Last week I focused on this phrase from Job 31:7 (NKJV), “Or my heart walked after my eyes,” and the importance of guarding our hearts. Let’s look at what happened to a wise man who failed to guard his heart.
Solomon is generally known for his wisdom. When following his life through scripture we see him recognizing his need and asking God for wisdom and discernment. In his request and Yahweh’s response we can see three things:
- Solomon’s request
9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? 1 Kings 3:9 (NKJV)
- Yahweh’s response
11 And God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life – but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king – 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.” 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 (NKJV)
- Yahweh’s warning.
14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days. 1 Kings 3:14 (NKJV)
Over time we see what happened with Solomon’s heart.
23 So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 1 Kings 10:23 (NKJV)
Solomon possessed a heart of great wisdom. Yet when he failed to guard his heart he failed in life.
4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 1 Kings 11:4-6 (NKJV)
We guard our hearts by doing two things:
- By heeding the warning of scripture.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV)
- By looking to the one who is wiser than Solomon and dwells within us.
42
The
queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and
condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of
Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42
(NKJV)
May we always look to Jesus
so our hearts can freely walk after our eyes!
