"Be Ye Separate"
Placed at the head of a nation that had been set as a light to the surrounding nations,
Solomon might have brought great glory to the Lord of the universe by a life of obedience. He
might have encouraged God's people to shun the evils that were practiced in the surrounding
nations. He might have used his God-given wisdom and power of influence in organizing and
directing a great missionary movement for the enlightenment of those who were ignorant of God
and of His truth. Thus multitudes might have been won to an allegiance to the King of kings.
Satan well knew the results that would attend obedience, and during the earlier years of
Solomon's reign,--years glorious because of the wisdom, the beneficence, and the uprightness of
the king,--he sought to bring in influences that would insidiously undermine Solomon's loyalty to
principle, and cause him to separate from God. And that the enemy was successful in this effort,
we know from the record: "Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took
Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David."
In forming an alliance with a heathen nation, and sealing the compact by marriage with an
idolatrous princess, Solomon rashly disregarded the wise provisions that God had made for
maintaining the purity of His people. The hope that this Egyptian wife might be converted, was
but a feeble excuse for the sin. In violation of a direct command to remain separate from other
nations, the king united his strength with the arm of flesh.
For a time, God in His compassionate mercy overruled this terrible mistake. Solomon's wife
was converted; and the king, by a wise course, might have done much to check the evil forces
that his imprudence had set in operation. But
Solomon began to lose sight of the Source of his power and glory. Inclination gained the
ascendency over reason. As his self-confidence increased, he sought to carry out the Lord's
purpose in his own way. He reasoned that political and commercial alliances with the
surrounding nations would bring them to a knowledge of the true God; and so he entered into
unholy alliance with nation after nation. Often these alliances were sealed by marriage with
heathen princesses. The commands of Jehovah were set aside for the customs of the surrounding
nations.
During the years of Solomon's apostasy, the spiritual decline of Israel was rapid. How could it
have been otherwise, when their king united with satanic agencies? Through these agencies the
enemy worked to confuse the minds of the people in regard to true and false worship. They
became an easy prey. It came to be a common practice to intermarry with the heathen. The
Israelites rapidly lost their abhorrence of idolatry. Heathen customs were introduced. Idolatrous
mothers brought their children up to observe heathen rites. The Hebrew faith was fast becoming
a mixture of confused ideas. Commerce with other nations brought the Israelites into intimate
contact with those who had no love for God, and their own love for Him was greatly lessened.
Their keen sense of the high and holy character of God was deadened. Refusing to follow in the
path of obedience, they transferred their allegiance to Satan. The enemy rejoiced in his success in
effacing the divine image from the minds of the people that God has chosen as His
representatives. Through inter-marriage with idolaters and constant association with them, Satan
brought about that for which he had long been working,--a national apostasy.
Unscriptural Alliances
The Lord desires His servants to preserve their holy and peculiar character. "Be ye not
unequally yoked together with
unbelievers," is His command; "for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or
what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with
idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in
them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
Never was there a time in earth's history when this warning was more appropriate than at the
present time. Many professed Christians think, like Solomon, that they may unite with the
ungodly, because their influence over those who are in the wrong will be beneficial; but too often
they themselves, entrapped and overcome, yield their sacred faith, sacrifice principle, and
separate themselves from God. One false step leads to another, till at last they place themselves
where they cannot hope to break the chains that bind them.
Great care should be taken by Christian youth in the formation of friendships and in the
choice of companions. Take heed, lest what you now think to be pure gold turns out to be base
metal. Worldly associations tend to place obstructions in the way of your service to God, and
many souls are ruined by unhappy unions, either business or matrimonial, with those who can
never elevate or ennoble. Never should God's people venture upon forbidden ground. Marriage
between believers and unbelievers is forbidden by God. But too often the unconverted heart
follows its own desires, and marriages unsanctioned by God are formed. Because of this many
men and women are without hope and without God in the world. Their noble aspirations are
dead; by a chain of circumstances they are held in Satan's net. Those who are ruled by passion
and impulse will have a bitter harvest to reap in this life, and their course may result in the loss of
their souls.
Institutional Work
Those who are placed in charge of the Lord's institutions are in need of much of the
strength and grace and keeping power of God, that they shall not walk contrary to the sacred
principles of the truth. Many, many are very dull of comprehension in regard to their obligation
to preserve the truth in its purity, uncontaminated by one vestige of error. Their danger is in
holding the truth in light esteem, thus leaving upon minds the impression that it is of little
consequence what we believe, if, by carrying out plans of human devising, we can exalt
ourselves before the world as holding a superior position, as occupying the highest seat.
God calls for men whose hearts are as true as steel, and who will stand steadfast in integrity,
undaunted by circumstances. He calls for men who will remain separate from the enemies of the
truth. He calls for men who will not dare to resort to the arm of flesh by entering into partnership
with worldlings in order to secure means for advancing His work--even for the building of
institutions. Solomon, by his alliances with unbelievers, secured an abundance of gold and silver,
but his prosperity proved his ruin. Men today are no wiser than he, and they are as prone to yield
to the influences that caused his downfall. For thousands of years Satan has been gaining an
experience in learning how to deceive; and to those who live in this age he comes with almost
overwhelming power. Our only safety is found in obedience to God's word, which has been given
us as a sure guide and counselor. God's people today are to keep themselves distinct and separate
from the world, its spirit, and its influences.
"Come out from among them, and be ye separate." Shall we hear the voice of God and obey,
or shall we make halfway work of the matter, and try to serve God and Mammon?
There is earnest work before each one of us. Right thoughts, pure and holy purposes, do not come
to us naturally. We shall have to strive for them. In all our institutions, our publishing houses and
colleges and sanitariums, pure and holy principles must take root. If our institutions are what God
designs they should be, those connected with them will not pattern after worldly institutions.
They will stand as peculiar, governed and controlled by the Bible standard. They will not come
into harmony with the principles of the world in order to gain patronage. No motives will have
sufficient force to move them from the straight line of duty. Those who are under the control of
the Spirit of God will not seek their own pleasure or amusement. If Christ presides in the hearts
of the members of His church, they will answer to the call, "Come out from among them, and be
ye separate." "Be not partakers of her sins."
God would have us learn the solemn lesson that we are working out our own destiny. The
characters we form in this life decide whether or not we are fitted to live through the eternal ages.
No man can with safety attempt to serve both God and Mammon. God is fully able to keep us in
the world, but not of the world. His love is not uncertain and fluctuating. Ever He watches over
His children with a care that is measureless and everlasting. But He requires us to give Him our
undivided allegiance. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
Mammon."
Solomon was endowed with wonderful wisdom; but the world drew him away from God. We
need to guard our souls with all diligence, lest the cares and the attractions of the world absorb
the time that should be given to eternal things. God warned Solomon of his danger, and today He
warns us not to imperil our souls by affinity with the world. "Come out from among them," He
pleads, "and be ye separate,
. . . and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye
shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord God Almighty."--Review and Herald, February 1,
1906.