n’s course brought its sure penalty. His separation from God through
communication with idolaters was his ruin. As he cast off his allegiance to
God, he lost the mastery of himself. His moral efficiency was gone. His fine
sensibilities became blunted, his conscience seared. He who in his early reign
had displayed so much wisdom and sympathy in restoring a helpless babe to its
unfortunate mother (see 1 Kings 3:16-28), fell so low as to consent to the erection
of an idol to whom living children were offered as sacrifices. He who in his youth
was endowed with discretion and understanding, and who in his strong manhood
had been inspired to write, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but
the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12), in later years departed
so far
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from purity as to countenance licentious, revolting rites connected with the
worship of Chemosh and Ashtoreth. He who at the dedication of the temple
had said to his people, “Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our
God” (1 Kings 8:61), became himself an offender, in heart and life denying his
own words. He mistook license for liberty. He tried—but at what cost!—to unite
light with darkness, good with evil, purity with impurity, Christ with Belial.
From being one of the greatest kings that ever wielded a scepter, Solomon
became a profligate, the tool and slave of others. His character, once noble
and manly, became enervated and effeminate. His faith in the living God was
supplanted by atheistic doubts. Unbelief marred his happiness, weakened his
principles, and degraded his life. The justice and magnanimity of his early reign
were changed to despotism and tyranny. Poor, frail human nature! God can do
little for men who lose their sense of dependence upon him.
During these years of apostasy, the spiritual decline of Israel progressed
steadily. How could it be otherwise when their king had united his interests
with satanic agencies? Through these agencies the enemy worked to confuse the
minds of the Israelites in regard to true and false worship, and they became an
easy prey. Commerce with other nations brought them into intimate contact with
those who had no love for God, and their own love for him was greatly lessened.
Their keen sense of the high, holy character of God was deadened. Refusing to
follow in the path of
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obedience, they transferred their allegiance to the enemy of righteousness. It
came to be a common practice to intermarry with idolaters, and the Israelites
rapidly lost their abhorrence of idol worship. Polygamy was countenanced.
Idolatrous mothers brought their children up to observe heathen rites. In the lives
of some, the pure religious service instituted by God was replaced by idolatry of
the darkest hue.
Christians are to keep themselves distinct and separate from the world, its
spirit, and its influences. God is fully able to keep us in the world, but we are not
to be of the world. His love is not uncertain and fluctuating. Ever He watches
over his children with a care that is measureless. But He requires undivided
allegiance. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and
love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24.
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
Solomon was endued with wonderful wisdom, but the world drew him away
from God. Men today are no stronger than he; they are as prone to yield to the
influences that caused his downfall. As God warned Solomon of his danger, so
today He warns his children not to imperil t
