When our daughters were just babies, they would grasp my index finger and hold fast refusing to let go. I was amazed at the strength with which they held on at such a young age. I am certain they were quite unaware of their grip and try as I would to loosen it- they held tight.
I was reading in I and II Kings about Solomon and his reign as King over Israel. It would seem that the same weakness- better known as sin- that David struggled with was also his son Solomon’s downfall- only with greater depth and intensity. A woman was the source of David’s sin and women were the source of Solomon’s sin. God warned the people of Israel that they were not to intermarry with the women of other nations or people groups. “King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women beside Pharaohs’ daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonites and Hittites. 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.” I Kings 11:1-2. The last line jumped off the page, “Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.”
Nevertheless would indicate that Solomon was choosing to ignore what he knew was God’s protective law for him and his people. You might reword this verse to read, “In spite of what God commanded, Solomon did what he wanted and continued to marry foreign women. He held fast to his sin of lust, he loved it and refused to let it go.” David compromised God’s word for his own personal lust and pleasure. David was broken over his sin; he repented and turned back to God. Solomon compromised God’s word for his own personal lust and pleasure, which lead him to worship and serve other gods. Solomon did not repent, even when confronted, his heart became harder and harder until he was serving and worshipping many gods. “So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded.” I Kings 11:10
Charles Stanley says of compromise, “Healthy compromise is when we can give in to another without compromising our core values and beliefs. Unhealthy compromise, on the other hand, involves abandoning sound and godly ideas and standards, leaving us morally and spiritually bankrupt. The story of Solomon illustrates how unhealthy compromise ends in tragedy. Solomon deliberately disobeyed God’s warning against intermarriage with other religions. The result was that Solomon’s heart turned away from absolute devotion to His God and began to cling to the gods of his wives. No man ever soared so high but fell so low.”
As I meditated on this verse I began asking, “Are there any areas of unhealthy compromise in my life? Are there any things that I am holding fast to? What sin has a grip on my heart and life and is drawing me away from my heavenly Father?” We see that Solomon’s sin, his unhealthy compromises, lead to his downfall and ultimately his death. Charles Stanley says, “Unhealthy compromise is costly. It corrupts. It brings collapse.”
“Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statues, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.” I Kings 11:1. Any area of compromise in my life will lead me toward corruption and the breaking of God’s commandments, and ultimately to spiritual death- separation from my heavenly Father.
“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Psalm 32:5
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’? Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:31-36
Father, reveal to me any area of compromise in my life. Loosen my grip from any sin that entices, entangles, and enslaves me. Keep me on a short leash. Guard my heart and mind against the enemy who continually tells me that I deserve to have this “pleasure” in spite of what it costs me or those around me. My heart is bent on complete obedience to You, Lord, and Your word.
dianne