Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/300

 But glorious  as  was  the  beginning  of  Solomon’s  reign,  his end was  deplorable. Solomon was  far  advanced  in  life  when his heart  was  corrupted  by  pagan  women; and  that  king,  hitherto so wise,  became  so  blind  and  depraved  that,  in  order  to  please these women,  he  offered  incense  to  false  gods  and  built  temples to them.

The Lord  being  angry  said  to  Solomon:  “Because  thou hast done  this  and  hast  not  kept  My  covenant  and  My  precepts, which I have  commanded  thee,  I will  divide  and  rend  thy  kingdom. Nevertheless in  thy  days  I will  not  do  it  for  David,  thy  father’s, sake; neither  will  I take  away  the  whole  kingdom,  but  I will  give one tribe  to  thy  son,  for  the  sake  of  David,  my  servant,  and  for the sake  of  Jerusalem,  which  I have  chosen.”

Then secret  revolt  and  sedition  arose  among  the  people, because Solomon,  blinded  as  he  was,  had  over  taxed  and  oppressed the people,  to  build  palaces  for  the  heathen  women  who  had turned him  away  from  God. Things were  in  this  unhappy  state when Solomon  died,  having  reigned  forty  years; and  he,  who  had been a great  and  powerful  king  while  he  walked  in  the  ways  of David  his  father,  died  without  honour.

The First  Commandment: Sins  against  faith. It causes  real  pain to read  that  a man  so  gifted  with  grace  as  Solomon  could  have  fallen so low. Look back  and  think  what  he  was  at  the  dedication  of  the Temple, and  how  he  cast  himself  on  his  knees  and  prayed  so  beautifully to  the  ever  present  God;  and  then  think  of  his  becoming  indifferent about the  worship  of  the  true  God,  of  his  building  temples  to  the  false gods of  his  wives,  and  of  his  tolerating  idolatry! It is  impossible  for us to  conceive  that  Solomon  ever  believed  in  and  worshipped  idols himself; but  it  is  certain  that,  for  the  sake  of  his  heathen  wives  and against his  own  convictions,  he  sanctioned  idolatry  and  even  enforced it! By so  doing  he  denied  his  faith  and  offended  his  people. Thus