1 Kings 11:1-3 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.
Solomon was the chosen heir to David’s throne. He was wise, wiser than anyone else. He was devoted to serving me and his people. Yet, he had a major weakness – women. And instead of relying upon me to help him to overcome his fleshly desires for the wrong women, he gave in to them. Consistently. Repeatedly. 700 wives and 300 concubines is not the result of slipping once in a while. He was engaged in repeated sin. Yet, I still loved him. Did it end our relationship? No. Did it harm it? Yes, gravely. His heart was turned away from me and toward those women, and ultimately towards the gods they served. Do not think you dabbling in sin is ok. Will I stop loving you? No. Will it harm our closeness, will it make hearing me harder? Yes. And these are dark days. While I never want you to do anything that comes between us, it is more important in these days of darkness, of spiritual battles raging around you – it is vital that you not do anything that encumbers our relationship, that causes you to not hear me. You are in the battle for your life, the life of your Nation, the life of humanity – and not just the earthly life of humanity, but the eternal life. When you are tempted to waste your time, your resources on the wrong pursuits, slow down, listen for my voice, look for the way out I provide and allow me to help you. When you do succumb, when you do slip, when you do fall – get up right away and seek my face. Confess. Repent – remembering that repentance requires a change in direction. I love you, Child and do not want you to waste even a second of the precious time you are here. I need you in the battle. Your enemy watches and takes advantage of every opportunity to distract, to waylay my warriors. Do not put your guard down. Everything you do matters. All your thoughts, all your prayers, all your actions – all have an impact on the outcome of these battles. And for every today that is not my time to return, it is your time to represent me in battle. Warriors must be 100% engaged. Armor up. Listen to me. Follow my lead. Do not give in to distractions. Yes, maintain the life I have given you, but do not wander off into activities and pursuits that are not of me. And do not listen, do not give heed to that small, hissing voice of your enemy saying you do not matter, you are not big enough, not strong enough, not enough of a warrior to make a difference. Have I not chosen you? That is all you need to know. If I have chosen you, you are my warrior. Step up. Stand up. Advance. And always, always, always look up, not around. Listen for my voice, no others.
Amanuensis 