The Power Outage

I Kings 11:36 states, “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.”

Twenty-eight years ago, November 19, 1996, an inch and a half of freezing rain fell on Spokane, Washington. Trees and powerlines became heavy and dropped to the ground. Power was out all over the area in the cold of winter. I drove up from Ritzville to see how my parents were doing. I had to climb over several downed trees to get down their driveway. They were staying warm around an airtight stove. Dad had a generator to give them some electricity. Their phone was out of service and it was several weeks until they had power. This was mild compared to our recent hurricane victims.

The power outage in our text was due to the power failure of King Solomon. He was a powerful leader of Israel. His wisdom was world renowned. When the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, she was highly impressed. I Kings 10:7-8 says, “Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.” In the next verse the queen gives God the glory for all this power.

Over the course of our history, America has had many great men of God to lead us, thus “America the Beautiful.” For Israel, the power went out when Solomon turned from God. The result was spiritual darkness. God stirred up adversaries (Hadad the Edomite, chapter 11 verse 14, and Rezon of Syria V. 23-25) against Solomon and Israel. It is no different for America. The enemy has invaded our land without a fight as they illegally march across our border. This is approved by the enemy that has already flooded our government and news media. This is due to the power outage in our land of godly leaders and citizens that have turned from the power of God the Holy Spirit, and chased after “many strange women” (11:1)—that have drawn us to worship other gods.

Solomon died without repentance as far as the Scripture tells us. In that case, he would be the wisest man in hell. Think of the anguish he would experience, not only from the flames, but recalling all the wonderful proverbs he had written to help others, and yet they didn’t apply to his life. Solomon is not only the “greatest disappointment in Scriptures” (Adam Clarke), but a warning for us today.

Paul wrote in I Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” That, friend, is the insulation that keeps the power from short circuiting in our walk with God. Keeping the body under was where Solomon failed. If it was a struggle for Solomon and Paul, it will be a struggle for you and me.

This may seem impossible, but there is a light in Jerusalem as the text says. That light is found in the tribe of Judah, the one tribe left for Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. (Benjamin also joined with Judah.) This remnant produced the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Jesus Christ. When Jesus came, there was still a place called Jerusalem and a temple. When He comes again, and brings in the New Jerusalem, He will sit not on Solomon’s throne, but the throne of David with POWER! 

Let Him sit on your heart’s throne today and every day, walking after the Spirit, keeping the body under submission. Result: no power outage!