2 Chronicles 8 “Solomon Turns From
God”
Then
Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house,
which he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house
of David king of Israel, because the places are holy where the ark of the Lord
has entered.” (v.11)
We are
told in 1 Kings chapter 11 that Solomon loved many foreign women, and as we
see here, the Pharaoh’s daughter was one of them. In fact, Solomon had, “seven
hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines” (1 Kings 11:3). It was
his lust for foreign women that turned his heart away from the Lord, for they
turned his heart toward other gods (1 Kings 11:4), “Ashtoreth the goddess of
the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites” (1 Kings
11:5).
Solomon
possessed everything the world had to offer, but in the end his worldly
treasures possessed him. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures
on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Today’s
text is proof of not only where Solomon's heart was, but that he knew how grievous his sin was as well. And instead of
repenting, he built a house for the Pharaoh’s daughter outside the city of
David – a place for their cohabitation away from any reminders of God. This eventually
led to his progressive downward spiral and the turning of his heart to other gods.
Today,
many people make this same mistake, thinking they can live two lives - one foot
in the world and one foot in the church, and all will be well, not so. One can
not serve two masters. Therefore, keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
The Truth
Jesus
answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the
Lord your God and serve him only.” (Luke 4:8)
