A Discerning Heart Led Astray

Scripture — 1 Kings 11:1-4, 9-10 (NRSV)

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 Israelites, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you; for they will surely incline your heart to follow their gods”; Solomon clung to these in love. Among his wives were seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. . . .
Then the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this matter, that he should not follow other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD commanded.

Devotion

Do you remember watching the movie Titanic? The sets are glorious. The people are stunning in their gaudy finery. The buzz over the amazing ship is contagious. Oh, everyone is sure that things are going to be fantastic on the Titanic’s maiden voyage!

That’s true, of course, unless you know what happened to the real Titanic. I know about that, not only from history, but also from the fact that the major library at Harvard was named in honor of a young scion who died on the Titanic. The mother of Harry Elkins Widener funded the library where I spent thousands of hours.

So, when watching the first part of the film Titanic, I couldn’t enjoy all the luxury, excitement, and romance. Why? Because I knew how the story was going to end, with destruction and death. Thus, I watched the film with mixed feelings.

I feel similarly when reading Solomon’s story in 1 Kings. It starts off so well, with Solomon given a wise, discerning heart. Right from the beginning, he demonstrates his superior wisdom, and with that wisdom come multiple blessings both for Solomon and Israel. Perhaps most importantly, Solomon builds a marvelous temple in Jerusalem, “the house of the LORD” (9:1).

God reveals that God’s own heart will be there forever as well as God’s name (9:3). God adds a special promise for Solomon, “As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever” (9:4-5). But with this promise is also a warning: “If you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut Israel off from the land that I have given them; and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight; and Israel will become a proverb and a taunt among all peoples” (9:6-7).

Following the construction of the temple, Solomon appeared to flourish: “Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. The whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind” (10:23-24). But that’s not the end of the story, unfortunately. In chapter 11, we learn that Solomon loved many “foreign women,” even entering into marriage with hundreds of them, which was contrary to God’s law. These wives “turned away [Solomon’s] heart after other gods; and his heart was not true to the LORD his God” (11:4). For this reason, “the LORD was angry with Solomon” (11:9). The full kingdom of Israel would not be passed on to his son, and, in time, the temple would be destroyed (11:11; 9:7).

As I read this story, I almost want to scream, “Why, Solomon, did you do these things? You were the wisest person on earth, yet you acted in such an extremely foolish way. And not just foolish, but contrary to what God had so clearly asked of you. Why?” But then I remember that I’ve done plenty of foolish and sinful things in my life, so I mellow out just a bit. Moreover, I notice that Scripture helps to answer my “Why?” question. In spite of his extraordinary wisdom, Solomon repeatedly chose to do what God had forbidden (11:11). Disobedience led him down a fateful path. Moreover, he allowed his love for his many wives to take his heart away from God and toward the worship of foreign gods.

Strong romantic or erotic desires often lead our hearts away from the Lord. Remember, that was the case of Solomon’s father, David, who lusted after a woman named Bathsheba, using his power to take advantage of her sexually and then kill her husband so he could marry her. David and Bathsheba were, in fact, Solomon’s parents (2 Sam 12:24).

Too many times in my life, I have learned that someone for whom I had great respect chose to be unfaithful in their marriage. Some of these people I knew well and held in the highest esteem. When I learned of their adultery, I was shocked and saddened, sometimes also angry. “How could you do such a thing?” I wondered. “How could you so dishonor your spouse, your children, your church, and your Lord?” Answers differ widely, of course. But often, it turns out that these people, rather like Solomon, let their fleshly loves overwhelm their godly wisdom.

When someone I admire acts foolishly and wrongly, I also think, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” I know all too well my own tendency to act foolishly and wrongly. And I know how desperately I need God’s grace in my life. Seeing the mistakes of others encourages me to seek the Lord more faithfully and consistently.

I let what another person did serve as a warning to me. If Solomon, for all of his wisdom, could fail so miserably in life, then so can I. Watching his example, I realize how my sinful desires could easily lead my heart away from the Lord. What should I do? I can cry out to God for help and protection. I can turn to trusted friends or advisors to help me live in a way that honors the Lord. I can ask God to forgive me and renew me. I can surrender to God all that I am.

That last part isn’t easy, at least not for me. But I have found two helpful prayers of St. Ignatius, the Preparatory Prayer and the Suscipe (the Latin word meaning “take”). I will use both of these prayers below to conclude this devotion.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Solomon Centralizes the Rule of the Kingdom (1 Kings 9-11).