1King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
The wisest man who ever lived!!! I was wondering how could he have been soooo stupid? Perhaps this could be attributed to lies he told himself? That it was alright? Still, how could he have justified such actions? A direct disregard of God's clear command.
I better take note of this - that if the wisest man who ever lived could fall for sin like this, how much more someone like me? I must continue to pull out tempatation triggers and put in holiness habits to avoid this.
14 Then the Lord raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.
23 And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah.
What struck me about these 2 verses is that it was God who raised up adversaries against Solomon!!! Why? As a punishment? Perhaps it was more as an act to discipline him. In my life, I can think of "adversaries" whom God raised up against me - and while it was not pleasant, it was used to make me into a better person.
