Desire To Live

Neh 13:26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.

There is a fascinating narrative of Solomon in 1 Kings 11:1-11 that is mind-boggling. Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel, and the author of three Scriptural books, is scolded by God for his adulterous and idolatrous lifestyle.

The cause of his fall? Foreign women. You see, Solomon was a hobbyist. He liked to collect women. The Scripture says that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. A 1000 women total! The question now must not be why he fell, but why didn't he fall a long time ago? Today, when a man even contemplates another woman, he is considered an adulterer and immoral. The qualifications of an elder is that he be a one woman man. Solomon definitely would not have qualified for the eldership of any good church these days.

Furthermore, he not only married women, but towards the latter part of his life, he also decided to give in to their pagan gods. He built pagan altars for their gods and the Scripture says that he outrightly went after them, making him a severe lawbreaker and deserving death.

How is it then that this man is spared? How is it that Nadab & Abihu are killed for creating strange fire, Uzzah is killed for touching the ark of the covenant, Ananias & Sapphira are killed for lying and here is a man who committed adultery and idolatry to the maximum extent and it seems that he was given a chance to repent (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The answer?

Covenant Love.

It says in our passage that he was 'beloved by his God'. Though he was severely punished, and his kingdom was broken, he was spared in the end to show the love of God for his elect. God has made a covenant with his children. Even if they do not always follow him rightly, he always brings them back. Those who he does not bring back, therefore, were never his children.
1 john 4:19 - We love because he first loved us. . Is your relationship with God based on a covenant or on what feels right to you? Is your love for God based on a true faith or based on your current disposition? Is your commitment, 'til death do us part', or are you around just for the better, but you leave when it gets worse?