1 Kings 3:1-2 ESV
Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.

PRAGMATISM.
Taking Pharaoh’s daughter in a marriage alliance was no doubt a political measure of Solomon in order to strengthen his kingdom’s influence. A pragmatic move to foster relationships with the most powerful of his neighbors. But, should political advancements be considered even in violation to the laws of God? Was not Solomon charged by David to ‘walk in God’s ways and to keep his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses’?[1 Kings 2:3]

“God had strictly forbidden his people to form alliances with heathenish women, lest they should lead their hearts away from him into idolatry. Let us hear the law: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son; for they will turn away thy son from following me, etc. Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3, Deuteronomy 7:4. Now Solomon acted in direct opposition to these laws; and perhaps in this alliance were sown those seeds of apostasy from God and goodness in which he so long lived, and in which he so awfully died.” [Adam Clarke]

It’s not surprising that the world operates prejudiced towards pragmatism. In an environment of ‘survival to the fittest’, pragmatism thrives. As somebody said, “Hindi na ngayon panahon ni Kristo kung di sa mga listo.” What works at the moment may not be right. In other words, the end does not justify the means. Solomon may had found success in befriending the world. But, he estranged himself from God. As James said, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” [Jas 4:4] At the end of the day, he had to settle this with Jehovah.

Doing what is right and pleasing to God must be our pursuit. It may not be practical. In fact, it may cause us to receive oppositions. However, let us remember that those who honor God , He will honor someday. [1 Sam 2:30]

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