READ 1 Kings 11
Solomon takes wives from (and makes allegiances with) foreigners, and God judges
Him.

INSIGHT
Not long after the Lord reminds Solomon of the blessings of obedience and the
cataclysmic consequences of disobedience, Solomon disobeys. After taking foreign
wives who turn his heart from the Lord, Solomon begins to worship Ashtoreth and builds
a “high place” of worship for Chemosh and Molech, detestable pagan gods. True to His
word, the Lord raises up an adversary, Hadad, to plague Solomon. God’s purpose is not
to punish. He wants the adversity to turn Solomon’s heart back to Him. When you suffer
adversity, examine yourself to see if there is sin in your life. That is not always true, but
it is something to which we must be sensitive.

PRAYER
Bless the Lord and praise Him for His goodness because He forgives our sin:
Lord, who is like you among the gods?
Who is like you, glorious in holiness,  
Revered with praises, performing wonders?
(Exodus 15:11).

This is why you are great, Lord God.
There is no one like you,
And there is no God besides you,
As all we have heard confirms
(2 Samuel 7:22).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
And I said:  
My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed
To lift my face toward you, my God,
Because our iniquities are higher than our heads
And our guilt is as high as the heavens
(Ezra 9:6).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”  
And believe in your heart  
That God raised him from the dead,  
You will be saved. One believes with the heart,
Resulting in righteousness,
And one confesses with the mouth,
Resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says,
Everyone who believes on him
Will not be put to shame (Romans 10:9-11).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• Greater love for the lost
• The work of missions in Africa
• Your activities for the day

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
So that you may glorify the God
And Father of our Lord Jesus Christ  
With one mind and one voice
(Romans 15:6).