* 1 Kings 11: 1-13. The practice of mixed marriages was in direct violation of the divine Law, Deut. 7: 3, 4, and it led to idolatry. All around the Holy City arose heathen temples. It seems almost incredible that Solomon should have lent himself to such unblushing patronage of idolatry. His sin was aggravated by the great privileges he had enjoyed, v. 9, and there was no escape from chastisement, 2 Sam. 7:14. The more privileged we are, the more disastrous our fall, and the more inevitable the penalty. If God loved us less, he might be more sparing of the rod. We are often punhed with the rod of men, that is, we suffer at their hands; but God does not cease to love us. The father will listen at the door of the room of the child whom

he has been compelled to chastise to detect the first sign of broken-hearted grief.