God’s discipline upon wayward children can increase in its frequency and severity. If raising up one adversary is not enough to lead us to repentance of our sin,then God may well add a second or third opponent. God has an unlimited number of means to discipline us and to draw us back to Himself.
Each enemy of Solomon was unique and offered singular challenges. They were also scattered throughout the region so that it was difficult to take them all on at once. Some were in the north, others to the south. Solomon’s enemies also avoided direct confrontation with him, so they nibbled away at the edges of his empire. As a result, Solomon had to remain ever vigilant to how he might be attacked or usurped. This lack of peace was not the blissful living God had intended for the monarch. Yet God refused to leave Solomon in peace after the king chose to forsake his God.
If we are not careful, we can miss what God is saying to us through our times of opposition. We may feel that we are merely going through a difficult season of challenges. But the truth may be that God is increasing the severity of His discipline upon us until our hearts return to Him.