David was “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). Because he depended on God, God gave him success in winning wars, in governing well, and in benefiting his people. With victories and recognition came wealth. But it bothered David that he lived in a house of fine wood while worship to God took place in a tent (as God had instructed Moses). David proposed to build a grand temple for God. But God turned the offer around. God’s prophet Nathan predicted,
The LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7:11-13)
The next king after David was his son Solomon. The Lord blessed Solomon with wisdom and fabulous wealth and commissioned him to build the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, the capital in the land of Judah. In the first part of his reign, Solomon was guided by his father’s charge:
“WALK IN HIS WAYS.”
When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in His ways and keeping His statutes, His commandments, His rules, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.” (1 Kings 2:1-3)
Later, Solomon changed, overcome by the women in his life.
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. (1 Kings 11:1-2)
Though he had known the living God, Solomon fell so low as to worship lifeless idols. Even for someone previously favored, God would not bend the rules.
The LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded. Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.” (1 Kings 11:9-11)