Prophecy

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Lessons From Solomon
Shared by Patricia Backora, author of the book
Tough Love in Christ's Millennium
Which you can order online from: http://www.publishamerica.com
Deuteronomy 7:3-6; 17:17; I Kings Chapters 2 -11; John 12:43

How glorious the beginning of Solomon’s reign was. Here was a king far wiser than any of his contemporaries, and far richer too. In the beginning Solomon had a humble heart. He confessed he was of tender years, and petitioned Me for the wisdom he needed to govern such a great nation as Israel.

I did much more for him. I gave Solomon far more wisdom than any other mortal who had lived before him, or any who would live after him. I gave him untold riches and honor. I promised him a long life, if only he would walk before Me as David his father walked.

Things went well for awhile. Solomon’s subjects were proud to have such a wonderful sovereign. Under his reign, Israel enjoyed unprecedented prosperity, with “every man sitting under his own vine and fig tree”. So long as he obeyed Me, Solomon’s Kingdom was free of warfare with surrounding nations. I even gave him the privilege of building the original Temple on Mount Zion. At its dedication, Solomon prayed a wonderfully spiritual prayer, after which I filled the whole House with My Glory.

But Solomon began to lose sight sight of all I’d done for him and his people. He got so caught up in the pageantry and magnificence of his life that My still small voice of warning was drowned out. It wasn’t long before feelings of insecurity began to gnaw at Solomon. He was afraid that in spite of all his greatness he might be toppled if he didn’t retain favor with his friends. Solomon made political alliances with other nations by marrying their princesses, because he lacked confidence that I could protect his nation from attack. In all, he married upwards of 1000 women, although I had clearly commanded that kings were not to multiply wives unto themselves. These wives and concubines turned Solomon’s heart away from Me.

It is a myth that abundance of riches bestows a sense of security. Every rich man knows deep inside that money cannot buy true love, or keep it from straying away. Solomon maintained his harem in exquisite luxury. Because of unwise ties with the heathen, Solomon was afraid to refuse his wives anything they wanted, regardless of what it was. He feared these women might grow cold toward him, and his political alliances might be weakened if word got out that he wasn’t keeping his wives content.

Solomon relaxed his vigilance in keeping My most basic statutes in order to appease these vain, silly women. Instead of teaching them about the One True God, he had shrines built to accommodate vile demonic gods which were an abomination to Me, and had no place in My Holy Land. He had reached the point where he loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

When I am demoted to second place in any person’s life, disaster always results. Because of this gross sin, I stirred up foreign enemies to annoy Solomon all the rest of his days. I took most of the Kingdom of Israel away from his dynasty, and Israel was split into two rival nations, Israel and Judah. Israel, which encompassed the northern Ten Tribes which had seceded, reverted to gross paganism. The history of the Kings of Judah wasn’t much better. It saw periods of apostasy, chastisement, then revival, followed by a relapse back into apostasy when the lessons of chastisement were forgotten. Because of idolatry, both nations were eventually driven into exile.

Beware of idolatry in any area of your life. It cuts you off from My protection, and brings certain judgment.

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