Inspirational Message: God Offered Solomon Forgiveness and Restoration!

With the gifts of wisdom and wealth from God, Solomon still did evil in the sight of the Lord. Let us learn how this great king needed so much forgiveness and God’s love. We can read 1 Kings to learn more about King Solomon’s human weaknesses. He was profoundly disobedient to God by his involvement with foreign women. These 700 women became wives or 300 concubines who turned his heart away from God. Solomon did evil in God’s sight by following idol gods. In his old age he was deeply attached to these women and loved them!

Did his behavior affect God’s acceptance of Solomon? God became angry because Solomon did not follow His commands. He was not completely devoted to God as his father David had been. How was Solomon punished? Did he create enemies? God repossessed Solomon’s kingdom and later gave it to a servant. Today, we too can share experiences of great loss. Can enemies cause trouble for us as they did for King Solomon? As with our problems, God can raise up an enemy to destroy our faith and love for Him. Read verses 16-25 to learn about the enemy, Hadah, an active opponent of Solomon, the king. Sometimes enemies cannot find a hiding place, but Hadah fled to Egypt where he was helped by God loved Solomon He was blessed with literary skills, allowed him to become king, granted him a wise and discerning heart, wealth and honor so that he had no equal among kings! Solomon was also told to walk in obedience to God and to keep His commands as David his father did. His reward would be a long life when we do what seems difficult, God will do what is impossible in our lives! After building a temple for God, Solomon built a palace for himself. At last, he put God first as he should have done earlier in life.

Solomon was extremely successful, but he let idol worship creep into his kingdom, foreign women turned his heart from God, his maker. He finally remembered the greatness of the God we serve. The Israelites saw Solomon’s wisdom, his daily provisions, his elaborate building designs with prayers of dedication and burnt offerings, God’s love, forgiveness and restoration made the power of God a living testimony for them and for us today!

Mrs. Gladys R. McElmore, a resident of Norfolk’s Middle Town Arch Community, is a New Journal and Guide Freelance Contributor on religion. She is a native of Essex County, Va.