«At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?’ »
(1 Kings 3:5).
PERHAPS, SOLOMON WAS NEVER AS WISE as when he asked God for an understanding heart to rule his people and to distinguish between good and evil. Too bad he did not maintain that attitude throughout his reign.
How could someone fail who, in addition to the riches and power he had inherited from David his father, had also receive unmatched wisdom from God? «Keep the charge of the Lord your God,» David had told him shortly before his death, «that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn» (l King 2:3). Even early in his reign, after having completed the construction of the temple, the Lord had promised him: «If you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel’ » (l Kings 9:4, 5).
What happened to him, then? His fall began when, disobeying an express order from God, he «made a treaty with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh’s daughter» (l King 3: l; cf. Exodus 34: 16; Deuteronomy Although Solomon strengthened his political and trade relations with «the powerful kingdom lying to the southward of Israel,» he had also inevitably also «ventured upon forbidden ground. «—Prophets and Kings, ch. 3, p. 53.
His marriage to the Egyptian princess was followed by another, and another, and another. Each new alliance seemed to bring greater power and glory to him, as well as offering the possibility of his wives’ converting to the true God, but it was a big mistake! First, there were no new conversions, for «his wives exerted a strong influence over him and gradually prevailed on him to join with them in their worship.» —Ibid., p. 56. Second, his evil example was followed by others to the point that «it came to be a common practice to inter-marry between idolaters. «—Ibid., p. 59. Worse? Impossible!
The lesson for us is clear. If God has said no, why venture upon forbidden ground? Why try to unite light with darkness? God has said that they have no communion.
«God is fully able to keep us in the world, but we are not to be of the world. . . Ever He watches over His children with a care that is measureless. But He requires undivided allegiance, ‘No man can serve two masters’.” – Prophets and Kings, ch. 3, p. 59.
Dear God, please give me the wisdom to distinguish good from evil and also to believe that it is Your blessing that enriches «and adds no sorrow with it»
(Proverbs 10:22).
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
