Walking in Wisdom | Morning Routine Daily Devotional for February 7

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. — 1 Kings 11:4-6 ESV

The books of First and Second Kings contain the history of the many kings that ruled over God’s people. It tells of their victories and failures, conflicts with the nations around them, and how the kings followed the Lord… or failed to follow Him.

We know Solomon as the son of King David, and we know his reputation as the wisest man of the ancient world. But Solomon shows that it is possible to have wisdom, to know what’s best, to know what’s right, and fail to walk in it. Not unlike other kings of the ancient Near East, Solomon has many wives, including many from other nations who followed other gods. And, as today’s passage reveals, sometime later in his reign, the unbelievable happened: he worshipped other gods due to the influence of his wives.  

Scripture tells us that God gives wisdom to those who ask Him in faith. As those who seek to raise the next generation in the ways of the Lord, we need wisdom! Don’t let a day go by without seeking God and asking for it! Each day, throughout the day—Lord, give me wisdom. Read Scripture. Learn from it. Learn from those who’ve gone before us. Learn from faithful leaders around you. Yes, pursue wisdom. But let today’s passage serve as a warning: Don’t acquire wisdom and then fail to walk in it!