1 Kings 11: Faithless in Love
"I WANT TO do God's will—if only I knew what it was," the young woman said to her pastor. "God has brought Bill and me together, and he has created a great love between us. Bill wants to marry me, but I'm not sure."
"But has Bill given himself to Jesus Christ?" her pastor probed.
"No, not yet," she hesitated. "But I think he will—perhaps after we're married . . ." Her voice trailed off under her pastor's firm gaze.
"God has already shown you his will, I think," her pastor replied. "You know Paul's writings to the Christians at Corinth: `Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.'"
God's laws may seem harsh, but they are less harsh than the results of living by our own guidelines. God seems to know what works. Solomon had occasion to discover this truth.
Warming Up to God
What effect does it have on you when spiritual values are kept separate from your everyday life?
Read 1 Kings 11. »
Discovering the Word
- In what ways did Solomon break the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me" (vv. 1-13)?
- In verse 13 God says that the consequence of Solomon's sin will be that his kingdom will be taken away. What mercy does God promise? Why?
- What indications do you see that Hadad had the potential to become a serious threat to Solomon (vv. 14-22)?
- What about Rezon (vv. 23-25)?
- If Jeroboam chose to benefit from the experience of Israel's previous two kings (David and Solomon), how would it affect his reign?
Applying the Word
- Solomon allowed his acquisition of wives to ease out his faith in God. When has your own love for a person created tensions with your faith?
- How can we balance our love for the important people in our lives with our love for God?
- Solomon's marriages to pagans testified to his lack of wholehearted commitment to God. In what area of your life do you struggle to keep your actions in line with your beliefs?
Responding in Prayer
Verse 6 characterizes Solomon's life: "So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord." Pray that your life will be characterized by faithfulness.
For Further Study
Christian Beliefs by Stephen Eyre