Is Solomon’s story hard for you to read?
For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 11:4
Author God,
May we learn from Solomon:
You,the all-powerful King of the Universe,
offered Solomon anything he asked for:
“Ask what I shall give you.”
And Solomon, loving you, honoring you,
humbly asked for “an understanding mind to govern my people” (1 Kings 3:5, 9).
Solomon does show this wisdom for awhile,
and he gets busy working to build you a temple.
But then some cracks in his foundation become fissures,
and before we know it,
he has married 700 women
who lead him to worship other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8).
Lord, we want to cry out,
“How could he,”
but we know the truth,
that whether it is work or wealth or women or wine
or families or football or fashionable things—
we can take any good gift you give us
and make it into a god we worship more than you.
Merciful God,
we pray, show us the things that block us
from loving you
and following you
and serving you
and enjoying you.
Thank you for giving us rest in Jesus. May we return to him today.
In Jesus’ kingly name. Amen.
Read 1 Kings 11.
