prophets and kings-第7部分

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ed　up　above　his　brethren；　and　that　he　turn　not　aside　from　the　commandment；　to　the　right　hand；　or　to　the　left：　to　the　end　that　he　may　prolong　his　days　in　his　kingdom；　he；　and　his　children；　in　the　midst　of　Israel。〃　Deuteronomy　17：18…20。

In　connection　with　this　instruction　the　Lord　particularly　cautioned　the　one　who　might　be　anointed　king　not　to　〃multiply　wives　to　himself；　that　his　heart　turn　not　away：　neither　shall　he　greatly　multiply　to　himself　silver　and　gold。〃　Verse　17。

With　these　warnings　Solomon　was　familiar；　and　for　a　time　he　heeded　them。　His　greatest　desire　was　to　live　and　rule　in　accordance　with　the　statutes　given　at　Sinai。　His　manner　of　conducting　the　affairs　of　the　kingdom　was　in　striking　contrast　with　the　customs　of　the　nations　of　his　timenations　who　feared　not　God　and　whose　rulers　trampled　underfoot　His　holy　law。

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In　seeking　to　strengthen　his　relations　with　the　powerful　kingdom　lying　to　the　southward　of　Israel；　Solomon　ventured　upon　forbidden　ground。　Satan　knew　the　results　that　would　attend　obedience；　and　during　the　earlier　years　of　Solomon's　reignyears　glorious　because　of　the　wisdom；　the　beneficence；　and　the　uprightness　of　the　kinghe　sought　to　bring　in　influences　that　would　insidiously　undermine　Solomon's　loyalty　to　principle　and　cause　him　to　separate　from　God。　That　the　enemy　was　successful　in　this　effort；　we　know　from　the　record：　〃Solomon　made　affinity　with　Pharaoh　king　of　Egypt；　and　took　Pharaoh's　daughter；　and　brought　her　into　the　City　of　David。〃　I　Kings　3：I。

From　a　human　point　of　view；　this　marriage；　though　contrary　to　the　teachings　of　God's　law；　seemed　to　prove　a　blessing；　for　Solomon's　heathen　wife　was　converted　and　united　with　him　in　the　worship　of　the　true　God。　Furthermore；　Pharaoh　rendered　signal　service　to　Israel　by　taking　Gezer；　slaying　〃the　Canaanites　that　dwelt　in　the　city；〃　and　giving　it　〃for　a　present　unto　his　daughter；　Solomon's　wife。〃　I　Kings　9：16。　This　city　Solomon　rebuilt　and　thus　apparently　greatly　strengthened　his　kingdom　along　the　Mediterranean　seacoast。　But　in　forming　an　alliance　with　a　heathen　nation；　and　sealing　the　compact　by　marriage　with　an　idolatrous　princess；　Solomon　rashly　disregarded　the　wise　provision　that　God　had　made　for　maintaining　the　purity　of　His　people。　The　hope　that　his　Egyptian　wife　might　be　converted　was　but　a　feeble　excuse　for　the　sin。

For　a　time　God　in　His　compassionate　mercy　overruled　this　terrible　mistake；　and　the　king；　by　a　wise　course；　could

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have　checked　at　least　in　a　large　measure　the　evil　forces　that　his　imprudence　had　set　in　operation。　But　Solomon　had　begun　to　lose　sight　of　the　Source　of　his　power　and　glory。　As　inclination　gained　the　ascendancy　over　reason；　self…confidence　increased；　and　he　sought　to　carry　out　the　Lord's　purpose　in　his　own　way。　He　reasoned　that　political　and　commercial　alliances　with　the　surrounding　nations　would　bring　these　nations　to　a　knowledge　of　the　true　God；　and　he　entered　into　unholy　alliance　with　nation　after　nation。　Often　these　alliances　were　sealed　by　marriages　with　heathen　princesses。　The　commands　of　Jehovah　were　set　aside　for　the　customs　of　surrounding　peoples。

Solomon　flattered　himself　that　his　wisdom　and　the　power　of　his　example　would　lead　his　wives　from　idolatry　to　the　worship　of　the　true　God；　and　also　that　the　alliances　thus　formed　would　draw　the　nations　round　about　into　close　touch　with　Israel。　Vain　hope！　Solomon's　mistake　in　regarding　himself　as　strong　enough　to　resist　the　influence　of　heathen　associates　was　fatal。　And　fatal；　too；　the　deception　that　led　him　to　hope　that　notwithstanding　a　disregard　of　God's　law　on　his　part；　others　might　be　led　to　revere　and　obey　its　sacred　precepts。

The　king's　alliances　and　commercial　relations　with　heathen　nations　brought　him　renown；　honor；　and　the　riches　of　this　world。　He　was　enabled　to　bring　gold　from　Ophir　and　silver　from　Tarshish　in　great　abundance。　〃The　king　made　silver　and　gold　at　Jerusalem　as　plenteous　as　stones；　and　cedar　trees　made　he　as　the　sycamore　trees　that　are　in　the　vale　for　abundance。〃　2　Chronicles　1：15。　Wealth；　with

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all　its　attendant　temptations；　came　in　Solomon's　day　to　an　increasingly　large　number　of　people；　but　the　fine　gold　of　character　was　dimmed　and　marred。

So　gradual　was　Solomon's　apostasy　that　before　he　was　aware　of　it；　he　had　wandered　far　from　God。　Almost　imperceptibly　he　began　to　trust　less　and　less　in　divine　guidance　and　blessing；　and　to　put　confidence　in　his　own　strength。　Little　by　little　he　withheld　from　God　that　unswerving　obedience　which　was　to　make　Israel　a　peculiar　people；　and　he　conformed　more　and　more　closely　to　the　customs　of　the　surrounding　nations。　Yielding　to　the　temptations　incident　to　his　success　and　his　honored　position；　he　forgot　the　Source　of　his　prosperity。　An　ambition　to　excel　all　other　nations　in　power　and　grandeur　led　him　to　pervert　for　selfish　purposes　the　heavenly　gifts　hitherto　employed　for　the　glory　of　God。　The　money　which　should　have　been　held　in　sacred　trust　for　the　benefit　of　the　worthy　poor　and　for　the　extension　of　principles　of　holy　living　throughout　the　world；　was　selfishly　absorbed　in　ambitious　projects。

Engrossed　in　an　overmastering　desire　to　surpass　other　nations　in　outward　display；　the　king　overlooked　the　need　of　acquiring　beauty　and　perfection　of　character。　In　seeking　to　glorify　himself　before　the　world；　he　sold　his　honor　and　integrity。　The　enormous　revenues　acquired　through　commerce　with　many　lands　were　supplemented　by　heavy　taxes。　Thus　pride；　ambition；　prodigality；　and　indulgence　bore　fruit　in　cruelty　and　exaction。　The　conscientious；　considerate　spirit　that　had　marked　his　dealings　with　the　people　during　the　early　part　of　his　reign；　was　now　changed。　From　the　wisest

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and　most　merciful　of　rulers；　he　degenerated　into　a　tyrant。　Once　the　compassionate；　God…fearing　guardian　of　the　people；　he　became　oppressive　and　despotic。　Tax　after　tax　was　levied　upon　the　people；　that　means　might　be　forthcoming　to　support　the　luxurious　court。

The　people　began　to　complain。　The　respect　and　admiration　they　had　once　cherished　for　their　king　was　changed　into　disaffection　and　abhorrence。

As　a　safeguard　against　dependence　on　the　arm　of　flesh；　the　Lord　had　warned　those　who　should　rule　over　Israel　not　to　multiply　horses　to　themselves。　But　in　utter　disregard　of　this　command；　〃Solomon　had　horses　brought　out　of　Egypt。〃　〃And　they　brought　unto　Solomon　horses　out　of　Egypt；　and　out　of　all　lands。〃　〃Solomon　gathered　together　chariots　and　horsemen：　and　he　had　a　thousand　and　four　hundred　chariots；　and　twelve　thousand　horsemen；　whom　he　bestowed　in　the　cities　for　chariots；　and　with　the　king　at　Jerusalem。〃　2　Chronicles　I：16；　9：28；　I　Kings　10：26。

More　and　more　the　king　came　to　regard　luxury；　self…indulgence；　and　the　favor　of　the　world　as　indications　of　greatness。　Beautiful　and　attractive　women　were　brought　from　Egypt；　Phoenicia；　Edom；　and　Moab；　and　from　many　other　places。　These　women　were　numbered　by　hundreds。　Their　religion　was　idol　worship；　and　they　had　been　taught　to　practice　cruel　and　degrading　rites。　Infatuated　with　their　beauty；　the　king　neglected　his　duties　to　God　and　to　his　kingdom。

His　wives　exerted　a　strong　influence　over　him　and　gradually　prevailed　on　him　to　unite　with　them　in　their　worship。　Solomon　had　disregarded　the　instruction　that　God　had　given　to　serve　as　a　barrier　against　apostasy；　and

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now　he　gave　himself　up　to　the　worship　of　the　false　gods。　〃It　came　to　pass；　when　Solomon　was　old；　that　his　wives　turned　away　his　heart　after　other　gods：　and　his　heart　was　not　perfect　with　the　Lord　his　God；　as　was　the　heart　of　David　his　father。　For　Solomon　went　after　Ashtoreth　the　goddess　of　the　Zidonians；　and　after　Milcom　the　abomination　of　the　Ammonites。〃　I　Kings　II：4；5。

On　the　southern　eminence　of　the　Mount　of　Olives；　opposite　Mount　Moriah；　where　stood　the　beautiful　temple　of　Jehovah；　Solomon　erected　an　imposing　pile　of　buildings　to　be　used　as　idolatrous　shrines。　To　please　his　wives；　he　placed　huge　idols；　unshapely　images　of　wood　and　stone；　amidst　the　groves　of　myrtle　and　olive。　There；　before　the　altars　of　heathen　deities；　〃Chemosh；　the　abomination　of　Moab；〃　and　〃Molech；　the　abomination　of　the　children　of　Ammon；〃　were　practiced　the　most　degrading　rites　of　heathenism。　Verse　7。

Solomon's　course　brought　its　sure　penalty。　His　separation　from　God　through　communication　with　idolaters　was　his　ruin。　As　he　cast　off　his　allegiance　to　God；　he　lost　the　mastery　of　himself。　His　moral　efficiency　was　gone。　His　fine　sensibilities　became　blunted；　his　conscience　seared。　He　who　in　his　early　reign　had　displayed　so　much　wisdom　and　sympathy　in　restoring　a　helpless　babe　to　its　unfortunate　mother　（see　I　Kings　3：16…28）；　fell　so　low　as　to　consent　to　the　erection　of　an　idol　to　whom　living　children　were　offered　as　sacrifices。　He　who　in　his　youth　was　endowed　with　discretion　and　understanding；　and　who　in　his　strong　manhood　had　been　inspired　to　write；　〃There　is　a　way　which　seemeth　right　unto　a　man；　but　the　end　thereof　are　the　ways　of　death〃　（Proverbs　14：12）；　in　later　years　departed　so　far

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from　purity　as　to　countenance　licentious；　revolting　rites　connected　with　the　worship　of　Chemosh　and　Ashtoreth。　He　who　at　the　dedication　of　the　temple　had　said　to　his　people；　〃Let　your　heart　therefore　be　perfect　with　the　Lord　our　God〃　（I　Kings　8：61）；　became　himself　an　offender；　in　heart　and　life　denying　his　own　words。　He　mistook　license　for　liberty。　He　triedbut　at　what　cost！to　unite　light　with　darkness；　good　with　evil；　purity　with　impurity；　Christ　with　Belial。

From　being　one　of　the　greatest　kings　that　ever　wielded　a　scepter；　Solomon　became　a　profligate；　the　tool　and　slave　of　others。　His　character；　once　noble　and　manly；　became　enervated　and　effeminate。　His　faith　in　the　living　God　was　supplanted　by　atheistic　doubts。　Unbelief　marred　his　happiness；　weakened　his　principles；　and　degraded　his　life。　The　justice　and　magnanimity　of　his　early　reign　were　changed　to　despotism　and　tyranny。　Poor；　frail　human　nature！　God　can　do　little　for　men　who　lose　their　sense　of　dependence　upon　Him。

During　these　years　of　apostasy；　the　spiritual　decline　of　Israel　pr