Text: 1 Kings 11:1-8
Memory Verse: “For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David” (1 Kings 11:4).
Solomon felt that the way to establish his hold on the kingdom and enjoy peace was through marriage alliances with powerful kings. This move compromised his faith in God, the only One who can truly establish a man’s throne and give him peace. Moreso, God had already assured his father, David, that a son named Solomon shall be born to him “and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around…I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days” (1 Chronicles 22:9). David relayed this information to Solomon before his death (1 Chronicles 22:6-12).
Notwithstanding, Solomon could not depend on God to fulfil His promise in His own way. Instead, he decided to use the prevailing human tactics to help himself. Unfortunately, this became the foundation for his backsliding as, with
time, this entanglement with pagan women gradually completely turned his heart away from God. Sadly, he failed to retrace his steps from his error while he could.
The lesson from Solomon’s derailment is that the sapping effect of sin is often gradual. One sin does not automatically turn a believer’s heart away from God. The motions of godly practices remain and are often genuine, but if the believer does not quickly repent and turn away from the sin, he goes deeper till his heart gradually becomes seared and he may end up becoming totally lost. Beware of the sapping effect of compromise. It could lead to eternal damnation.
Prayer Points:
1. Father, help me to apply my heart to godly wisdom by trusting You to fulfil Your promises in Your own way.
2. Lord, deliver me from the life of compromise and its destructive sapping effect.