With greater light comes greater responsibility (1 Kings 3:1-4; Deut. 12:5-14)

“The division of the kingdom after the reign of Solomon into Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) is soon made into an excuse for innovations in worship, which God condemns in the strongest terms and which ultimately lead to judgment and captivity.”

“…Solomon’s reign was followed by the division of Israel into a northern and southern kingdom, with 10 of the 12 tribes dwelling apart from Jerusalem and the holy Temple. This division ultimately led to the corruption of worship and the judgment of both kingdoms. But the beginnings of the later corruption can be seen even in the practice of Solomon, as summarized by the author of 1 Kings in the first four verses of chapter three.

“Solomon’s carelessness with regard to the place of God’s worship is clearly condemned in the Biblical record of his reign, though he himself is accepted as one who loved the Lord. Because he lived in a time of transition, when the permanent place of God’s worship was not yet established, his error of innovation is not condemned as strongly as those who would come after the central place of the temple was established, yet it is condemned nevertheless. Neither is his love for the Lord discounted, though he committed sin with regard to the manner of worship. From this we learn:

1) that where there is greater light, there is greater duty and accountability

2) that God plainly condemns innovations in His worship

3) that God may, and does, reject impure worship while not necessarily rejecting the heart of the worshipper-yet with greater light comes greater responsibility.” (Comin, 95-96)