KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Wisdom
SOLOMON IS A disturbing biblical character...
He begins his reign wisely, blessed by God with an incredible wisdom. God allows him to build a glorious temple. Wealth and wisdom are his; what more could a man want? But instead of obeying God's commands, Solomon marries many women from many pagan nations. Before long, the wise king unwisely begins to worship their gods. Before long, the man who built the temple has strayed far from God. How could he do such a thing?
One-time wisdom doesn't last forever. The king did not realize that since his wisdom lay in God, he had to constantly keep up the connection. God could not wisdom and disobedience, so when Solomon failed to obey, his wisdom lessened. Soon troubles followed, and his life lost the peace and joy of his early years.
THOUGHT: We too can lose out on wisdom by going our own way. But to continue to enjoy God's touch on our minds and hearts, we need only to remain in Him (Pamela McQuade).
KneEmail: "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father" (1 Kgs. 11:4).