Scripture:
1 Kings 11:1-6 ESV
[1] Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, [2] from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. [3] He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. [4] For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. [5] For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. [6] So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done.
Observation:
Solomon was on a roll. Had been so wise in all he had done. I mean, why not relax? After all, look at all that had been accomplished. The temple was built he had a beautiful home. The kingdom was at peace. Life was good. Maybe it was time for another wife or 2 or… 700. I mean, the kingdom still needs to grow. It’s not that big of a deal what GOD said about marriage. Staying tied together with people who believe like he does. As wise as Solomon was. He missed this one thing. It’s so easy to get misled. He compromised this one thing, and it cost him. Instead of his name being left at the wisest man in the world, although he still had that title. He was known as the compromised king, who was very wise. The women he married brought their gods into the picture, and little by little, the king’s heart was torn, pulled away from YAHWEH, the one true GOD. Ashtoreth and Malcom were more than likely statues made by human hands, but they could be physically seen. It took faith to believe in YAHWAH because HE was a GOD not made by human hands. The wives Solomon had taken so that the kingdom would grow ended up leading him away from the one who placed him on the throne. This happened more than one time in the family of GOD. YAHWAH had told HIS people as HE was bringing them out of Egypt into the land flowing with milk and honey to wipe out whole nations, leaving nothing alive. They didn’t, and it cost them. They got sidetracked as well and started following other gods. I could honestly point out over and over again this issue for GOD’S chosen people.
Application:
How important is it to be in a community of like-minded people? The Bible tells us over and over not to be unevenly yoked with someone who does not believe like we do. I’m going to be honest it doesn’t take much. The problem starts with one little compromise. Our thought maybe that this one little thing isn’t going to hurt. They think it’s OK to drink and it may kill me but it’s OK I can stay away from it. The problem is that over time, these little things become stumbling blocks in the pathway to Jesus. We may not see it at first, and we may think it’s not that big of a deal. Honestly, it was a downfall for me. I married a woman who had another god other than the one I worshiped, and it caused me to relapse on meth. We have to stay on guard about this. The enemy is smart he has been at this for a long time, and he knows not to come at you all at once but little by little. One little thing here and one little thing there and before you know it, your heart is turned away from the one who made you. I can not express this enough. It is vital that when you are looking for someone to marry, look for someone who is following the one true GOD someone who believes like you. If not little by little, they will pull you away from YAHWEH. You can not fix them. No matter how much you try. This is my warning. Being unevenly yoked is a real problem. It has been a burden in my life for almost 8 years now. Compromised living only pulls you away from GOD, not to HIM look at HIS word and see for yourself. I had to find out the hard way, and let me tell you, it does not feel good.
Prayer:
Father, let us not avoid red flags. Help us to see the truth. You have a plan for us, and it’s not to compromise our beliefs. We honestly want our lives to be… what you say goes. So help us to see what you say. We want your word to be the deciding factor in our lives. We see how one little compromise will set in motion a chain of events that will pull us away from you, and that is the last thing we want. Keep us true to you help us to see the path you have for us. Be the light to our path and the lamp to our feet. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray amen.