1 Kings Chapter 11
Up till this point, we read about how great and good Solomon has been in general. Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple was also heartfelt and humble (1 Kgs 8). This is precisely what made this chapter so difficult to stomach.
Beginning with a melancholic “but”, this chapter details how Solomon was drawn away.
Solomon has seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines (v3). Many of Solomon’s marriages were the sealing of alliances with other political powers, most notably the alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt (1 Kgs 3:1). His wives also include women of Moabite, Edomite, Sidonite and Hittite origins (v1) which were also a means of sealing treaty agreement with foreign powers.
Taking foreign wives violated the Lord’s prohibitions against marrying Cannaite women (Deut 7:3, 17:17).
God appeared twice to Solomon (1 Kgs 3:5, 9:2) to not go after other gods, but to walk in His ways, keep His statutes and His commandments – just like what David did. However, Solomon “loved many foreign women” (v1) and “clung to these in love” (v2).
Not only so, Solomon embraced the gods of his foreign wives and built high places for them (v7). Consequently, not only was his heart turned away from God, his kingdom will also be divided.
Solomon knew that it was wrong. God had told him time after time. Yet, he clung on.
“Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.”
(Neh 26:13)
Let us reflect:
What do we cling onto today?
Let us reflect on our lives today and the people we mix with in this world.
If we are close to negative influences, it can make us want to live like them. We start to think like the way they do, want the things they want and live like the way they live.
Eventually, our hearts might be turned away, just like how Solomon’s wives made him want to serve other gods.
