Warning: Guard your Heart

Read 1 Kings 11.

Up to this point, Solomon sounded almost perfect.  But now we learn just how human he was.

Two weaknesses became evident:

1. The desire for women more than maintaining a faithful relationship with a wife.

2. The desire to please others more than maintaining a faithful relationship with God.

Though his marriages may have been mostly for political expediency, these pagan women turned his heart to worshipping their false gods.  The pagan deities named in this chapter are of the worst sort in terms of immorality and even human sacrifices.

God knew Solomon's weaknesses and, therefore, clearly warned him.  Such a warning was not solely directed at Solomon but based upon Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 17:17).  Ignoring and/or disobeying God's Word is sin and will have dire consequences 100% of the time.  The LORD loves His people too much to allow them to continue in sin.

After years of peace and prosperity, the LORD raised up an adversary.  Allowing adversity is one way God deals with sin in the lives of His people.

Because Solomon had a divided heart for God, he left a divided kingdom.  Jeroboam, a trusted leader turned enemy, became the ruling king over the ten northern tribes of Israel.  The two southern tribes, Judah (the largest of the twelve) and Benjamin (the smallest) were ruled by Solomon's son, Rehoboam. 

It is a sad finish for the life of this great king and a warning to all of us.  "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23)