I was reading in Chronicles the other day as King David blessed God just before he died. Though his life was far from perfect, David’s heart continued to seek God through his ups and downs. His final request included “perfect wisdom” for his son Solomon.
It almost makes me cry to think of the deep and dying hope of a father for his son that would not be realized. Solomon was a peacetime king, and his “makes sense” alliances would eventually eat his spiritual lunch.
From Solomon we see the trajectory of half-hearted devotion to God. While his father David made many mistakes, his heart always remained sensitive to his gracious God. Solomon dug a deep hole – one alliance at a time.
It is a faithful reminder to me to take care with my steps. Every choice has inevitable results. It is not so much that I want to make all perfect choices or am afraid of making wrong ones. I just want my heart to be with God every step possible. Selah!
“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.
Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as David his father had done.” – 1 Kings 11:4-6
