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- Oct 26, 2007
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from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 1 Kings 11:2-3
Solomon knew the boundaries that God had established for his family and for his devotion, but he decided to venture beyond them to his great detriment and that of his kingdom. It's likely that Solomon moved in this direction slowly, marrying a foreign wife, observing a ceremony of worship for a false god, and gradually shifting in his thinking and commitments. For all of the wisdom he had for ruling his kingdom, he failed to discern the shift in his own heart.
While no one today can relate to Solomon's precise circumstances, you may be able to relate to his divided heart and the temptations he faced. One wrong, decision can lead to another. You may feel the pull toward indulging your desires as a means of escape. Or you may trust in something other than God for your peace and security. One step away from Him can quickly lead to ten steps from Him.
Prayer: Lord, reveal the compromises I've made, and restore my heart today.
Solomon knew the boundaries that God had established for his family and for his devotion, but he decided to venture beyond them to his great detriment and that of his kingdom. It's likely that Solomon moved in this direction slowly, marrying a foreign wife, observing a ceremony of worship for a false god, and gradually shifting in his thinking and commitments. For all of the wisdom he had for ruling his kingdom, he failed to discern the shift in his own heart.
While no one today can relate to Solomon's precise circumstances, you may be able to relate to his divided heart and the temptations he faced. One wrong, decision can lead to another. You may feel the pull toward indulging your desires as a means of escape. Or you may trust in something other than God for your peace and security. One step away from Him can quickly lead to ten steps from Him.
Prayer: Lord, reveal the compromises I've made, and restore my heart today.
