But Solomon...

1 Kings 11:9-10 KJV

And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

Verse one begins, "But Solomon…." My how just one word can change the direction of the story of a man's life.

God had appeared twice to Solomon. He had received both blessing and warning from the Lord. Those warnings had included that he not turn away from the Lord. I am convinced that God gave him such explicit warning because

• He knew the heart of Solomon
• He knew that his tendency would be toward women who would tempt him away from God

God knows our hearts so much better than we do that we would always do best to listen to the Word of God and believe it, even when it warns us against something we think we are free of. The sin that lies dormant in our hearts would shock and horrify us but is no surprise to God.