It has been said that sin takes us where we do not want to go and that is a true statement. Sin is wrong because it rebels against the will of God; it is dangerous because of where it takes us.
The children of Israel were to keep themselves separated from the other nations but, by intermarrying with the different nations around them, they had compromised and taken on their abominations. The answer for them, though it might seem harsh, was to separate from their heathen marriages.
Clothed with humility (1Peter 3:3-4); as pride is the primary and base sin (1Timothy 3:6), so humility can be seen as the primary and base virtue (Proverbs 15:33).
This chapter and the next mark the height of Solomon’s reign. But there is a warning here too. We will see later how his wealth and his wives draw him away from the Lord.
Samuel’s rule as judge was not without its problems. His sons fell short of Samuel’s example and the people demanded a king.
