BIBLE LESSON

“But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.” — 2 Chronicles 7:19-20

The LORD gave King Solomon a choice between two options. After he made his choice, he would receive the results God promised him. His choice would not only have an effect on him, but also on all his descendants and the nation of Israel. On the one hand, the LORD promised Solomon that if he faithfully walked before God as David his father had and did all God commanded; then, one of his successors would rule over Israel forever. On the other hand, if he turned away and disobeyed the LORD and began serving other gods; then, Israel would be uprooted from the LORD’s land. Solomon chose the second option: He built pagan temples and set up idols in the hills around Jerusalem for his foreign wives to serve and worship. By his disobedience, Solomon sowed the seeds that quickly destroyed the Kingdom of Israel that his father had united from the 12 tribes of Israel. Following Solomon’s bad example, most of the kings who succeeded him and almost all the people worshipped the idols of his wives and refused to repent and obey the LORD. Almost immediately after Solomon’s death, Israel split into two parts: The Kingdom of Israel was destroyed and never restored; The Kingdom of Judah suffered 70 years of exile and never completely recovered. Only a future Messiah could save the people.

— L.G. Parkhurst Jr. Send email to lgp@ prayersteps.org