And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar (1 Kings 3:4).

 

In 1 Kings 3, when Solomon became king of Israel, he was deeply troubled. He knew he was not the firstborn son, and his mother, Bathsheba, was not the first wife of his father, David. Solomon understood that his position as king would bring challenges because he had older brothers who despised both him and his mother.

 

For example, when you study the accounts in 1 Kings 2, Solomon's older brother Adonijah attempted to usurp the throne, and Solomon later ordered the execution of Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei to secure his reign. These show the violent and unstable environment in which Solomon ascended the throne. So, despite being king, he faced several threats to his life and position. He knew he had to do something beyond the ordinary to secure his reign and separate himself from the danger around him.

 

What did Solomon do? He offered an extraordinary sacrifice to God. 1 Kings 3:4 says, "And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar." Solomon was determined to put everything on the line in his worship to God. Today, we can learn from what Solomon did. It’s one of the ways to move forward and establish yourself where God has placed you.