Reading 58 • November 10
Today's Scripture
1 Kings 11:1–13, 42–43
King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the Israelites, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you; for they will surely incline your heart to follow their gods”; Solomon clung to these in love. Among his wives were seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon followed Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not completely follow the Lord, as his father David had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who offered incense and sacrificed to their gods.
Then the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this matter, that he should not follow other gods; but he did not observe what the Lord commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant. Yet for the sake of your father David I will not do it in your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. I will not, however, tear away the entire kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” The time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. Solomon slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of his father David; and his son Rehoboam succeeded him. (NRSV)
Reflection
This section of King Solomon’s story is especially instructive to me. At its core, the story revolves around the people, in this case wives and concubines, who surrounded King Solomon. In our day, 600 wives and 300 concubines would be more than a little bit unheard of. However, the fact that the people around us, whoever they may be, have a serious effect on us is extremely important. Also, the reverse is every bit as true. “Be careful of the company you keep.” That is, in essence, what Solomon is being told. More to the point, he is hearing that he had not been careful of the company he kept, and that company had led him astray.
The importance of the company we keep is perhaps even more to the point now than in other times. Not only must we be careful about what we do, but we must also manage the atmosphere around us. If I spend too much time around negative, argumentative, or generally unpleasant people, I run the real risk of being infected by that toxicity myself.
We need to be totally aware of the company we are, too. What effect do we have on the people around us? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it neutral? People watch what we do. People listen to what we say. We are models. Our behavior counts.
I come away from this assignment with the commitment to be discerning about the company I keep and intentional about the company I am.
One more word about wives or about my wife in particular. The most significant reason that I am who I am is that my wife of almost 54 years inspires me to be the best I can be.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, I bless you for the gift of your Beloved Kingdom. I ask that you help me be a contributing part of that kingdom. Amen.
Written by Blake Anderson, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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