| Day 285: Read today's devotional on Bible Gateway. Solomon's Obedience and DisobedienceSolomon moved his wife, Pharaoh's daughter, from the City of David to the new palace he had built for her. He said, "My wife must not live in King David's palace, for the Ark of the Lord has been there, and it is holy ground." Solomon did not deviate in any way from David's commands concerning the priests and Levites and the treasuries.
(2 Chronicles 8:11, 15) ReflectSolomon carefully followed God's instructions for building the Temple and offering sacrifices (8:11), but he disregarded what God said about marrying pagan women. Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter to secure a military alliance with Egypt. Yet he did not let her live in David's palace, where the Ark of God had once been kept. This suggests that Solomon recognized that his pagan marriage would not please God. Solomon married many other foreign women, despite God's law and warning (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). These women worshiped false gods and contaminated Israel with their beliefs and practices. Eventually Solomon's pagan wives caused his downfall (1 Kings 11:1-11). No matter how good or spiritual we are in most areas of life, we cannot compartmentalize our relationship with God. God can't affect just a few key areas of our lives while being completely absent from others. His word must affect every part. "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws" (James 2:10). RespondResisting God's influence in one corner of our lives is no better than resisting him in the wide-open spaces. What corner are you keeping from God? | 
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