Solomon Turns Away From YAHWEH

"In Solomon's old age, his wives led him astray to serve other gods and, unlike his father David, his heart was no longer wholly given to YAHWEH his GOD.  For he served Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the idol of the Ammonites.  He did what displeased YAHWEH and, unlike his father David, was unfaithful to HIM.  Solomon even built a high place for Chemosh, the idol of Moab, on the mountain east of Jerusalem and also for Molech, the idol of the Ammonites.  He did the same for all his foreign wives who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

YAHWEH became angry with Solomon  because his heart had turned away from YAHWEH, the God of Israel.  YAHWEH appeared to him twice and commanded him not to follow other gods.  But he did not obey YAHWEH's command.  Therefore, YAHWEH said to Solomon, 'Since this has been your choice and you have kept neither MY Covenant nor the statutes I commanded you, I will take the kingdom from you and give it to your servant.  Nevertheless, I will not do this during your lifetime for the sake of your father David; I will take it from your son.  But I will not take it all; I will reserve one tribe for your son for the sake of David MY servant, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen,'" - 1 Kings 11:4-13 

(Scripture is not scandalized at Solomon's having several wives.  At that time, to have many wives was an indication of a man's wealth.  Scripture rebukes him for taking pagan wives.  In this way, Solomon entered into an alliance with these people who did not know GOD, imitating them in their materialism.

Luxury corrupts wisdom.  Solomon makes a show of his manliness, unaware of the fact that his wives are ordering him around.  These foreign women arrive with their priests and their pagan cults that will draw Israel into idolatry and materialism.

The people thought that the king blessed by YAHWEH had to be surrounded with luxury and honors.  Later the prophets would recall that power, wealth and luxury numb the heart of a ruler [Deuteronomy 17:14].  All people in the course of history have had the same experience.  Even in the Church, for centuries thought it fitting that their bishops and popes assume the appearance of nobles, and we are still paying the consequences of that error.

You have kept neither MY Covenant nor the statutes.  Solomon's real sin consists in directing his life and his nation without seeking GOD's will.  He lives like any other king and works out his own ambitions, thinking it is enough to ask YAHWEH's blessings.)   

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