No compromise

Over the years, God had made his rules clear to the Israelites. Two of the most basic rules were about marrying foreign women and worshipping other gods.

Here, Solomon goes on to break both of these laws when he appears to be thinking not with his head, but another part of his anatomy.

“You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.”  1 Kings 11:2

Solomon does not listen. He believes that he knows best.

He has seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines from among the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.

And sure enough, these women lead him astray.

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 Kings 11:4

We see it all the time, don’t we? A friend falls in love and soon starts to make the most ridiculous decisions. A brother falls for a married woman and their relationship causes all sorts of damage and heartache. A father meets a new partner and begins to act completely out of character. A celebrity appears to lose their mind and risk all that they have worked for for the sake of love. These stories are all over the media every day.

Love is powerful and love is often blind. Desire clouds your judgement and blinds you to the consequences.

And this isn’t just the men, of course. Women are open to being led astray too.

Anyway, back to Solomon –

He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.

On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.  1 Kings 11:5-7

Ashtoreth was a goddess of fertility. Molek was a god who demanded child sacrifice. This is serious stuff. Solomon is compromising the identity of the people of Israel as followers of the one true God.

Note these phrases – Solomon did not follow the Lord completely. His heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God.

It’s all about compromise.

We should never be expected to compromise our faith and our values and behaviour for anyone. No one should ask that of us. No one should, expect that of us.

No one – not a partner, a friend, a relative……

‘I’ll leave you if you don’t…….’

‘I won’t be your friend any more unless you……’

‘I won’t speak to you any more if you………’

This kind of manipulative behaviour is obvious among our children – on the school bus or via text….. – but how often are we subject to it as adults (maybe it is more subtle that this) without even noticing.

We all know charismatic people who we love being around. We want to be part of their group. We want them to notice us and like us. We alter our behaviour little by little as they flatter us and make us feel good about ourselves…..so that when they ask us to compromise our integrity in some way, we find it almost impossible to think straight and stand up for the right thing.

We need to follow the Lord completely. Our hearts need to be fully devoted to God.

No compromise.

When I was a student, I had a Christian boyfriend (a grown up with a house and job and car and everything) who wooed me with flowers and letters and who I fell head over heels in love with. When he split up with me, I was devastated. And his reason? I was getting in the way of this relationship with God apparently. He actually described me as a ball and chain, holding him back in his mission. He decided God wanted him to be single. You can’t really argue with that, can you? Except that within a few months, he was madly in love with someone else and seemed to have forgotten all about remaining single!

Then there was another Christian lad – one of the key figures in the Christian Union – a really charismatic personality – who I was completely crazy about. He took notice of me on one occasion, took me out for a ride on his motorbike, took me back to his room, persuaded me to do things I really did not want to do, and then sent me away saying ‘it was just a one night stand’. I fell for his charms. In the moment, I was prepared to do anything to make him like me. I guess he knew that. I’m hoping that was just an aberration on his part – that he didn’t treat other girls like that; that his desires had blinded him and led him astray……that he would regret it (although he never ever said sorry or spoke of it again….)

And then there was Andy – who loved me and cared for me and has continued to love me and care for me. Who showed me that relationships do not have to be that way. Who has stood by me and stayed with me. Who has allowed me to walk my own faith journey in my own way as he has walked his.

Relationships are a minefield, but that doesn’t mean we should avoid them all together. Many are good and healthy and allow us to explore love and offer us the opportunity to love and be loved.

However….it’s hard to keep a level head, I know, when attraction is strong and your whole body is crying out and your values seem to fade into insignificance. It’s hard to stay true to what you believe.

No compromise. That’s what we need to remember. No compromise of our integrity and our relationship with God – whether that is with a friend, a relative or a partner……

Because look at where compromise gets Solomon – God is angry, very angry –

“Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” 1 Kings 11:11-13

This is the beginning of the end for Solomon.

God starts to raise up adversaries against Solomon – strong and powerful adversaries…..Hadad the Edomite and Rezon son of Eliada. And rebels from among his own people like Jeroboam son of Nebat (who Ahijah the prophet tells will take control of ten of the tribes of Israel, according to the Lord’s plans…). And the same rules apply to him. God’s rules will never change. No compromise, remember…..-

If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you.  1 Kings 11:38

And that’s it for Solomon. That’s how it all ends. With his kingdom on the verge of being divided up and torn apart.

All because of his compromise.

All because he did not trust and obey.

Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.  1 Kings 11:42-43