Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 10-11; 2 Chronicles 9.
Solomon, the great and wise king, disregarded the warnings given in the Law and allowed the evil influence of others to destroy his relationship with God.
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, ‘You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.’ Solomon held fast to these in love. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been” (1 Kings 11:1-4).
This unfaithfulness to God did not only affect Solomon’s spiritual well-being, but it caused God to take the kingdom from him and his descendants.
“So the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant” (1 Kings 11:11).
When Solomon remembered God, he and the kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity. After he turned from God, trouble came.
Solomon’s example reminds us of the importance of avoiding evil companions. This warning is repeated in the New Testament.
“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals‘” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Be careful who you choose as your companions. Do not allow the influence of ungodly people to turn you away from God.
Tomorrow’s reading: Proverbs 30-31
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
