http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2010-11,%202%20Chronicles%209&version=ESV
In 1 Kings chapter 11, we see that Solomon turns from the Lord. The Lord back in the Exodus had spoken to the people of Israel and told them the following: "You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods."
Yet, Solomon did this. The end of verse 2 says he clung to these in love. He clung, held fast to them. Instead of holding fast to the Lord, he is holding fast to 700 wives and 300 concubines.
Solomon has always been an enigma to me. He was the wisest man in the world, yet he turned from the Lord. How can this be?
I can not be certain. But, I believe Solomon turned from the Lord because he was operating in the flesh.
Romans 8:8 states, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. "
Solomon used his wisdom to further his earthly interests. Some of the marriages were for political expediency and some no doubt were for physical pleasure.
The flesh entails our whole being. It is not just related to sexual desires. When one is greedy, one is acting in the flesh. When one desires to obtain worldly goods at the expense of others, that is acting in the flesh.
So acting in the flesh does not always involve sexual desires. In Solomon's case it did, and it also included ambitious, individualistic, and material desires.
We all are fleshly in some sense. None of us is without sin. But what are we to do about this?
Romans 8:12-13 provides us the answer: "So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
Live a life that is a Spirit-filled life. A life in which one prays that the Holy Spirit will let one's love be genuine, to abhor what is evil and hold fast to what is good. (Romans 12:9)
Solomon is an excellent example to us of misusing the gifts that God gave him. Solomon did many great things, yet he sullied his witness by acting fleshly and desiring what he wanted more than what the Lord wanted.
Pray to the Lord that you might live a Spirit filled life that uses the gifts which the Lord has given you properly and faithfully.
After all, the reason we were created was, as Isaiah writes: "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Soli Deo Gloria. (To God Alone be the Glory)
Today's post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer.
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