Let’s face it, the Old Testament can sometimes be a little dry and blah to read. Or maybe it’s all the rules set forth in Leviticus that make you want to steer away.
But if you take a deeper look, there are some amazing revelation within those books!
For example, if you look at 1 Kings 3 you will find the story of Solomon, the wisest king and man to ever have walked the Earth. God asked him what he desired and he asked for wisdom.
So pleased with this answer, God gave him riches and a long life as well. Solomon was still human and with that, even with such an incredible gift, made mistakes.
Fast forwarding to 1 Kings 11, Solomon is well known for his wisdom. He also now has 700 wives and 300 concubines. Good thing he had the wisdom with that many women! But God had specifically instructed Solomon to not marry some of the women because they would turn his heart away from the Lord. Solomon, being so wise, totally listened right?
Nope!
Like I said, he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. For those counting thats 1,000 wives basically. And there were many that were foreign wives. Ones that God said to stay away from. And surprise surprise, his heart started turning away from God and he worshipped other gods.
My mind immediately goes: what?!? This guy received a gift directly from God! God spoke to him. How could he do that? He’s supposed to be wise!
IMMEDIATELY God gave me a check in my spirit. A soft rebuke. Now, I don’t have 1,000 husbands. One is plenty for me. He doesn’t steer me away from the faith, in fact quite the opposite. But what in my life is steering me away from the things of God? What else am I “married” to that is keeping me from the calling and purpose that He has given me?
It’s too easy for me to look at Solomon and judge him harshly thinking how could he have ever let that happen? He ended up completely leaving the Lord and worshipped other gods for most of the rest of his life, only returning towards the end. I would never have done that had I been in his shoes.
Really?
Let’s look at Romans for just a second. 12:3 says, “Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of youselves….”
I think if we all take some deep reflection on ourselves we would admit that just as Solomon, we can love the Lord, but something could hold us back from a true relationship with Him or even steer us away and we need to be careful of that.
And this isnt just Old Testament stuff. Think about the disciples.
These men walked with Jesus but yet Thomas still doubted. Peter still denied.
Self evaluation can be difficult. But this is why Romans 12:2 says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
We need to DAILY renew our mind to the things of God so that we are not easily swayed to things that don’t edify us spiritually.
I am not saying that all things are bad. I’m not even saying that it is only bad things steering us away, sometimes good things can too. I am saying that if it is keeping you away from a full relationship with God, if it is keeping you from the purpose He has for you, it may be time to reevaluate.
angelaschmeling 