Good morning,
Senior citizens. When you hear that term, what do you think about? The people I know are healthy, resourceful, energetic, and smart. It is their desire to live life to its fullest till the end.
They want to finish strong!
Solomon, a wise man of God, failed to use that wisdom during his later years. He allowed the things of the flesh to pull him away from God. He failed to follow the commandments of God.
We are susceptible to this problem today. First Kings 11:1-12 records the sin, results, and God’s punishment, Solomon encountered. Read this carefully. Examine what Solomon did to displease God. Then we need to determine if there is an application to us.
Solomon’s Sin (1-3)
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:2 Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
Results of Solomon’s Sin (4-8)
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
God’s Punishment (9-12)
And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
SIN HAS CONSEQUENCES
It should be the desire of every believer to FINISH STRONG! How do we accomplish this?
Read the Bible
Obey the Bible
Study the Bible
The WASI mid-week Bible service is attended by seniors who desire to finish strong. They come faithfully each week to study God’s word. They come from various parts of the area, from different faith groups, for one reason. They come to find out what the Bible teaches. The Bible is our textbook and God is our teacher.
Please join us on Wednesdays at 10 AM in the WASI meeting room.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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