• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Bible Reflection High Places and Alliances – 1 Kings 3

High Places and Alliances – 1 Kings 3

Posted on December 13, 2010 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


1 Kings 3:1, 3 (ESV)

1 Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem.

3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places.

High PlacesI always had the impression as I grew up that something nefarious was going on when Israel sacrificed at the high places. I assumed that some pagan ritual such as human sacrifice or ritual prostitution was happening. It was not that long ago that I learned that they were not sacrificing to some pagan deity, they were sacrificing to the LORD, the God of the Bible.

The problem is that by sacrificing on the high places, they were not worshiping God in the prescribed manner. While to our 21st Century ears, this does not seem to be a large compromise, it is a deviation from God’s plan for Israel.

Solomon also compromised in the area of matrimony. He was not to marry a Gentile, nor was he to rely on anyone or anything other than God for his support. Through his marriage Solomon allied himself with Pharaoh, trusting in Egypt for support against Israel’s enemies.

Before I am too hard on Solomon and Israel, I have to examine myself to see in what ways I am allowing the culture around me to push me toward compromise. The question is not if I compromise but how and where it happens —and what am I willing to do about it.

Am I willing to be called out by God, Scripture or my friends on those areas where I knowingly or unknowingly go against Scripture? Am I willing to step out in faith and be counter-cultural, whether it be against the culture of established religion or against agnostic society?

I have failed in this and I have also seen progress. By God’s grace, I keep pressing on, trusting in the promise of Philippians 1:6.


Filed Under: Bible Reflection

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

School of prayer book cover

A prayer for today

This morning, I have been reading the opening chapters of With Christ in the School of Prayer, by Andrew Murray. In it, I found this prayer and thought I would reprint it for the benefit of my readers.

Checklist

A checklist for the church

In looking at all of these questions, I realize that there is a gap between my behavior and my belief. I believe in God’s love, I know that I am forgiven, I know that God is in control and I know that I have received and am to give grace. Yet, I do not always live according to that knowledge.

Speculation

Speculation in the Evangelical community

Paul warned Timothy about those who engage in speculation. Has the evangelical community been in violation of this warning?

You have left your first love

If we love the one who gives the perfect example of unapologetically standing for the truth of Scripture while at the same time demonstrating love for those he encountered, then we will constantly seek to follow his example and “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15)

Ballot Box

Blessed are the meek – Part 2

#7 in the Sermon on the Mount series. America will be holding a presidential election in 2012. As a result, political advertisements and discussions fill the airwaves and pixels of the news outlets. It is the way of politics to seek and to wield power and influence. It is not always the wisest voice that […]

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
February 2023
SMTWTFS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728 
« Jan    

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2023 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in