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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.

Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

Deuteronomy 30:6,16,20
And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live…

walking

1 Kings 3:6,14
And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, asit is this day…

1 Kings 2:3,4
And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: …

1 Kings 11:34
Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

only he

1 Kings 15:14
But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.

1 Kings 22:24
But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

2 Kings 12:3
But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

and walked in the statutes of his father David
Walking in the statutes of David implies that Solomon followed the godly example set by his father. David, despite his flaws, was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). The statutes refer to the laws and decrees given by God, which David upheld. Solomon's adherence to these statutes indicates his commitment to maintaining the spiritual and moral standards established by David. This continuity is crucial for the stability and prosperity of the kingdom, as it aligns with the promises made to David in2 Samuel 7:12-16.

except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places
The high places were sites of worship located on elevated ground, often associated with Canaanite religious practices. While these places were initially used for worshiping Yahweh, they later became centers for idolatry. Solomon's use of high places reveals a compromise in his devotion. Although he loved the LORD, his actions here show a deviation from the centralized worship that God desired, as outlined inDeuteronomy 12:2-5. This practice foreshadows Solomon's later spiritual decline, as he eventually builds high places for foreign gods (1 Kings 11:7-8), leading to the division of the kingdom. Solomon's actions serve as a warning about the dangers of syncretism and the importance of pure worship.

“And Solomon loved the LORD” (1 Kings 3:3a) tells us that Solomon’s devotion was real, personal, and heartfelt.

• Love for God is the first and greatest command (Deuteronomy 6:5;Matthew 22:37).

• Solomon’s love reflects promises God made to David that his son would build the temple (2 Samuel 7:13) and reign if he remained loyal (1 Kings 2:4).

• Later, when Solomon’s heart turns, Scripture contrasts that shift with this early love (1 Kings 11:4).

His love sets the stage for the wisdom request that follows (1 Kings 3:9-12), showing that wisdom flows from relationship, not mere intellect.

Solomon “walked in the statutes of his father David” (1 Kings 3:3b), meaning he embraced the covenant commands David cherished.

• David charged Solomon to keep God’s statutes so the dynasty would stand (1 Kings 2:3-4;1 Chronicles 28:9).

• Walking implies steady obedience (Deuteronomy 5:33;Psalm 119:1), not occasional religious acts.

• God later affirms this standard: “walk before Me as your father David walked” (1 Kings 9:4).

Solomon’s early reign shows humility and dependence, exemplified by offering sacrifices at Gibeon because the temple was not yet built (2 Chronicles 1:3-6).

The verse adds, “except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places” (1 Kings 3:3c). This qualifying phrase reveals a flaw amid faithfulness.

• High places were local worship sites often inherited from Canaanite practice (Deuteronomy 12:2-4).

• Before the temple’s construction, sacrifices there were common, yet God’s law anticipated one central place (Deuteronomy 12:5-11).

• Solomon’s worship at Gibeon—where the tabernacle and bronze altar still stood—was tolerated (1 Chronicles 16:39-40;2 Chronicles 1:3-5), but the habit of high-place worship later opened doors to syncretism (1 Kings 11:7;2 Kings 21:3).

• Kings like Asa and Amaziah “did what was right… yet the high places were not removed” (1 Kings 15:14;2 Kings 14:4), showing how partial obedience can linger through generations.

Solomon’s compromise warns that small concessions can grow into major stumbling blocks when linked to convenient or culturally accepted worship.

1 Kings 3:3 paints a balanced portrait: Solomon genuinely loved God and followed David’s righteous pattern, yet allowed a culturally comfortable practice that fell short of complete obedience. His early devotion brings blessing and wisdom, but the tolerated compromise foreshadows later decline. The verse challenges believers to pair heartfelt love with wholehearted conformity to God’s revealed will, avoiding partial obedience that can erode faith over time.