Solomon’s Lust

Egypt’s Shishak “took away all the treasures of the house of the Lord,” and of the King’s house during Rehoboam’s reign, next in line after Solomon — an incredible take considering his father Solomon’s massive wealth.

Add this to the fact that the ten tribes above Jerusalem split from Rehoboam when he took his position as king.

By the time of Shishak’s theft, we have catapulted from the amazing wealth and expanse of Solomon, to a divided kingdom devoid of treasure and scope.

How did all this happen? This division in the reign of the son of Solomon was due to Solomon’s lust. “I will surely tear the kingdom from you . . . I will tear it out of the hand of your son.” His lust turned his heart away from the only God, who had appeared to him twice. Marrying many foreign women and obtaining many concubines, his soul was corrupted. He built altars of incense for these women, “going after other gods,” as the prophet framed it.

It started here: “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women” (1 Kings 11). Shishak’s action was just one of many consequences of Solomon’s lust. What a warning to us kings, queens and commoners.

Lust steals and divides. It has a long history.