When Solomon neared the end of his life he turned to idolatry. In 1 Kings 11:1-9 we note several explanations of how his heart was turned to this practice. For example, we read that “Solomon loved many strange women.” These women were a key element in distracting Solomon from the Lord as they served other Gods. He was not diligent in keeping the Lord’s charge to marry within the covenant and he committed the great sin of idolatry worshipping other God’s with his wives. God had spoken very directly to Solomon and explicitly stated that he should not worship other God’s, however, eventually Solomon reached a point where “his heart was turned from the Lord.” Obviously his confidence in the Lord had waxed weak.
This was also the case with Jeroboam who was promised by the Lord’s prophet the northern kingdom of Israel. He further received the promise to be established as surely as David’s house if he were but upright and straight before the Lord. However, we see that he doubts the promise of the Lord to truly establish him. In 1 Kings 12:25-33 we see that he fears that the people will turn away from him and he resolves to make two idols and his own ministry to flatter the people to worship in his kingdom alone. He did not trust enough in the Lord’s promise and quickly turns to idol worship to build up carnal security for himself.
We see in the Old Testament that this doubt in the Lord becomes extremely contagious as the people are turned to idol worship. The vicious process leaves the people accustomed with relying on means aside from obedience to the Lord to resolve the issues that they face. It gets to a point were serving the Lord becomes and difficult decision for them to make. In the book of Judges, Gideon, a champion of Israel leads them firmly against idol worship and exhorts them to follow the Lord. However, when he dies we read in Judges 8:33-35 that the people of Israel cease to respect how he led in life and turn quickly to idolatry again.
This attitude passes from generation to generation again and again in the Old Testament. It is illustrated most clearly and frustratingly in the Jewish history following the death of Solomon, for generations Israel can never seem to escape from idolatry and only holds on to national confidence in the Lord over a few brief episodes. The epidemic of doubt in the Lord is very evident throughout this era of Israelite history.
When our doubt today leads to disobedience we easily compromise our loyalty to the Lord. This is manifest when we downplay the importance of the Sabbath Day and turn our minds from the Lord during his Sabbath. We often doubt that the Lord will enable us to be member missionaries and discover ways to fulfill our covenants to be witnesses of him at all times. Our children, friends, students, coworkers, and family will notice this and imitate our attitude towards these commandments. For example a child may develop the habit of not sharing the gospel with his friends, this habit may be temporarily eradicated when he serves a full-time mission, like Israel abandoned idolatry in the reign of Asa, however upon returning he will be more likely to discontinue doing missionary work when he comes back. This child and all those he associates with will lose precious blessings and in turn will spread their spiritual sickness.
Proverbs 3:21-26 describes how the wise allow the Lord to guide their paths and do not worry about caring for their own security. They, in other word’s exercise confidence in the Lord and in his great commandments. I know that if I maintain this confidence and am obedient to my covenants with the Lord that I will not turn to idolatry. I do not want to be an agent of spreading doubt, not to any degree.
