One of the most shocking Scriptures in the Bible is also one of the saddest. It is about Solomon’s apostasy in his latter years:
As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. (1 Ki 11:4)
The fall of King Solomon was stunning. Unlike others who turned away from God, his wasn’t over money or power. Solomon’s fall came through his pagan wives and their idolatrous influences on his heart. The Bible says Solomon held fast to them in love. (1 Ki 11:2). That was his weakness. He clung to them and sought their loving approval over God’s. He did good in their eyes, but evil in God’s eyes to the detriment of his SOUL.
Some observers might have thought Solomon had “marriages made in heaven,” because of their mutual love and affection, but in reality they were “marriages made in hell.” His love relationships cost him his relationship with God. What an important message for Christian singles to ponder. The truth is, the devil will tempt with money, power, etc, and even a wonderful love relationship, which is forbidden by God, and all to get your SOUL. The devil is thinking about your eternity, but wants us all to focus only on this life and its importance. Solomon changed spiritually because of love from pagans. The adverse effects that had on him are chilling:
He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD. (1 Ki 11:5,6)
Lonely people seem more susceptible to this same type of forbidden love that Solomon clung to. That means Christian singles, especially, better take warning. This life is a long test. It wasn’t until Solomon was in his last years before he died spiritually and lost his salvation. He served God faithfully for decades before he fell away. The Bible says we must endure to the end to be saved (Mt. 10:22; Heb. 3:14; etc.). What happened to Solomon also reflects the intensity of this spiritual warfare. Take warning and remain true to God no matter what. Keep yourself pure (1 Tim. 5:22).
