Luke 2:21-40; Ephesians 4:1-16; Psalm 119:49-56; 1 Kings 11: I don’t know about you but I always get to this point in Solomon’s story and wish I had left him at the opening of the temple. That was such a high mark in his life. He was seeking to please God only and Israel was prospering because of his obedience. Then we get to today’s reading and my heart is breaking because he allowed the gods of the women he loved to lead him astray. I am sure it was innocent at first. He was just trying to make them happy. He started his disobedience when he married multiple women from foreign countries. God had told him not to. The he tried to please them by building altars to their gods. It was just another step away until he was the one worshiping with them at pagan altars.
Maybe my great frustration is because I know that I too can be easily led astray. It is just a one step at a time and one step away process and then we find ourselves far away from God and doing what seems right in our own eyes instead of walking in obedience to God. The end result is that it hurts us and others. Solomon started Israel down a path that would lead far from God. The word to us is check your steps. Are they leading you closer to God or farther away. Follow His commands and find life and freedom. What a wonderful reminder to me.