Nothing Is Not The Answer

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD. In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the LORD his God, as his father, David, had been. Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the LORD’s sight; he refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done. On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. Solomon built such shrines for all his foreign wives to use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods. [1 Kings 11.1-8] 

Solomon's 700 wives of royal birth account for some of the women in his life that turned his heart away from God.

With only a little consideration of the Scriptures, it becomes obvious that marriages with foreign women in general was frequently the direct result of agreements with foreign nations. For example, Solomon did business with Hiram king of Tyre who was a Sidonian (1 Kings 5) - Sidon being one of the places noted above that some of Solomon's foreign wives were from. In other Bible references, Solomon did "trade" with several other nations. There can be little doubt that many (if not most) of these trade agreements involved marriages - 700 wives and 300 concubines had to come from somewhere!

So, what's the point?

The point is, idolatry lies dormant in the simplicity of "trade." If God's people want to be on alert for idols, the first place to be cautious of would be "trade." While "trade" is a necessary fact of life, it can also be a portal for idolatry as it sadly appears to have been for Solomon.

With this established, our "trade" begs to be considered - where does our money go? In all our money transactions, what "foreign wife" idea is attached to the deal?

We should understand that the Sidonian goddess Ashtoreth was a female deity associated with sexual sin. How many of the industries to which our money goes entices buyers (not us of course) with sex? In other Bible references to the goddess Ashtoreth, it specifically mentions images of Ashtoreth. If Ashtoreth was a goddess associated with sexual sin, what might those images have depicted? No doubt, "images of Ashtoreth" was early porn.

And, as Ashtoreth is often found Biblically in reference along with Molech, it should be understood there might indeed have been a practical association, a symbiosis, if you will, between the two as Molech is overwhelmingly associated with child sacrifice. No surprise there! Sexual sin and child sacrifice "fit together" perfectly (think, "abortion").

As long a "trade" pumps sex, abortions will necessarily have to continue. And, that is precisely what happened to Solomon. No doubt, Solomon did not set out to betray God, but everything else he did with "trade" and the "foreign wives" associated with trade led to sexual sin and child sacrifice. 

Solomon's story serves as a grave warning to us today. Where does our money go? Again, what "foreign wife" is included in the deal?

It is ludicrous for modern society to think idolatry is not alive and well in our midst. All the indicators are there, but, because the Church is so heavily involved in the "trade" of the world, it refuses to see the "foreign wives" that have been "married" that have subtly, but surely, led the Church into gross idolatry just like Solomon.

No, it's not an Old Testament thing either...

Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. [2 Corinthians 6.17]

And, if this verse alone is not convincing enough, one only has to consider its context to see that it is specifically about idolatry:

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” [2 Corinthians 6.14-18]

 Jesus' words only become stingingly more apropos:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

What do we do then? To be sure, "nothing" is not the answer.

Father, may Your Word waken us from our idolatrous slumber. May our eyes see and may our ears hear the truth. May we, as Jesus did, confront our own ways by giving them up. May we, as Jesus did, confront death by taking up our own cross. May we be found following Jesus and not idols! So be it.