Interesting that immediately after that marriage masterpiece of Song of Songs we have the entry for today of 1 Kings 11 which relates how far Solomon strayed for the commands of the Lord. His heart was not fully devoted to God because of his foreign wives. He built high places for three major gods. When in Jerusalem in the summer of 2005 we saw the place east of the city where Solomon built those high places – not very far from the Mount of Olives.
There are three major gods listed in the 1 Kings 11 passage, Molech, Chemosh, and Ashtoreth. The worship of Molech was accompanied by the burning of children offered as sacrifice by their own parents. It's referred to in Scripture as "passing children through the fire."
Jeremiah 32:35
And they built the high places of Baal, in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech; which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Jeremiah 32:35
And they built the high places of Baal, in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech; which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Chemosh was thought to be a pagan god associated with the heavenly bodies and also was worshiped by the sacrifice of children as burnt offerings.
Ashtoreth was the ancient Syrian and Phoenician goddess of the moon, sexuality, sensual love, and fertility using sex as an act of worship. In the Old Testament Ashtoreth is often associated with the worship of Baal.
We can relate this to today's culture with a common attitude of being able to "coexist" with multiple religions. While we must share the same space with other godless religions, we must not embrace them. We must witness to our faith in front of them. We must walk in God's ways, do what is right in His eyes, keep His statues and laws. Be "winsome" in our daily walk and so be able to win some.
We can relate this to today's culture with a common attitude of being able to "coexist" with multiple religions. While we must share the same space with other godless religions, we must not embrace them. We must witness to our faith in front of them. We must walk in God's ways, do what is right in His eyes, keep His statues and laws. Be "winsome" in our daily walk and so be able to win some.
Solomon was warned about foreign gods. No wonder “the LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel,”
And so God raised up adversaries against Solomon.
And so God raised up adversaries against Solomon.
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