When God raises up an adversary

"King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.  They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love." 1 Kings 11: 1-2

"As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done". 1 Kings 11: 4-6


"The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice". 1 Kings 11: 9

"Then the Lord raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom".  1 Kings 11:14


As I was reading the account of Solomon in 1 Kings, the bold verse of scripture stood out to me.  "Then the Lord raised up against Solomon an adversary".  When you read the previous Scripture, we discover that Solomon had a love for pagan women.  Whenever he married one, he took on the worship of their pagan gods.  This was detestable to God.  

This adversary Hadad had received refuge in Egypt after fleeing Edom as a young child.    He escaped with a few Edomite officials because the army of David were destroying all the men in that city.  As the years went by, Hadad grew up in Egypt.  He later learned that David and his army commander Joab both died.  This caused Hadad to return home to Edom following the news.  

Moreover, as we continue to read, we discover that God raised up even another adversary to come against Solomon.  "And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah".  1 Kings 11: 23.  We are told that "Rezon was Israel’s adversary as long as Solomon lived, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad." 1 Kings 11:25.  

Often God will raise up adversaries to cause our hearts to turn toward Him.  If there is any area of your life where you need to repent, God may raise up an adversary to chastise you in order to get your life back in line.  He also may do as in the case of Solomon use adversaries to bring judgement upon you.  God does not judge people just for the fun of it or to be cynical, but He does so in order for us to turn our hearts fully to Him.