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The Retirement Years
there are outward temptations, and wherever the work of God shall
be advanced, Satan plans so to arrange circumstances that temptation
shall come with overpowering force upon the soul. Not one moment
can we be secure, only as we are relying upon God, the life hid with
Christ in God.
Notwithstanding the warnings in the Word of God and in the testi-
monies of His Spirit, many have closed their eyes to danger and have
gone on in their own way, infatuated, deluded by Satan until they fall
under his temptations. Then they abandon themselves to despair. This
was the history of Solomon. But even for him there was help. He truly
repented of his course of sin, and found help.
Let none venture into sin as he did, in the hope that they too
may recover themselves. Sin can be indulged only at the peril of
infinite loss. But none who have fallen need give themselves up to
despair. Aged men, once honored of God, may have defiled their souls,
sacrificing virtue on the altar of lust; but there is still hope for them if
they repent, forsake sin, and turn to God.
The misapplication of noble talents in Solomon’s case should be a
warning to all.... His history stands as a beacon of warning that young
and old may learn the sure result of departure from the ways of the
Lord.
Solomon acted in direct opposition to God’s will. God had made
him the depositary of sacred truths, but he proved unfaithful to his
holy trust. Evil communications corrupted good manners. He entered
into political alliance with pagan kingdoms, especially with Egypt and
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Phoenicia. One wrong step led to another. Through his associations
with these nations, their heathen practices became less abhorrent to
him, and at last their sensual customs and their darkest worships were
imported into Palestine. Solomon’s fine sensibilities were blunted, his
conscience seared. He became weak and vacillating. The justice of
his early reign gave place to tyranny. Once the guardian of his people,
he became a despot. To support his extravagance and profligacy he
imposed a grinding taxation upon the poor.
He who had said to his people at the dedication of the temple,
“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God,” became
himself the offender. In heart and life he denied his own words. He
mistook license for liberty. He tried, but at what cost, to unite light
with darkness, Christ with Belial, purity with impurity, good with evil.