TWICE AS MANY

TWICE AS MANY TIMES- In I Kings 11:9, it says:  "And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,"  Though it is true that God only appeared unto Solomon twice, it was still twice as many times as any other god had done.  Twice as many times!  You see, false God's can never appear, but God had spoken to Solomon twice in his life, and when God speaks to you.... you don't forget that!  Solomon's heart was turned away from God to serve other gods, none of which had ever, would ever, nor could ever appear unto him.  Only the LORD God could appear unto him, because only the LORD God was God!  There are no others!  So he turned to gods he could never have a relationship with from the LORD God who had blessed him and spoken to him.  Now in verse 3, we see:  "and his wives turned away his heart."  Wives were given to help man be the best he can be, but Solomon messed up God's plan by multiplying wives.  One of God's instructions to a king was not to multiply wives.  Notice this:  Deu 17:16  "But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.  Deu 17:17  Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold."  Solomon had multiplied horses, wives, silver, and gold!  You cannot disobey God and expect things to work out, so his wives pulled his heart from the LORD.  Most men leave a church because of their wife.  That is a fact that almost every time, and any Pastor can tell you that.  Solomon left God because of his wives, and it cost his son the kingdom!  Stay true to God where you are at and serve Him faithfully.  He will speak to you, if you will listen!  

Have a great day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler