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2 Chronicles 8

Good Morning “Evenly Yoked.”  Today we are in 2 Chronicles 8.  

Ahhhh, life is good!  Solomon had finished building the Temple and began rebuilding the surrounding cities.  He was obedient to The Lords commands which came from Moses - as his father David had instructed him.  He presented sacrifices as required.

All is well… for now.  But what is to come?  Within all of these verses of accolades one stands out as I read, that seems out of step, out of place, a foreshadowing if you will.  

“Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “My wife must not live in the palace of David king of Israel, because the places the ark of the Lord has entered are holy.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Solomon was wise, but still human… so weak.  He had many foreign wives. “They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.” 1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul reminds us later -
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Remember the rest of 1 Kings 11?  “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” 1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ NIV

The passage continues to describe all the ways Solomon worshipped these foreign Gods. He did evil in the eyes of The Lord. “The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

99% devoted and obedient to The Lord isn’t enough.  It’s that 1% that will creep in and destroy.  “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬. Who we surround ourselves with, and what we spend our time doing matters.  

All in!  Leave NO room for Satan to sliver in there.

Love you all!  Dig in!