An Entry Point For Adversaries
Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom. Earlier when David was fighting with Edom, Joab the commander of the army . . . had struck down all the men in Edom. Joab and all the Israelites stayed there . . . until they had destroyed all the men in Edom. But Hadad, still only a boy, fled to Egypt with some Edomite officials who had served his father.
. . . Then taking people from Paran with them, they went to Egypt, to Pharaoh King of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house and land and provided him with food.
Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage.
. . . While in Egypt, Hadad heard that David rested with his ancestors and that Joab the commander of the army was also dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me go, that I may return to my own country."
. . . And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer King of Zobah. . . . Rezon was Israel's adversary as long as Solomon lived, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad. I Kings 11:14-25
. . . Then taking people from Paran with them, they went to Egypt, to Pharaoh King of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house and land and provided him with food.
Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage.
. . . While in Egypt, Hadad heard that David rested with his ancestors and that Joab the commander of the army was also dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me go, that I may return to my own country."
. . . And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer King of Zobah. . . . Rezon was Israel's adversary as long as Solomon lived, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad. I Kings 11:14-25
God is our Elevator, Provider, Protector and Sustainer. It is purely because of His great love and mercies that we are not consumed. His greatest desire is that we will freely love and obey Him. He wants our love for Him to be uncompelled and genuine. We don't force God to love us, neither should He force us to love Him. In fact, given the amazing love He has for us, we should never love Him out of compulsion. He cherishes a cheerful lover and a cheerful giver. That is the nature of true love. Such love results in a tremendous outpouring of favor from God.
Solomon was dearly loved and favored by God from birth because of the great love which his father David had for God.
God specifically said to Solomon, "As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father… But if you or your descendants turn away from me . . . then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple. . . (I Kings 9:4-7)
The amazing thing about humans is that we have an unbridled propensity to self-destruct. Success and prosperity have a rather strange way of making us act as if we can do without the very God who sustains us. Even Solomon, the man of unparallelled wisdom, fell prey to this inexplicable human weakness. Very few people understand, like David did, that without God, we are nothing. That understanding alone is what would compel you to plead with God not to cast you away from His Presence. Solomon became nonchalant and strayed from God after he had been so blessed.
God promises that, "If you listen carefully . . . and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. (Exodus 23:22)
Without the protective hand of God, Satan has an entry point into our lives with all our other adversaries. Straying from God invites and strengthens the hand of our adversaries.
That is what happened to Solomon in spite of all the warnings from God. May that not be our lot!
Solomon was dearly loved and favored by God from birth because of the great love which his father David had for God.
God specifically said to Solomon, "As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father… But if you or your descendants turn away from me . . . then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple. . . (I Kings 9:4-7)
The amazing thing about humans is that we have an unbridled propensity to self-destruct. Success and prosperity have a rather strange way of making us act as if we can do without the very God who sustains us. Even Solomon, the man of unparallelled wisdom, fell prey to this inexplicable human weakness. Very few people understand, like David did, that without God, we are nothing. That understanding alone is what would compel you to plead with God not to cast you away from His Presence. Solomon became nonchalant and strayed from God after he had been so blessed.
God promises that, "If you listen carefully . . . and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. (Exodus 23:22)
Without the protective hand of God, Satan has an entry point into our lives with all our other adversaries. Straying from God invites and strengthens the hand of our adversaries.
That is what happened to Solomon in spite of all the warnings from God. May that not be our lot!
Prayer: Father, please help me to stay continually close to you by walking in accordance with your word. Amen.