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cautionary example

1 Kings 11:5&6
"5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father."

God doesn’t demand perfection from us, nor did He from Solomon. As King David’s son, Solomon inherited Jerusalem’s throne, a thriving trade hub at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia, amassing great wealth. Blessed with divine wisdom and creative gifts to write books and poetry, Solomon may have believed he could do no wrong.

Yet, like all people, Solomon had a tendency to justify his actions, even when they were wrong. Despite being king, he faced pressure from his wives to satisfy their demands. Once he built an altar for one wife’s gods, fairness demanded he do the same for others. "For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites." This idolatry persisted publicly for years, leading others astray. "Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD." Solomon became a cautionary example for us.
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