King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 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.
1 Kings 11:1-2 (NIV)
Father, it is not lost on me that Your Word declared that Solomon was the wisest person to ever live (1 Kings 3:12). Yet, in all that wisdom he thought he could never be duped into disobedience. He was a man who started off strong, demonstrating a wisdom that blew others’ minds. And he ended so poorly, his wisdom getting the best of him, being led astray by the worldly notion of “one God; many forms” or some twisted Unitarian notion of Who You are. Why else would he feel justified to erect idols of Chemosh and Molek (1 Kings 11:7)? Indeed, his wisdom got the best of him.
Father God, I can see how I can sometimes be so “wise” that I am foolish. I can so over reason and over rationalize what You have called me to do that I actually over think it. The command can be simple. And immediately I begin to go through all kinds of iterations of thought regarding it, trying to parse through each intricate detail, until I have completely disassembled the command into being some manmade fabrication that it was never meant to be. All because I was being “wise” and “discerning” what You meant by what You said versus taking Your Word at face value.
Forgive me for this false wisdom. I pray for a simple heart that embraces Your yes as yes and no as no. Grant me godly discernment and humility not to be so caught up in me and reading my own headlines – what folks say about me or what I think about myself – that I miss You completely. You are the Source of my wisdom; You are the Person Who makes sense out of the world I live in. What You do most often contradicts human wisdom. Through the death of my Savior You gave me forgiveness. By crucifying myself daily I find life. I find myself as I surrender myself. Your Word declares the wisdom of this world is foolishness to You (1 Corinthians 3:19). I choose YOUR wisdom.
Lead me and guide me today. Help me to see how Your Word speaks to my circumstances. Prick my heart when I even look like I am considering going astray. And, through Your Spirit, enable me to walk faithfully before You to Your glory in Jesus’ Name. Amen.