Matthew 15:8-9 8 KJV This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 22:37 KJV Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Matthew 15:19 KJV For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies

Matthew 6:21 KJV For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

1 Kings 9:4 KJV And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments

It is easy to conclusively judge Solomon because we now have the whole story from the beginning to the end. Without this, who would know that Solomon’s heart could be corrupted, and his wisdom compromised? It would be difficult to think that he would stray away from God.

If we think about what God’s word has said through Moses about Israel’s future kings, we would honor God’s Word more.

This was what God said through Moses in Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 17:17 KJV Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

This was what Solomon did.
1 Kings 11:3 KJV And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Let us also think about what God told Jeroboam who God gave larger part of the divided Israel, after Solomon backslided.

1 Kings 14:7 KJV Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, 8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;

Please note the word “only”. It is very important in obeying God. Also, it is the characteristic of those who have the right heart before God. Compare this with the next passage.

2Chronicles 25:2 KJV And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

Let us ponder on the correlation between “doing what is right in the sight of God” and “but not with a perfect heart”. Also, let us note that God does not have favorite (as many think) except those who obey His holy word, do His good will, and walk in the right path He lays before all.

When Abraham was called, he obeyed. Meanwhile certain things remained unsettled in his life until God told him “walk before me and be perfect”.
Nehemiah 9:8 KJV And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:

This tells us that there is a place for seeking God’s righteousness in Jesus by prayers and meditation on His words. It cannot be inherited, just as David/Solomon’s story confirms to us and Abraham/Israel’s story re-echoes.

Psalms 78:8 KJV And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Note, that the Bible says here that these people did not (intentionally) set their heart aright. They were referred to as a generation that did not set is heart right before God. In other words, in their generation, it seems as if it was “normal” to ignore desiring a correct heart before God. If they did seek God for the right heart, it looked like, it did not last long because the Bible made us understand that they were not steadfast with it.

Psalms 78:37 KJV For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

There have always been an emphasis on being deliberate with pursuing a right heart before God. The Bible clearly says that the thirsty heart shall be satisfied. Hallelujah!!!

Psalms 119:7 KJV I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

Proverbs 11:20 KJV They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

Proverbs 21:2 KJV Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

This is showing us that, what we think about ourselves do not matter as much as what God says about us. What does God say about us? All He says in His word. How do we know these? By studying the Bible and meditating on it prayerfully. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see yourself in the light of what God’s word says. Put yourself before God’s word as someone who stands before a mirror and compare who you are to who the Bible says God delights in.

See how the next Bible verse put it. It says God “foundest Abraham’s heart faithful before Him”. This is emphasizing that only what God says about us matters.

Nehemiah 9:8 KJV And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous

Please remember, God’s special blessings and covenant are on those who pursue, receive, and walk before Him with a right heart.

Matthew 5:8 KJV Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

If you have not started this pursuit of obeying Jesus with a right heart, please start now prayerfully.

Psalms 51:10 KJV Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Without a God-given right Spirit no flesh can have a right heart before God.


Prayer Points
1) Oh Lord, fill my heart with the thirst and hunger for a right heart before You, in Jesus name.
2) Father, open my eyes to see myself in the light of Your word, in Jesus name.
3) Holy Spirit, help me to do only what is right before God and with all my heart, in Jesus name.
4) Lord, give me Your Spirit of steadfastness in obeying You, in Jesus name.
5) Lord Jesus, by Your great mercy, make me fit for Your plan and replug me into Your plan, however way I have been separated from it.