Text: 2 Chronicles 8:1-18
There are several things listed in this chapter as accomplishments of King
Solomon. He continued to expand the Kingdom by building cities, some of
them as fortifications for security. The nations within the land of Israel were defeated and the people were enslaved to serve Israel. But we read of trouble entering Solomon’s life. He married the daughter of Pharaoh. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with that, but he said she could not live in David’s house because the Ark entered it. But if she were a believer in Yahweh, that would not matter. Solomon married a pagan foreigner, and God forbade that (Deut.7:3-4; 1 Kin.11:2). Solomon eventually had many pagan wives, and they turned him away from God (1 Kin.11:3).
This is the beginning of the decline of Israel. That is why we need an eternal righteous king, who we have – King Jesus. Jesus continuously builds His Kingdom, and He subdues all the enemies. But He has only one bride, the Church, a righteous bride because we are united to Him. When you get married, only marry someone who belongs to Christ. If you are married, keep your family in Christ and in the Word of God.
Meditate on verse 11. What is God teaching you in this verse?
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me not to unite with those who do
not believe in You. Give me the ability to discern. Amen.