How does 1 Kings 11:5 relate to the First Commandment? Opening the Text 1 Kings 11:5: “Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.” The First Commandment in View Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Connecting the Dots • The First Commandment demands exclusive allegiance to the LORD. • 1 Kings 11:5 records Solomon giving allegiance to rival deities, a direct breach of that command. • The verse exposes idolatry not merely as a mistake but as covenant treason. Why Solomon’s Sin Matters • God had warned Israel explicitly: “You shall not walk after other gods” (Deuteronomy 6:14-15). • Kings were commanded not to multiply wives lest they “turn his heart” (Deuteronomy 17:17). Solomon ignored this, marrying foreign wives who “turned his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4). • The result: the kingdom was torn away (1 Kings 11:11). Idolatry carries real, historical consequences. Theological Threads • God’s exclusivity: Isaiah 42:8—“I will not give My glory to another.” • Spiritual adultery: Hosea 3:1 pictures idolatry as unfaithfulness in marriage. • New-Testament echo: “Flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14). The principle is timeless. Practical Takeaways • Compromise often begins with unchecked affections; Solomon’s alliances led to divided worship. • Idols today may be less obvious—success, pleasure, relationships—but the command remains unchanged. • Guarding the heart (Proverbs 4:23) protects exclusive devotion to the Lord. Summing Up 1 Kings 11:5 is a vivid narrative illustration of the First Commandment. Solomon, once devoted, allowed competing gods into his life, showing that any rival to God’s supremacy violates the very first word of the Decalogue. Our calling is single-hearted loyalty to the Lord who brooks no rivals. |
    |