So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done. I Kings 11:6 (I Kings 9-11, II Chronicles 7-9)
This was Israel’s golden age. David built the kingdom, Solomon built the Temple and Israel was the most powerful nation on earth. Outside of Israel, Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey, Greek history begins. Egypt, Assyria and Babylon were weak. Everything was headed in the right direction. God appeared to Solomon twice and in addition, there was The Law. God is always very clear about right and wrong. The gray areas we struggle with are not a vagary of God.
The demand was simple: Have NO OTHER god’s before Me! Solomon could argue they weren’t his, but those of his wives, but they became his by association. No amount of wisdom can exonerate sin, only humble confession on man’s part and grace and mercy on God’s part can do that. David repented, Solomon did not. An end of peace and prosperity was the result.
There is no manipulation of sin and grace. You can’t outsmart your Creator, nor can you find redemption in any act of man. Yes, God did an amazing thing when He created you, but you have a free will that can destroy. The Throne of The One True God is where the action is. In feast or famine, all your needs will be met because He’s THAT God………The God!
Love,
Gretchen