Small Allowances - King Solomon

Along The Way – Solomon’s Small Allowances?

(Written by Kevin A. Hall   06.20.17)

At the onset of King Solomon’s reign we notice three very important factors that defined the rest of Solomon’s life: (1) Solomon loved the Lord; (2) Solomon marries the daughter of Pharaoh (a proselyte) and (3) Solomon sacrificed and burnt incense on the high places (1 Kings 3:1-3). Yet, we must not overlook items 2 & 3.  Unlike his brother Adonijah or even Absalom, Solomon was peaceful and very religious. He was committed to walking in the footsteps of his father David (1 Kings 3:3), but unlike his father, he allowed and practiced the worship of Yahweh in the high places. Although these high places were “consecrated to the worship of Yahweh” (Logos), they were prohibited by the Law (Lev. 17:3). The temple had not yet been built, but the tent (in which David worshipped) was available.  Smith says “God winked at this imperfection” (420). Solomon participated in this type of worship. David did not.

 While the marriage was not unlawful, would he have been a “stronger man” had he not married a foreign woman? These two acts were not unlawful, but long term, they were not helpful. Not because God is silent on an issue does it mean it is beneficial or right for the believer. One would think God sanctioned worship at the high places as he accepted Solomon’s sacrifices (2 Chron. 1:3), but we still cannot overlook Solomon’s allowances. Small allowances can be damaging to our relationship with God. As believers, we should be mindful of these “simple allowances”.  Looking over own life, the many “simple allowances” I’ve entertained over the years, it begs me to consider how different my own life would be if I had made different choices. Ok, so Solomon made a strategic choice – Peace for the kingdom; make an alliance with Pharaoh. Beneficial, right?  He later married countless foreign wives who led his heart astray from God.

 Solomon's Foreign Wives

He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites      (1 Kings 11:3-5)

The People Worship Other gods

The people believed that worshipping at high places brought them closer to their deity (this is what the “surrounding pagan nations” believed). This was anti-Jewish, for they knew their God was omnipresent. But it sounds good, it sounds harmless…right?

The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the Lord their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city… and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did which the Lord had carried away to exile before them; and they did evil things provoking the Lord (2 Kings 17: 9,11)

Consider this my friends – God loved Solomon. He equipped him to lead His people, granting him the gift of discernment. There will never be another wise man like Solomon …

Behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you (1 Kings 3:12)

Yet, even with all his wisdom, these two allowances were the beginning of a downward spiral into spiritual adultery for the king and his people. So what hope do we have if Solomon could not remain faithful with all his wisdom? Take courage… Life is a journey, filled with hills, valleys, twists, turns and smooth paths. Place your trust in the Lord. The Spirit of God is our guide, counselor, comforter and provider. At the same time, we have an active part to play in this faith walk. We are responsible for the “allowances” presented on this walk. Could this man of great wisdom allowed his heart to become infected? Is this what happens when we make allowances? First, allowances. Then the heart becomes infected. Then there's a bending, even ignoring of God's laws. My Bible notes describes this position well: " When we close our hearts to God, His power and presence soon leave us" (561). Is this why a man of great wisdom could finish his life in a sad state? Imagine with me as Solomon said ""Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 1). Take courage. The Apostle Paul instructs us to “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14).

There it is – Make No Allowances!!   Keep the end in mind.

References:

Smith, J. The History of Israel. Joplin, MO: College Press (1995)

LOGOS: Commentary on the Old Testament (JFB)

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