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Prophets and Kings
affections and the passions with a firm purpose. Not one moment can
we be secure except as we rely upon God, the life hidden with Christ.
Watchfulness and prayer are the safeguards of purity.
All who enter the City of God will enter through the strait gate—by
agonizing effort; for “there shall in no wise enter into it anything that
defileth.”
Revelation 21:27
. But none who have fallen need give up to
despair. Aged men, once honored of God, may have defiled their souls,
sacrificing virtue on the altar of lust; but if they repent, forsake sin, and
turn to God, there is still hope for them. He who declares, “Be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life,” also gives the
invitation, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man
his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy
upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
Revelation
2:10
;
Isaiah 55:7
. God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. “I will heal
their backsliding,” He declares; “I will love them freely.”
Hosea 14:4
.
Solomon’s repentance was sincere; but the harm that his example
of evil-doing had wrought could not be undone. During his apostasy
there were in the kingdom men who remained true to their trust,
maintaining their purity and loyalty. But many were led astray; and
the forces of evil set in operation by the introduction of idolatry and
worldly practices could not easily be stayed by the penitent king. his
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influence for good was greatly weakened. Many hesitated to place
full confidence in his leadership. Though the king confessed his sin
and wrote out for the benefit of after generations a record of his folly
and repentance, he could never hope entirely to destroy the baleful
influence of his wrong deeds. Emboldened by his apostasy, many
continued to do evil, and evil only. And in the downward course of
many of the rulers who followed him may be traced the sad influence
of the prostitution of his God-given powers.
In the anguish of bitter reflection on the evil of his course, Solomon
was constrained to declare, “Wisdom is better than weapons of war:
but one sinner destroyeth much good.” “There is an evil which I have
seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: folly
is set in great dignity.”
“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a
stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom
and honor.”
Ecclesiastes 9:18
;
10:5, 6, 1
.