AN IMPERFECT HEART

AN IMPERFECT HEART!

1 Kings 11:3-4

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord  his God, as was the heart of David his father.

           I’m not a math genius, but 700 and 300 equals a thousand women! Why would any man, dumb or smart, need that many women? Well, most of them were political marriages. A king wouldn’t go to war with his son-in-law would he?  In that, Solomon was wise. But his wives bent his heart toward idolatry. In that, Solomon was dumb.

           Merriam-Webster defines “compromise” as “a way of reaching agreement in which each person or group gives up something that was wanted in order to end an argument or dispute.” Dr. Charles Stanley says compromise is “to make concessions in order to gain something.” But compromise has a more sinister definition when you look at the Bible.

           In verse 4 we see that Solomon had made so many deals with enemies that “his heart was not perfect [or loyal] with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.” In verse 5 he goes after Ashtoreth. Ashtoreth was the fertility goddess consort of Molech. Ashtoreth is mentioned three times in the Scriptures (1st Kings 11:5, 11:33 and 2nd Kings 23:13).

           Compromise takes on a new dimension in our modern culture. We do not actually worship the images of idolatry but that doesn’t mean we are not idolaters. We generally idolize self. We call sin by a different name trying to rip the teeth from God’s commandments and minimize any punishment or consequence for breaking His laws. We praise tolerance and condemn those who condemn sin. We claim to worship God but our heart “is not perfect – or loyal” to Him.

1 John 1:8-9

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ps 119:2

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Dear Lord, make my heart perfect before Thee. AMEN