Thursday, May 1, 2025
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, I suppose, Solomon
was wise. But his wives bent his heart toward idolatry. In that, I am certain, 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.” I personally think compromise is a contract that
displeases both parties. 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
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