The author of Hebrews warns us about drifting away from sound doctrine (Heb 2:1-4). It is a warning to any believer. It says that we can slowly move away from pleasing the Lord. We might not know it is happening, and it can happen when other aspects of our spiritual lives seem to be going well. It is a warning against complacency.
Most of us have heard a common illustration of what the author of Hebrews describes. A frog is put into a pot of water that is on a fire. The water gets hotter and hotter, but the frog does not realize it. The frog dies when the water gets too hot.
I think 1 Kgs 9:10-28 is an OT example of drifting away. Solomon was doing very well as king of Israel. God had chosen him as king and had given him wisdom with which to rule. God also blessed him with much wealth.
In Jerusalem, Solomon built not only the temple, but also a palace for himself. He built the Millo, which probably connected parts of the city. The wealth the nation accumulated allowed it to expand Jerusalem’s defenses, and the wall around the city was strengthened. Solomon grew stronger militarily, as evidenced by the construction of fortified cities. These cities allowed him to protect the trade routes that crossed the nation and brought in great wealth. Solomon also built storage cities, evidently to hold all his military equipment. God had certainly been good to him.
But not everything was as rosy as it appeared. Solomon had received human help with these building projects. Hiram, the king of Tyre, had given him gold and wood to aid in the construction. Solomon paid his ally with twenty cities. Evidently, these cities were not of the highest quality, and Hiram considered them a cheap gift (v 13). If we read between the lines, Solomon was overextending himself and could not afford what he was doing.
The author of Kings says that Solomon also spent money on one of his wives. She was Pharaoh’s daughter (v 24). Later, we are told that she was one of the women who turned his heart away from obeying the Lord (1 Kgs 11:1-4). To please her, he built a house for her in Jerusalem and probably built corridors connecting it with his palace. Evidently, she was his favorite.
Solomon built all these things while worshipping the Lord. At the temple, which he dedicated to the name of Israel’s God, he offered sacrifices three times every year (v 25). This showed his commitment to the covenant.
This chapter in First Kings paints a mixed picture. The Lord is blessing Solomon with great wealth, and he worships the Lord. But hidden in these blessings and acts of obedience are signs of problems. Solomon is probably infatuated with his building projects and spends more than he should. He marries the daughter of Pharaoh to solidify his alliance with Egypt, but he becomes infatuated with her as well.
Pagan women will play a large role in his spiritual decline. His kingdom will be split upon his death because of the high taxes he charged to complete his building projects. Hiram was probably the first to realize that his friend had a spending problem.
The reader of 1 Kings might not notice the drift. Solomon certainly didn’t. We fool ourselves if we do not realize that the same thing can happen to us. We should pray and ask the Lord for grace to avoid following Solomon’s example.
