Solomon's Heart Turns Away
[ READ ] 1 Kings 11:1–13
Solomon Turns from the Lord
1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.
The Lord Raises Adversaries
9 And 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 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. 11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.”
1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.
The Lord Raises Adversaries
9 And 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 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. 11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.”
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women.”
That word loved catches my attention.
Back in chapter 3, we read that Solomon loved the Lord. Now we hear about these other loves, and we watch where they lead him. The same man who asked God for a listening heart is holding tightly to relationships God warned would turn his heart away.
It makes me wonder: What do we expect love to excuse?
But I love them. But this makes me happy. But I can’t imagine my life without it.
I’ve felt the pull of that kind of reasoning. When we want something badly enough, we can find ways to make it seem okay. We can even stop asking God about it because we’re afraid of what He might say.
The concern here is that these women worshiped other gods. Solomon knew the warning. Still, he clung to them. He was responsible for what he chose to do with his love.
What do we love so much that we’ve stopped asking where it’s taking us? Something we’ve held so tightly that surrender feels impossible.
We can bring that honestly to Jesus. He knows how divided our hearts can be, and He gave Himself for us. His grace gives us courage to name what we’re holding onto and take a step toward faithfulness.
Maybe today’s prayer is simple:
Lord, help me hear You even about the things I love.
- David Bempong
That word loved catches my attention.
Back in chapter 3, we read that Solomon loved the Lord. Now we hear about these other loves, and we watch where they lead him. The same man who asked God for a listening heart is holding tightly to relationships God warned would turn his heart away.
It makes me wonder: What do we expect love to excuse?
But I love them. But this makes me happy. But I can’t imagine my life without it.
I’ve felt the pull of that kind of reasoning. When we want something badly enough, we can find ways to make it seem okay. We can even stop asking God about it because we’re afraid of what He might say.
The concern here is that these women worshiped other gods. Solomon knew the warning. Still, he clung to them. He was responsible for what he chose to do with his love.
What do we love so much that we’ve stopped asking where it’s taking us? Something we’ve held so tightly that surrender feels impossible.
We can bring that honestly to Jesus. He knows how divided our hearts can be, and He gave Himself for us. His grace gives us courage to name what we’re holding onto and take a step toward faithfulness.
Maybe today’s prayer is simple:
Lord, help me hear You even about the things I love.
- David Bempong
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What do verses 1–8 reveal about how Solomon’s loves shaped his choices and his worship?
+ Why is God angry with Solomon in verses 9–13? How does His response balance judgment with faithfulness to His promises?
+ What do verses 1–8 reveal about how Solomon’s loves shaped his choices and his worship?
+ Why is God angry with Solomon in verses 9–13? How does His response balance judgment with faithfulness to His promises?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What are you holding onto so tightly that you’ve become reluctant to hear what God might say about it?
+ Where have you used your feelings to justify a choice? What would one step of faithfulness look like today?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What are you holding onto so tightly that you’ve become reluctant to hear what God might say about it?
+ Where have you used your feelings to justify a choice? What would one step of faithfulness look like today?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, You know what I love and what I’m afraid to lose. Help me recognize where my desires are leading me away from You. Thank You for Your grace through Jesus, which gives me courage to be honest. Give me a listening heart and help me follow You, especially where surrender feels hardest. Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Father, You know what I love and what I’m afraid to lose. Help me recognize where my desires are leading me away from You. Thank You for Your grace through Jesus, which gives me courage to be honest. Give me a listening heart and help me follow You, especially where surrender feels hardest. Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ In a discipling conversation this week, ask: How do you recognize when something you love is beginning to take God’s place in your life?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ In a discipling conversation this week, ask: How do you recognize when something you love is beginning to take God’s place in your life?
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