1 kings 11: Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. ² The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. ³ He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

⁴ In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. ⁵ Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. ⁶ In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.

⁹ The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. ¹⁰ He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. ¹¹ So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.

 

in this scripture solomon breaks up the tribes of Israel because of his selfish desires being above God's will and ways... from this point on.. the tribes are no longer one kingdom... from here on out it becomes Israel as one country and Judah as one country.. the southern nation and the northern nation... all over one man's selfishness....

 

we may not have that much of an impact on a nation or a country.. but we do have that much impact on our families... what has our selfishness caused to happen in our family because of us forcing our own way over God's way.... I can think of some things in my own life....

 

another part of this says.. the Lord was very angry with solomon for turning away from the God who had appeared to him twice... this really struck me... I want a constant repore with God.. I want Him to constantly be reassuring me and telling me His plans... well that must not be His way.... now that doesn't make me want it any less... just makes me realize that I am expecting something that is probably not going to happen...

 

I think this is where the Holy Spirit comes in... I think while the Spirit may not be the revelation side of God.. He may not be the one that gives us a life vision... maybe that only happens once or twice in a lifetime... but the Spirit is there for the day to day... He is the one that gives us the uncomfortable feeling when we are doing wrong.. or gives us peace when we are doing right... I don't know that I am right.. I am just thinking maybe I take the Holy Spirit for granted too much... that I need to be thankful that I have leading and guiding even if it isn't the verbal communication that I long for...

 

I think to have ever heard the voice of God must be a mighty gift... we should be thankful for...