In 1 Kings 11:4, it says Solomon’s wives turned his heart after other gods, and that his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God. It also says that the heart of David was loyal to God. How can David’s heart be loyal to God when he had committed the terrible sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba, killed her husband Uriah, and pretending as if nothing had happened when he did the sinful act?

– Danish, New Zealand

DR. GEORGY’S RESPONSE:

A common thing in both Old Testament and New Testament is that God accepts a person on the basis of His grace, and not on that person’s works. David was a man after God’s own heart not on the basis of any acts of righteousness which he had done. Instead, he was a man after God’s own heart because he trusted God and that he had firm faith in Him. In this particular verse, it clearly says that Solomon’s wives turned his heart after other gods, and that he worshipped the false gods. Though David had committed some grave sins, he never served or worshipped other gods. He loved and worshipped the God of Israel alone. His heart was always loyal to the Lord God, and therefore his faith was accounted to him for righteousness in God’s sight.