Solomon’s Legacy

Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. (1 Kings 11:11-12)

Solomon is known as the wisest king of all time, but his story took a disturbing turn when he entered into relationships with women who didn’t have a relationship with God.

When Solomon took wives of false religions and allowed them to continue to practice their idol worship and make their sacrifices, he went against God’s way. He followed his flesh and did not consult God about his relationships. Marriage is a covenant, a divine relationship with the person which unites husband and wife. Therefore, when Solomon’s wives worshipped false gods, so did a part of Solomon.

Solomon exchanged the wisdom of God for earthly, natural knowledge that breached God’s covenants and law. The consequence for Solomon’s sin was that his kingdom, that was once united, would one day face the fracture of division.

Solomon must not have understood the gravity of his choices. His sin would affect his son, who would inherit his throne as well as the entire nation! The penalty for Solomon’s relationships with women outside of covenant with God was the separation of his kingdom.

The repercussions of Solomon's choices reverberate through Israel's history, full of narratives of good and bad kings, triumphs, tribulations, and wars. Instead of the legacy of wisdom, Solomon left a legacy of division.

Who are you connected to? What friendships and relationships are causing you to get closer to God and which are causing you to draw away from His plan and pursue His presence? Evaluate the relationships in your life and choose only to be around those who push you toward Him.