June 21, 2011
by John Adair
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From his deathbed, David told his
son, Solomon, to follow the Lord’s statutes closely. And looking simply at the
results, the early years of Solomon’s reign seem to bear the principle that
David spoke: “Walk in His ways . . . keep His statutes . . . that you may
succeed in all that you do” (1 Kings 2:3). However, we know Solomon eventually
earned the Lord’s anger, and a portion of the kingdom was torn away from
Solomon’s descendants (11:1–13). How did this happen?
The cracks in Solomon’s foundation
were evident long before the events of 1 Kings 11. He began his reign with
bloodshed, killing off his own brother and the old commander of David’s army
without a violent provocation. And then, not long after becoming king, Solomon
began his practice of taking foreign wives, including making a marriage
alliance with Pharaoh’s daughter. Such a practice had been prohibited in the
Law since the Israelites had taken possession of the land of Canaan
(Deuteronomy 7:1–4). But here was the leader of the people committing this very
sin, starting himself down a path that would eventually ruin his household and
his nation.
John Adair received his master of theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, where he also completed his Ph.D. in Historical Theology. He served for seven years as a writer in the Creative Ministries Department of Insight for Living Ministries. John and his wife, Laura, have three children.
More articles by John Adair