First Kings
Monday, July 19, 2010
Seeds of Apostasy
(I Kings 3:1-3)
Sincerity is not the highest form of fealty to God. Many a sincere man has been wrong—sincerely wrong. Sincerity is not enough to overcome the corruptive influences of error. It is possible to have a genuine relationship with God and still fall prey to compromise. Even love for Christ is not enough to safeguard against encroaching apostasy. The best way to preserve the purity of the faith is through exacting obedience. Nothing can take the place of simply obeying the commands of God. Evangelicalism at large is never short on accolades for God (He’s “awesome!”), but evangelicalism comes up short on obedience. And it’s disobedience that damns.
Solomon was as sincere as could be. His reign saw the completion of Jerusalem’s magnificent temple, the city walls, and the king’s palace. His foreign policy accomplished a feat unparalleled in history: He married a Pharaoh’s daughter (1). In addition, Solomon “loved the Lord’ (3). No one doubted the sincerity of his religious profession. He was true-blue in his Jewish affections. Not only that, but he honored the memory of his father. He took his father’s advice to heart and walked after David’s statutes. He was on the fast track to success!
Almost as an aside note, however, the Bible mentions one seemingly minor flaw: Though Solomon had built the temple, he continued in the habit of worshipping Jehovah in the “high places.” Local altars were used to worship Jehovah as well as other heathen gods. Solomon, as well as the people, continued this practice in disobedience to God (Deut. 12:1-7).
Solomon’s “little” disobedience would have major consequences. Eventually, worship at the “high places” so dulled his spiritual senses that he apostatized. He built pagan altars for vile deities, including Molech (I Kings 11: 7, 8). Sincerity is good, but obedience is better. Only exacting obedience to the Word of God insures against the ever-prevailing winds of apostasy.
