Did Solomon marry the princess of Egypt for love?  Was she beautiful and intelligent or was it merely for political alliance?  Though 2 Chronicles spares us from hearing about his “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines” (1 Kings 11:3), it gives us a clear hint about the beginning of his moral fall.  “Now Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house he had built for her, for he said, ‘My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy’” (2 Chronicles 8:11). 

Here is expressed Solomon’s clear recognition of his wrong.  He can’t even keep his wife at the capital city for he knows she is not to be near the temple he’s worked so hard to build.

Somewhere he made one decision to disobey God’s direct command to make no alliances and no marriages with other nations.  That one decision would affect the course of his life and bring idolatry and suffering to Israel for many generations.

It might have been different.  There was still room to repent, still room to help his one wife belong totally to God and leave Egypt’s gods completely behind.  But as often happens, one sin, not fully repented, leads to another and another until conscience is buried and cannot be heard. 

Is there some sin that God is speaking to you about?  Hurry and seek Him with all your heart.

Pastor Scott Griswold
Mission Mobilizer
ASAP Ministries