Solomon’s collection of 700 royal wives and 300 concubines represents more than a weakness – it’s a serious problem.

In ancient times, it was not uncommon for rulers to make marriage alliances with other nations, taking prominent royal princesses as their wives to seal the deal. Despite God forbidding the Israelites from marrying the foreigners amongst them, and specifically forbidding rulers from marrying many wives, King David, Solomon and Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, all made these political marriages.

However, for Solomon it went much further. We are told that Solomon “loved many foreign women” and “held fast to them in love”. This was more than a series of marriages of convenience. Solomon desired one woman after another and was essentially out of control.

As we have seen all along, the writer of Kings is extremely keen to make sure that his readers understand the simple equation: obedience to God brings abundant life, but rejecting God brings disaster.

Sure enough, just as the Lord had warned, Solomon’s desire for women led him into other dangerous desires, until he was embracing their religious practices and building altars and high places for their gods. The result was that the Lord decided to take Israel away from Solomon’s line.

One thing leads to another. If we indulge one weakness, we will soon uncover more. We many not always fully understand the commands of the Lord, and we may find that keeping them makes us out of step with the people around us, but the Lord knows what is good for his people. May we submit to him so that his power can be made perfect in our weakness.

next devotional >>

 

 

NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH