Lessons from the Life of Solomon
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the Lord’s purpose in his own way. He reasoned that political and
commercial alliances with the surrounding nations would bring them
to a knowledge of the true God; and so he entered into unholy alliance
with nation after nation. Often these alliances were sealed by marriage
with heathen princesses. The commands of Jehovah were set aside for
the customs of the surrounding nations.
During the years of Solomon’s apostasy, the spiritual decline of
Israel was rapid. How could it have been otherwise, when their king
united with satanic agencies? Through these agencies the enemy
worked to confuse the minds of the people in regard to true and false
worship. They became an easy prey. It came to be a common prac-
tice to intermarry with the heathen. The Israelites rapidly lost their
abhorrence of idolatry. Heathen customs were introduced. Idolatrous
mothers brought their children up to observe heathen rites. The He-
brew faith was fast becoming a mixture of confused ideas. Commerce
with other nations brought the Israelites into intimate contact with
those who had no love for God, and their own love for Him was greatly
lessened. Their keen sense of the high and holy character of God was
deadened. Refusing to follow in the path of obedience, they trans-
ferred their allegiance to Satan. The enemy rejoiced in his success in
effacing the divine image from the minds of the people that God has
chosen as His representatives. Through inter-marriage with idolaters
and constant association with them, Satan brought about that for which
he had long been working,—a national apostasy.
Unscriptural Alliances
The Lord desires His servants to preserve their holy and peculiar
character. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” is
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His command; “for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrigh-
teousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what
concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with
idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will
dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be
ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will