December 4, 2021
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Reading along with us in 1 Kings? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Kings 11 (NIV)
Solomon’s Wives
1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.........Continue Reading
Well how good things were going for Solomon and how hard they fell! Walk in obedience to God was his only instruction but he strayed away honoring gods other than the one true God! Sad to read chapters of such blessing of wisdom and wealth all come to an end!
I continued this evening in Proverbs chapter 3. I connected with this verse.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.”
Proverbs 3:5 GNTD
https://bible.com/bible/69/pro.3.5.GNTD
As they say, how the mighty have fallen! It is mystifying how a man of such wisdom, who gave such great advice to others would turn his heart fro the God who had blessed him so abundantly. Like his father, he had an eye for women, but to then follow his wives influence in matters of faith. It is a lesson that bad company corrupts good morals, or how important it is not to be unequally yoked because it is easy for a heart that is in love to be turned away from God. I guess I understand sin, but it is hard for me to understand unbelief..actually rejecting faith in God. And in response, God does what He had said, He raised up enemies and set things in. motion to take the kingdom from Solomon. God’s dedication to David is impressive and maintains his thrown as He had promised him.
But I am always struck by the promise God gives to Jeroboam. He tells him he will honor his line like he did David’s. That’s like huge. One can only imagine what would have happened if Jeroboam had been obedient. May we learn from this chapter that it is always best to remain faithful to God regardless of what may come and regardless of the influences around us telling us differently.
Solomon is lead astray by his love for his wives. It is sad that his love for them did not cause him to turn them to His God rather than the other way around.