IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

A Heart Turned Away from the Lord

Date: Dec. 5, 2024

Passage

1 Kings 11:1-13 (ESV)

Now 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 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. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 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 wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 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. 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. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.

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.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 11:9

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

Solomon accomplished everything he set his heart to do, and he did many good things. But he crossed the line when it came to marrying foreign wives. Solomon married 700 wives of royal birth in addition to having 300 concubines. He used his power to marry or possess any woman he desired. Instead of having a shepherd heart for foreigners, Solomon used them for his own pleasure and enslaved others (9:21). Solomon’s heart was led away from God and towards the lusts of more power, riches, and pleasure, and he built altars to their detestable gods.

Because of Solomon’s idolatry, the glory and splendor of his kingdom would be a fleeting memory, soon to be torn away. Solomon’s life and legacy are forever tainted with his lack of restraint, lack of repentance, and lack of real wisdom to bring God’s shepherd heart to the whole world. What if things were to be different? What if someone were to come to finally bring God’s kingdom on earth?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my sins, and thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to embody your love and bring your kingdom to earth.

One Word: Love God, not idols

Daily Bread

Paul’s Dangerous Road to Rome

Acts 23:12-35

Key Verse: 23:29

I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

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