Scripture
King Solomon loved many women besides Pharaoh’s daughter. They were from other lands. They were Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.
~1 Kings 11:1
Quote
Disappointment is the price we pay for expecting too much out of others.
~Ya’akov
Who was the worse king in Israel’s history: both kingdoms? Some would say Manasseh with Ahaz and Ahab getting honorable mentions. What if we phase the question like this: who was the most disappointing king in Israel’s history. I think Solomon is the correct answer. He had so much potential and ability. He inherited a strong and healthy kingdom from his father. He was mentored by Israel’s greatest king and the list goes on. Although Solomon was only the fourth king; his folly marked the beginning of the end. Israel never recovered from the atrocious things Solomon did in the later part of his reign. When I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, all the bible stories about Solomon were good. They were about his wisdom and his wealth. I was well into my minstry before I learned how wicked Solomon became in the later part of his life. He was wise in his youth and wicked in his old age. What a waste. It is one of the most heart breaking stories in the bible.
There is a long list of bad things Solomon did but I Kings 11:1 sums it up. He had a weakness for women. He married Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They all have some thing in common, they were heathens. The Moabites and Ammonites {descendants of Lot} were as wicked as the Sidonians {Jezebel’s nation}. Their pagan worship was abhorrent to God. God hated the worship of Molech and Chemosh. Not only did they glorify unrestrained sex, they mixed human sacrifice with their orgies. Both sacrificed babies and children by throwing them into the altar fires. Solomon did not just marry these pagans, he built temples to these detestable pagan gods in Jerusalem and many believe he took part in their worship. Solomon’s folly and wickedness was the beginning of the end. Pagan worship would ultimately bring the entire nation down. I almost cried when I read I Kings 11 yesterday. How could a man with some much promise and potential turn out to be such a huge disappointment? I Kings 11:11 gives us the answer…So the LORD said to Solomon, “You have chosen not to keep my covenant. You have decided not to obey my rules. I commanded you to do what I told you. But you did not do it. So you can be absolutely sure I will tear the kingdom away from you.”
I have a lot to be thankful for and I am thankful but I can misplace things faster and more often than anyone I know. You would not believe how much time I waste looking for something that I just used a few minutes ago. I told June the other day, “Some one had carried off my 8 foot step ladder but I’m afraid to send out a text. I sure as I do, I will find it and it will be where I used it last.” Before the week was over she asked me one night: “Is your ladder blue?” I said, “Yes, it is.” She said, “It is in the storage building where you used it putting up Christmas decorations.” Suddenly, it all came back and I remembered using it. Yesterday I spent hours looking for a piece of pipe to finish my drain. Last night I found it on my desk.
Unless Joe David changes his plans, I will be preaching tonight [4/12/17]. He is going to Montgomery to meet with Arthur and do the prayer in the Senate Thursday morning. LORD willing we will be in Malachi and talking about RELATIONSHIPS.