1 Kings 10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.
If Sheba was in modern day Yemen, the trip was over twelve hundred miles. The queen came with her questions, but also with a caravan of merchandize. When she heard Solomon’s wisdom, and saw his wealth, she was overwhelmed.
The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! (1 Kings 10:6-8), she said. Then she gave the king her treasure, but Solomon gave her even more in return (1 Kings 10:10, 2 Chronicles 9:12).
The Queen of Sheba recognized Solomon’s wisdom, but many overlook the wisdom of Christ. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12:42), said Jesus.
Solomon had wisdom from God, but Jesus Christ is wisdom from God for us. Christ has become for us wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:30), wrote Paul. Even those who are naturally dull can become eternally wise by following Jesus Christ.
*****
1 Kings 11:1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women.
Even though Solomon had wisdom, he didn’t always apply it to himself. Instead of following the pattern for marriage which God established at creation (Genesis 1:27), he took many wives. This was often practiced by kings to stabilize relationships with surrounding nations. When a king’s daughter was given to a foreign king, the two kingdoms were less likely to go to war.
1 Kings 11:2 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.
One of the greatest threats to God’s people was losing their distinction through intermarriage. Even before they reached the Promised Land, some Israelite men were having sex with foreign women, and worshipping their gods (Numbers 25). The anger of God burned so fiercely that twenty-four thousand perished.
Solomon may’ve thought the command against intermarriage didn’t apply to him because, as the king, his situation was unique. This is a common way of thinking whenever we face temptation. Because our situation is unique, we think God will overlook our behavior, or make an exception for us. But God knows our situation is never unique.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13), wrote Paul. God is willing to help us, and would’ve helped Solomon too, if he was willing to obey.
1 Kings 11:2b Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
Solomon took many wives not only for political reasons, but also for sexual pleasure. This was so important to him that he had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3). If Solomon slept with a different woman every night, it’d take about three years to see each one again. By taking so many partners he may’ve pleased himself, but he denied most of them any hope of a meaningful relationship. It was a very selfish practice.
1 Kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods.
Solomon’s heart didn’t turn to other gods all at once, but by degrees. At first he probably found the worship of foreign gods to be repulsive. But, for the sake of his wives, he was willing to put up with it. After many years, however, Solomon grew accustomed to the worship of foreign gods, and the situation seemed normal to him. With the passing of even more time, the worship of foreign gods not only seemed normal, but desirable. After all, shouldn’t everyone be allowed to worship according to their conscience?
Finally, the worship of foreign gods was not only good for others, but also good for Solomon. If the God of Israel had richly blessed him, perhaps the other gods would bless him even more. The human heart seldom turns away from God all at once, but usually by degrees.
1 Kings 11:5-8 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. . . . Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
Solomon didn’t abandon God completely, but added other gods to his religion. When different religions come into contact, they often blend together in a process called syncretism.
Christians in Corinth were invited to eat at pagan temples, and some accepted the invitation. But You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons (1 Corinthians 10:21), wrote Paul.
Many Christians read the Bible, but also read their horoscope. They believe in heaven and hell, but also in reincarnation. I met a girl at a bookstore, who referred to herself as a Christian Buddhist. This may be fashionable, but it’s not Christianity.
No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6), said Jesus. And there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12), said Peter. If we don’t limit our religion to the Bible, it will contradict the Bible. Believers should always be on guard against syncretism.
1 Kings 11:9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
Not only was Solomon raised with the knowledge of God, but he encountered God on two separate occasions (1 Kings 3:5, 9:2). This is a privilege given to few, and made Solomon’s apostasy even worse.
Encountering God is a gift, but it’s no guarantee against turning away from him. Many who’ve experienced God deeply in the past aren’t living for him now. It’s not enough to rely on the past; we must seek his face always (Psalm 105:4), wrote the Psalmist.
Solomon’s departure from God is also alarming because of his great wisdom. But what good is wisdom if we don’t follow our own advice? We recommend the high road, but often take the low road.
When we consider Solomon’s wisdom, and his encounters with God, we should be shocked by his apostasy and fear for our souls. If Solomon turned away from God, what might happen to us? [W]ork out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), wrote Paul. The Bible gives us enough assurance to be secure, but never enough to be careless.
1 Kings 11:13 I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.
Solomon led the nation to its peak, but only for a while. Whenever God’s word contradicted his common sense, Solomon rejected God’s word and followed his common sense (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). This made him successful for a while, but not for very long. God split the kingdom after he died, and all his gains were lost. God’s work must be done God’s way in order to have lasting results.
Reflection and Review
Why did Solomon turn away from God?
Why is Solomon’s apostasy alarming?
Why was Solomon’s success so brief?
If Sheba was in modern day Yemen, the trip was over twelve hundred miles. The queen came with her questions, but also with a caravan of merchandize. When she heard Solomon’s wisdom, and saw his wealth, she was overwhelmed.
The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! (1 Kings 10:6-8), she said. Then she gave the king her treasure, but Solomon gave her even more in return (1 Kings 10:10, 2 Chronicles 9:12).
The Queen of Sheba recognized Solomon’s wisdom, but many overlook the wisdom of Christ. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12:42), said Jesus.
Solomon had wisdom from God, but Jesus Christ is wisdom from God for us. Christ has become for us wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:30), wrote Paul. Even those who are naturally dull can become eternally wise by following Jesus Christ.
*****
1 Kings 11:1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women.
Even though Solomon had wisdom, he didn’t always apply it to himself. Instead of following the pattern for marriage which God established at creation (Genesis 1:27), he took many wives. This was often practiced by kings to stabilize relationships with surrounding nations. When a king’s daughter was given to a foreign king, the two kingdoms were less likely to go to war.
1 Kings 11:2 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.
One of the greatest threats to God’s people was losing their distinction through intermarriage. Even before they reached the Promised Land, some Israelite men were having sex with foreign women, and worshipping their gods (Numbers 25). The anger of God burned so fiercely that twenty-four thousand perished.
Solomon may’ve thought the command against intermarriage didn’t apply to him because, as the king, his situation was unique. This is a common way of thinking whenever we face temptation. Because our situation is unique, we think God will overlook our behavior, or make an exception for us. But God knows our situation is never unique.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13), wrote Paul. God is willing to help us, and would’ve helped Solomon too, if he was willing to obey.
1 Kings 11:2b Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
Solomon took many wives not only for political reasons, but also for sexual pleasure. This was so important to him that he had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3). If Solomon slept with a different woman every night, it’d take about three years to see each one again. By taking so many partners he may’ve pleased himself, but he denied most of them any hope of a meaningful relationship. It was a very selfish practice.
1 Kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods.
Solomon’s heart didn’t turn to other gods all at once, but by degrees. At first he probably found the worship of foreign gods to be repulsive. But, for the sake of his wives, he was willing to put up with it. After many years, however, Solomon grew accustomed to the worship of foreign gods, and the situation seemed normal to him. With the passing of even more time, the worship of foreign gods not only seemed normal, but desirable. After all, shouldn’t everyone be allowed to worship according to their conscience?
Finally, the worship of foreign gods was not only good for others, but also good for Solomon. If the God of Israel had richly blessed him, perhaps the other gods would bless him even more. The human heart seldom turns away from God all at once, but usually by degrees.
1 Kings 11:5-8 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. . . . Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
Solomon didn’t abandon God completely, but added other gods to his religion. When different religions come into contact, they often blend together in a process called syncretism.
Christians in Corinth were invited to eat at pagan temples, and some accepted the invitation. But You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons (1 Corinthians 10:21), wrote Paul.
Many Christians read the Bible, but also read their horoscope. They believe in heaven and hell, but also in reincarnation. I met a girl at a bookstore, who referred to herself as a Christian Buddhist. This may be fashionable, but it’s not Christianity.
No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6), said Jesus. And there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12), said Peter. If we don’t limit our religion to the Bible, it will contradict the Bible. Believers should always be on guard against syncretism.
1 Kings 11:9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
Not only was Solomon raised with the knowledge of God, but he encountered God on two separate occasions (1 Kings 3:5, 9:2). This is a privilege given to few, and made Solomon’s apostasy even worse.
Encountering God is a gift, but it’s no guarantee against turning away from him. Many who’ve experienced God deeply in the past aren’t living for him now. It’s not enough to rely on the past; we must seek his face always (Psalm 105:4), wrote the Psalmist.
Solomon’s departure from God is also alarming because of his great wisdom. But what good is wisdom if we don’t follow our own advice? We recommend the high road, but often take the low road.
When we consider Solomon’s wisdom, and his encounters with God, we should be shocked by his apostasy and fear for our souls. If Solomon turned away from God, what might happen to us? [W]ork out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), wrote Paul. The Bible gives us enough assurance to be secure, but never enough to be careless.
1 Kings 11:13 I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.
Solomon led the nation to its peak, but only for a while. Whenever God’s word contradicted his common sense, Solomon rejected God’s word and followed his common sense (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). This made him successful for a while, but not for very long. God split the kingdom after he died, and all his gains were lost. God’s work must be done God’s way in order to have lasting results.
Reflection and Review
Why did Solomon turn away from God?
Why is Solomon’s apostasy alarming?
Why was Solomon’s success so brief?