March 3, 2016 Year C
1 Kings 11:1-13
We have many stories of people who have veered away from the path that was chosen for them. In many of these classic tragedies, the hero sets off on a course that will lead to success against a foe, only to be sidetracked. The hero takes a detour that distracts them from their real purpose. Some heroes recover, but many do not.
Here we have the story of a hero. Solomon was a man who, when we became king, asked God for wisdom instead of wealth and worldly authority. God gave Solomon all three. As time went by, Solomon has been distracted by the love of different foreign women (1 Kings 11:1-2). These women turned Solomon’s heart from God (1 Kings 11:3).
The story lists a variety of false religions that Solomon started to engage himself (1 Kings 11:4-8). Solomon engaged in these false religions and turned his heart from God (1 Kings 11:9-10). The anger that God expressed was a sense of disappointment (1 Kings 11:9). This unfaithfulness was a direct contradiction to God’s covenant (1 Kings 11:11). As a result, there were consequences – loss of the kingdom of God (1 Kings 11:11-13).
Although God was clear in giving consequences, He still was saddened from Solomon’s change of heart (1 Kings 11:9). Even though God appeared to Solomon twice, to draw him back to Himself, Solomon drifted away (1 Kings 11:9).
It’s a sad story for us when we drift into unfaithfulness. God will come and warn us. He will try to help us return. But we can only turn from unfaithfulness when our hearts turn back to God.
Prayer: God, please help me stay true to You. Remind of Your love, and that another love will not satisfy me.
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