1 Kings 11:1-13 (CSBBible)
1 King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh’s daughter: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women
2 from the nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, and they must not intermarry with you, because they will turn your heart away to follow their gods.” To these women Solomon was deeply attached in love.
3 He had seven hundred wives who were princesses and three hundred who were concubines, and they turned his heart away.
4 When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.
5 Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites.
6 Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, and unlike his father David, he did not remain loyal to the LORD.
7 At that time, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abhorrent idol of Moab, and for Milcom, the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites, on the hill across from Jerusalem.
8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who were burning incense and offering sacrifices to their gods.
9 The Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
10 He had commanded him about this, so that he would not follow other gods, but Solomon did not do what the Lord had commanded.
11 Then the Lord said to Solomon, “Since you have done this and did not keep my covenant and my statutes, which I commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
12 However, I will not do it during your lifetime for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of your son’s hand.
13 Yet I will not tear the entire kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem that I chose.”

Compromise! Simply put is the middle way between two extreme situations. It is when we settle something less, more to gain favour or reach an agreement.
A compromise could also be a committal to something derogatory or objectionable, a prejudicial concession, to surrender as a compromise of character or right.
There are certain areas where compromise is good or right, the place where a good middle ground is needed to avoid conflict, to promote peace and safety than getting one’s way.
We see such good compromise first in Daniel 2:8-14 with Daniel and his three friends working out a compromise with the court official concerning their diet.
Sadly, our text is the most extreme case of compromise ever recorded in the bible and we must be careful to take heed of God’s word in every area of our lives to avoid compromising our dignity, honesty, integrity and faith.
The chapter starts off with a very sad but real statement, “and Solomon loved many foreign women” he clung to them in love. Solomon also loved the daughter of Pharaoh and many other women. Solomon’s heart was divided.
Unhealthy compromise as exhibited by Solomon always ends in tragedy. With the extreme wisdom and riches God granted Solomon, he was very foolish in his action.
God gave the specific instruction in Deuteronomy 7:3 prohibiting intermarriage so that Israel would not turn away from the one true God. Yet, here was the king blatantly disobeying God’s instruction in such an extreme way.
Solomon’s heart turned away from God.
When we compromise on the things of God, on our integrity, and principles, something breaks.
Somethings, we think something appears innocent or harmless, so we go ahead and compromise on what we should uphold to settle for what is at hand.
The enemy is always looking for a foothold but we mustn’t give him one according to Ephesians 4:26-27, he often starts us on compromising on something small, harmless and insignificant on the surface but the Bible makes it clear that God does not condone compromising His commands according to Deuteronomy 5:32, saying “Be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left”
Solomon compromised on everything the Lord forbade kings from doing in Deuteronomy 17:16-17, he did them all.
Healthy compromise is good and necessary in life if it does not cost us our values and beliefs.
We must not abandon God’s standards and our personal principles to be involved in things the Lord frowns upon.
In what area of your life are you compromising? Are you willing to tell a “white lie” to get your way? Ready to turn the other way when evil is going on to avoid offence? How about what you do when you feel threatened? Are you willing to compromise on your faith, the word of God and the principles of the gospel?
God’s righteousness is forever, His standard is sure, He would not accept compromise as He says in 1 Peter 1:16, be holy as He is.
Unhealthy compromise is costly, it destroys relationships, and reputations and reduces one’s values.
God has equipped us according to Philippians 2:12-13 to resist compromise, not by our strength but by His.
Don’t be tempted to compromise on your faith. Never give in!
Shalom