“King Solomon loved many foreign women. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely TURN YOUR HEARTS after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and HIS WIVES LED HIM ASTRAY.” (1 Kings 11:1-3) How bad did it get for him? “…his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not FULLY DEVOTED to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. So, Solomon DID EVIL in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.” (1 Kings 11:4-6)
So, here was the WISEST MAN who ever lived, and the devil TURNS HIS HEART AWAY from God! “The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had TURNED AWAY from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon DID NOT KEEP the LORD‘s command.” (1 Kings 11:9-10) This is why the Lord says, “Do not be yoked (heterozugeō: Christians cannot be joined together with non-Christians, why because God and the devil cannot be joined) together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corin. 6:14) So, the bible says, “Come out from them and BE SEPARATE, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (2 Corin. 6:17)
Now God say’s to us when we are involved in unholy things, “Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! COME OUT and BE PURE…” (Isa. 52:11) All of this coming out can make us weak “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who HOPE IN THE LORD will RENEW their strength. They will SOAR on wings like eagles; they will RUN and not grow weary; they will WALK and not be faint.” (Isa. 40:29-31)
Your Personal Pastor –Bill Stockham