February 21

1 Kings 11:4,11
“For 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...... Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant”—1 Kings 11:4,114For 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. (1 Kings 11:4)
11Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. (1 Kings 11:11).
WHENEVER and wherever tested by God, man has proved himself to be a failure. Of all who had gone before him none attained to the wisdom of Solomon; yet even he sinned grievously by forgetting the commandments of the Lord, and so brought grief and ruin at last upon Israel. Under his reign they reached the highest pinnacle of worldly glory. Because of sin, both his and theirs, they became at last an outcast people, driven from their land and wandering in pain and wretchedness among the Gentiles. Sin always brings disaster. May we learn from their sad history the folly of turning away from the paths of righteousness.
“Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round
Of circling planets singing on their way,
Guide of the nations from the night profound
Into the glory of the perfect day:
Rule in our hearts, that we may ever be
Guided and strengthened and upheld by Thee.
Oh, clothe us with Thy heavenly armor. Lord,
Thy trusty shield. Thy sword of love divine;
Our inspiration be Thy constant Word;
We ask no victories that are not Thine:
Give or withhold, let pain or pleasure be;
Enough to know that we are serving Thee.”
—John White Chadwick.