GOD OF ISRAEL

The earlier chapters of 1 Kings set forth the glory and wisdom of Solomon. Chapter 11 opens with the ominous record of his links with foreign women. The result of this was that, in the words of verse 9, ‘his heart was turned away from the Lord the God of Israel’, RV. David, as a young man, had been aware that ‘the God of the armies of Israel’ was ‘the living God’, and to this vision he remained faithful. Israel was distinct from the nations in worshipping the one true God. Now Solomon was acting as if he had forgotten this special relationship with God. David had failed, and his sin was grievous, but it did not involve idolatry. The charge that Solomon’s heart was turned away is linked to God’s warning to the Israelites that too close association with idolatrous peoples would lead to this result.

Since the God of Israel was the one true God it was not possible to mix His worship with idolatry. So it is recorded that Solomon ‘went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father’, v. 6. God had specifically commanded him that he should not go after other gods. Small wonder, then, that ‘the Lord was angry with Solomon’, v. 9.

It seems that what had begun as a concession to his wives, had led to his own heart being seduced. He ‘went after’ those gods, disobeyed commands from the Lord, and did not keep the Lord’s covenant. Most of the kingdom passed from David’s house after Solomon died. The only reason that this was delayed was that the Lord remembered David’s faithfulness.

In this way Solomon, who had entered upon his reign as a modest, unassuming young man, was turned aside from the Lord. His display of prosperity in the shape of his many horses, the links which he formed with foreign monarchs and his resulting diplomatic marriages led on to his sad decline.

How Solomon had prayed at the dedication of the temple, 2 Chr. 6! What warnings he had received, 2 Chr. 7! Yet how far he fell! We need to take warning. If we tolerate self-indulgence or make unwise friendships for status’ sake we do so at our peril. Associations which may be shrewd business can be destructive of our spiritual health. God is still a jealous God.