1 Kings 11:1-4 But long Solomon loved many strange women,….Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after other gods….And his wives turned away his heart…His wives turned away his heart.
God had blessed Solomon abundantly with great wisdom, the greatest on earth; with it He blessed him with an expanded kingdom of peace and prosperity, riches and wealth, power, and personal pleasures. We enjoy the earthly blessings that come from God’s hand. But along with worldly riches, power, and pleasure comes a great danger: the temptation to turn away from God. We can forget where it all comes from and use it for selfish pride, pleasure, and power. The world has the power to turn the heart away.
Solomon had hundreds of foreign wives who brought their false gods with them, corrupting his heart and later rending the kingdom. For the sake of David, this division did not happen in Solomon’s lifetime, but the consequences were nonetheless severe.
These things are written for our learning. Nothing good can come from turning the heart away from the Lord. We need to beware of the pull of the world, desiring to be rich, seeking worldly pleasures, striving for power. There are many worldly gods that are continually pulling us away from pure, simple, wholehearted devotion to our Savior and Lord. Believing God’s Word and knowing the dangers helps our response of love to the overwhelming love of God in Christ.