1st.Kings 11:1-8 "But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians and Hittites; of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his GOD, as was the heart of David his father.
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
The wisest man who ever lived ruined his relationship with the GOD WHO gave him his wisdom and compromised the security of his kingdom by making one extremely unwise decision - he failed to obey the LORD. This choice led King Solomon down the path of revolting and destructive behavior. At the beginning of his reign as King of Israel, Solomon had it all: wealth, power, prestige, and a proper relationship with the ONE TRUE GOD. Solomon obeyed the LORD, demonstrated wisdom in his life, and ruled after the manner of his godly father, King David. Yet within his lifetime, Solomon went from honoring GOD and building Israel's temple to disgracing the LORD and financing the construction of pagan worship centers for false deities such as Molech (v.7 pictured above), a god to which the Ammonites offered human sacrifices. How did he fall to such a low place ?
GOD had instructed Solomon to separate from pagan Gentiles (including women) for his own protection (v.2 pictured above). The LORD knew that the King's physical infidelities (union with unbelievers) would lead to spiritual infidelity (turning his heart away from GOD). His immoral and disobedient personal relationships led him down a path of both physical and spiritual corruption, just as the LORD had warned him. He probably supposed that he could enjoy the companionship of unbelievers while remaining true to GOD, but such was not the case ! GOD knows that our association with others will affect our relationship with HIM. Therefore, for our own benefit, HE commands us to guard our fellowships and to separate from wicked influences. A failure to do so will put us in the same place where Solomon found himself - on the downward slope of sin ! MDC
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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