Tiny Devotional for Monday, 5-31-2021

A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, today we remember.

Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
Proverbs 31:3, NASB

That's CONCUBINES. Not PORCUPINES

The title of this post might be “The Best Advice Ever Ignored.” Or if not ignored, at least not followed.

The sting in this verse is that it specifically addresses the cause of Solomon’s fall. I Kings 11 says that when he was old, his wives turned his heart away from following the Lord. I want to point out a couple of things.

First, although Solomon entered into his marriages for political purposes, the Bible explicitly states that he loved his wives. Love is good, right?
Second, although his kingdom was benefited in the short term, after Solomon died, it all vanished. Why?

We use a phrase today: “the smartest guy in the room.” That’s ALWAYS going to be Solomon.
He was smart enough to get the best craftsmen,  using the best materials, to build the Temple.
Rulers came from everywhere to receive his wisdom.
He formed alliances; established trade routes; he had the Ark of the Covenant brought into the Temple.

What he didn’t have was: 

A prophet. 

His father David, his mother Bathsheba, and those who came after him heard from prophets. 

But not Solomon.
And I think that’s why he had 700 wives, and 300 concubines, whom he clung to in love; and who turned his heart away from the Lord. 
He had no one to tell him “NO!”

The smartest guy in the room ALWAYS is going to need someone who can say “Stop,” because even genius needs accountability. Evidently, love does as well.  


Peace be on your household.



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