What is your weakness?

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. Nehemiah 13: 26 NRSV

What is your weakness? What can easily tempt you away from following God?

For King Solomon, it was foreign women. Perhaps it was not a matter of lust so much as a matter of trying to keep the peace with many surrounding nations (easiest to make a treaty and marry one of their daughters). Then, when these foreign women joined the household, they brought their own religious beliefs and their man-made gods.

Nehemiah sees this as one of the biggest problems in the newly rebuild Jerusalem. He reminds the people (the men) that God commanded them not to marry foreign wives. The reason was that these women would bring their own gods into the households and lead both their husbands and their children away from worshipping God. Nehemiah doesn't want God to exile the people again. He wants them to be holy and set apart.

You know what causes you to sin. You also know that God wants you to be holy and set apart. What do you need to do about this?

God, we are all vulnerable to sin. Help us to chase away our temptations and be holy to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims