Session 3 1 Kings 11:1-13

A DIVIDED HEART (1 KINGS 11:4-8)

listen for how these pagan wives influenced Solomon’s relationship with God.

4 When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away
to follow other gods.
He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God,
as his father David had been.
5 Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians,
and Milcom, the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites.
6 Solomon did what was evil in the LORD’s sight,
and unlike his father David, he did not remain loyal to the LORD.

7 At that time, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh,
the abhorrent idol of Moab,
and for Milcom, the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites,
on the hill across from Jerusalem.
8 He did the same for all his foreign wives,
who were burning incense and offering sacrifices to their gods.

Guide:

Distribute copies of Pack Item 11 (Handout: Foreign Gods in the Times of the Kings)
to help the group better understand the influence
of these foreign gods Solomon had brought into his palace and his life.

Discuss:

• Why does the enemy lure us slowly or incrementally toward compromise?
• What makes this an especially effective tactic? (p. 31)

Study:

Focus on verses 7-8,
Emphasize that Solomon not only allowed his wives to continue their pagan worship practices,
but in time he supported them in these rituals and even participated himself.
This is a reminder that one compromise easily leads to the next.

Discuss:

name things that people might look to as a source of their security.

Ask:

• Why might a person be easily tempted to trust in and worship things other than God as a source of security? (p. 31)

Transition:

God is not looking for our half-hearted obedience or divided attention.
He expects us to worship Him alone.