Suggested Reading: 1 Kings 9:1-9
In 1 Kings 9, Solomon had an encounter with God. Solomon had just completed the construction of the temple complex and dedicated the temple in a display of majestic splendor and overwhelming opulence. Thousands and thousands of animals were sacrificed in worship. The presence of the Lord came down so powerfully that the priests were unable to minister and perform their tasks. The day was a day of triumph and victory as God's promises to David had been fulfilled and the people were able to bask in the palpable presence of God.
When all of the celebrations and festivities were done, God appeared to Solomon by himself. God acknowledged the prayers that had been prayed in dedication of the temple and then God gave Solomon a warning: "If you go and worship other gods, then I will uproot the people of Israel from this land I have given them. I will reject this temple that I have set apart to honor my name" (1 Kings 9:6-7, NLT).
By all accounts, Solomon heeded God's warning for years. He did some things that were probably unwise for the wisest man in history (like marry 700 women and have three hundred concubines) but he heeded God's warning. For a while. But when Solomon was old, and when he reaped the consequences of loving so many women, he apparently decided that worshipping more than one God was not any more dangerous than having more than one wife, and his wives led him to worship other gods. Solomon, at the height of his wealth and splendor, after he had accomplished spectacular feats, forgot the warning God had given him.
How often do we forget the warnings we have been given when things seem to be going well for us? How often do we decide that we are smart enough, or stable enough, or cautious enough, or just good enough that this particular rule really shouldn't apply to us? How often do we decide that we have been good enough for so long that we deserve to do what we want, even if it is wrong? About as often as we forget that there will be consequences for our actions and that God's warnings are for our good.
What warnings have you been ignoring lately? What rules have you decided shouldn't really apply to you? You might want to take a little time to think about the potential consequences and remember that God's commands are for our own good. You might save yourself a lot of trouble down the road.
When all of the celebrations and festivities were done, God appeared to Solomon by himself. God acknowledged the prayers that had been prayed in dedication of the temple and then God gave Solomon a warning: "If you go and worship other gods, then I will uproot the people of Israel from this land I have given them. I will reject this temple that I have set apart to honor my name" (1 Kings 9:6-7, NLT).
By all accounts, Solomon heeded God's warning for years. He did some things that were probably unwise for the wisest man in history (like marry 700 women and have three hundred concubines) but he heeded God's warning. For a while. But when Solomon was old, and when he reaped the consequences of loving so many women, he apparently decided that worshipping more than one God was not any more dangerous than having more than one wife, and his wives led him to worship other gods. Solomon, at the height of his wealth and splendor, after he had accomplished spectacular feats, forgot the warning God had given him.
How often do we forget the warnings we have been given when things seem to be going well for us? How often do we decide that we are smart enough, or stable enough, or cautious enough, or just good enough that this particular rule really shouldn't apply to us? How often do we decide that we have been good enough for so long that we deserve to do what we want, even if it is wrong? About as often as we forget that there will be consequences for our actions and that God's warnings are for our good.
What warnings have you been ignoring lately? What rules have you decided shouldn't really apply to you? You might want to take a little time to think about the potential consequences and remember that God's commands are for our own good. You might save yourself a lot of trouble down the road.
