-4, For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned.

Psalm 119:10, With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

I Kings 3:6, And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; 

Then came David’s son, Solomon, who inherited a country marked by “in God we trust” and “one nation under God.”  Solomon picked up the vision of his father to build a house for the Lord – a magnificent temple – a place for God.  God was first and God was esteemed. [In the USA came the organized mission of Ivy League schools, great church buildings, and entities like the Salvation Army]  The temple was followed by the building of palaces [mansions, elaborate homes] and great halls [stadiums, colosseums, parks].

Solomon’s “empire” was the envy of the world as declared by the visiting queen from Sheba.  Her words?  “And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.” I Kings 10:4-5.

Solomon’s country had a great economy: The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country… 27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, I Kings 10:14-15.  [There was a strong middle class and care for the poor.]

There were elaborate amenities:  Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold. The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round at the back; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests.  Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps, I Kings 10:18-20.  [80” TVs, iPhones, nuclear med, jet travel, pools]

A great military:  I Kings 10:26, And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities.

And then came the rise of sex and entertainment:  I Kings 11:1, But King Solomon loved many foreign women… 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.  Ecclesiastes 2:8, I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. [sports, movies, safaris, concerts, idols, immorality approved]

Solomon also entered into many alliances and peace treaties often sealed by marrying the daughter of the other king.  [George Washington warned about entering into such agreements.]

And the worship of other deities was sanctioned and encouraged by the government: Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, I Kings 11:7.

AND: For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David, I Kings 11:4.  Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David, I Kings 11:6.

SO: Therefore, the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant, I Kings 11:11.  And the nation split after his reign.

David’s house was built on a rock – faith in the Creator God.  Solomon’s house, while looking very splendid and successful, was built on sand and therefore it crashed. 

The lesson: the USA’s only hope is a return to her foundation – “IN GOD WE TRUST!”