Turned Hearts
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." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
As the heart has come up so many times in Solomon's story, it comes up to explain his decline. I couldn't decide what word to use there. He remained king, and Israel remained intact for his lifetime. He didn't lose his wealth or power. The chapter gets more fully into what did happen to him, so I won't give it all away now. Let me just see what this verse says.
The first verse of the chapter explains that Solomon loved many foreign women. This is sort of interesting in itself. David took too many wives, but with him it seemed almost accidental. At major events and turning points of his life, a new wife was part of the adventure, till he had a string of them.
But Solomon loved foreign women. It was his own desires that brought 1000 women into his household before it was all over. Why didn't his discerning heart help him know better? Did he think he was above the law? That his love for women justified taking what he wanted?
This verse recounts God's specific command to the Israelites not to intermarry with foreigners, and He was so kind as to give a reason: Hearts that knew the true God could be turned to false gods if they joined with worshippers of those gods of death.
God, please give me a discerning heart to know right from wrong, and let my heart never be turned to a false god.
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.
As the heart has come up so many times in Solomon's story, it comes up to explain his decline. I couldn't decide what word to use there. He remained king, and Israel remained intact for his lifetime. He didn't lose his wealth or power. The chapter gets more fully into what did happen to him, so I won't give it all away now. Let me just see what this verse says.
The first verse of the chapter explains that Solomon loved many foreign women. This is sort of interesting in itself. David took too many wives, but with him it seemed almost accidental. At major events and turning points of his life, a new wife was part of the adventure, till he had a string of them.
But Solomon loved foreign women. It was his own desires that brought 1000 women into his household before it was all over. Why didn't his discerning heart help him know better? Did he think he was above the law? That his love for women justified taking what he wanted?
This verse recounts God's specific command to the Israelites not to intermarry with foreigners, and He was so kind as to give a reason: Hearts that knew the true God could be turned to false gods if they joined with worshippers of those gods of death.
God, please give me a discerning heart to know right from wrong, and let my heart never be turned to a false god.
posted by ruthees @ 1:25 PM
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