Biblical Reflections · Christian Life
Dullness of mind?
7 min read, approximately
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Dullness occurs when a person’s senses are weakened, making it difficult to think, make decisions, and act clearly. In general, things that lead to dullness include negligence, neglect, distraction, the confidence that we have already made it, fatigue, criticism, foolishness, disinterest, apathy, laziness, being burdened… or, at the opposite extreme, doing nothing!
Dullness is so dangerous because it aims to switch off our discernment. Without discernment we do not weigh the consequences of our actions, have no direction, and act according to what our surroundings dictate.
“Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.” (1 Kings 11:1-3)
King Solomon
Solomon was King David’s son. Yet he is known not only for this, but for 3 key points:
\1. Though he could ask for anything, he asked the LORD for wisdom
“In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great lovingkindness, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great lovingkindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” (1 Kings 3:5-10)
\2. He built the temple
“In the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD… In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the house was completed with all its rooms and everything required. He built it in seven years.” (1 Kings 6:1,38)
\3. He was prosperous, very wealthy, intelligent, and famous
“So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.” (1 Kings 10:23-24)
Well… what does this great king have to do with dullness?
He trusted in having the wisdom to handle every matter. Yet his mind became distracted, to the point that he could no longer think clearly, because he forgot the LORD’s ordinances… Sadly, he soon grew weak, succumbed, and was left without a course or clear direction… He no longer discerned… Dullness!
“Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.” (1 Kings 11:1-2)
What were the consequences?
\1. His heart went astray
“And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father.” (1 Kings 11:3-4)
\2. Astray and disregarding God, it was easy to do evil
“For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and went not fully after Jehovah, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon. And so did he for all his foreign wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.” (1 Kings 11:5-8)
(It would be good to research these idols on our own to understand the next point.)
\3. Consequences
“And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which Jehovah commanded. Wherefore Jehovah said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.” (1 Kings 11:9-12)
Is it worth losing discernment so that our descendants suffer the consequences of our actions?
Let us look at these tips, 1, 2, 3, to avoid falling into dullness:
\1. Let us leave self-sufficiency behind
Be careful!! Alone, we are vulnerable! We depend on Christ Jesus:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)
Is it clear?
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
\2. Beware of carelessness
“And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.” (Matthew 7:26-27)
“Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all. Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:13-16)
And… 3. Beware of giving up!
Sin aims to make us feel dirty, as though we are no longer fit to approach the Lord… That is why the Word teaches that
“He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
So,
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. [Selah” (Psalms 32:5)
Do we think it is time to pause our lives, examine whether we have fallen into dullness, and apply these steps 1, 2, 3?
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May God continue to bless you, and may you keep having an excellent day in Christ Jesus!