Well we have all heard the story of Solomon. Solomon was the son of king David and is considered one of the wisest men that every lived. We read the story of Solomon and all that he accomplished in 1 Kings 2-11.We know that Solomon completed the temple that David his father had instructed him to do. He also built himself the most magnificent palace anyone had ever seen. Solomon had absolutely no enemies. He had peace during his reign. Kings from other kingdoms came to him seeking advice. He was admired throughout the entire world. He had more wealth than any other king.
Why did Solomon, king of Israel, have all of this? The answer is simple, God. We see in 1 Kings 3:5 that God appeared to Solomon and told him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Solomon's reply shows you what kind of a king he really was. He began his reply with praise, praising God for everything he had done for David his father and everything that God was doing for him as king. While we do not know exactly how old Solomon was when he became king, we do know that he was fairly young. He replies to the Lord, "Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties." Obviously he wouldn't have been just a child physically because he would have had someone that ruled the kingdom until he became of age. Solomon here is talking about a spiritual child. He had absolutely no idea how to guide a whole kingdom in the ways that God expected him to. Solomon only asks for two things from God as his answer, "A discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong." There is so much Solomon could have asked God for: to live forever, to have all his enemies extinguished, for all the money in the world. But no, Solomon asked for wisdom. God granted Solomon's request in 1 Kings 3:12. On top of that God gave Solomon wealth and honor so that in his lifetime he would have no equal among kings. God also granted Solomon a long life, with a catch. 1 Kings 3:14, "If you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
Of all the things that a person could ask God for, what we as Americans ask God for, discernment and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong are not number one on our plates. American's are not wise in the way God intended for us to be wise. Here is a formula for being wise: wisdom = knowledge + obedience. As you read through the book of Proverbs you learn that there are two forces fighting for your attention. The first is wisdom and the other folly. You have the choice to follow whichever one you choose. Proverbs 2:16 says, "Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman," Just knowing that you should not commit adultery is not enough. Through knowledge we know that cheating on our spouse is wrong, but through obedience to the Lord we do not do it. When you know you shouldn't and you do not, that is wisdom. Wisdom takes knowledge and transforms it into action.
Which one did Solomon choose to follow?
The book of Ecclesiastes does not paint a very pretty picture for anyone. Ecc. 2:11 says, "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." So how did king Solomon who had anything anyone could ever dream of, unimaginable wealth, honor and respect around the world and the ability to rule Israel the way God wanted him to hit a pit of despair that Ecclesiastes talks about. It's simple, Solomon had the knowledge but did not have the obedience. Solomon did not practice what he preached. Solomon had 3 major sins that led to his despair and ultimately his short tenure as king.
The first sin is that he did not trust in the protection of the Lord. Deuteronomy 17:16 says that a king moreover must not acquire great numbers of horses or chariots. 1 Kings 4:26 says, "Solomon had four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses." Solomon disobeyed God. God knew that if a king were to increase his army to that extent they would not longer trust in Him for their protection but in themselves and their army. Solomon did just that.
The second sin was that Solomon did not trust in the promise of the Lord. Solomon was constantly building up fortified cities around Jerusalem such as Gezer and other important trade cities according to 1 Kings 9:17-19. Solomon was building up defensive provisions against any philistine attack. Here is the ironic thing, Solomon had no enemies. 1 Chron 22:9 God promised David, Solomon's father, during the reign of his son, Israel would have peace on all sides. God promised Solomon peace so why did Solomon feel the need to fortify his kingdom? Simply put, Solomon did not trust in the promise of the Lord.
Solomon's third sin is that he did not trust in the provision of the Lord. Again in Deut 17:17, God told Israel that a king should not marry foreign women. In 1 Kings 11:1 we see that Solomon had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines. The reason that a king would marry foreign women like this was to enact peace treaties with these other countries in order to secure the peace. In Solomon's older days, his wives turned his heart after other Gods and he was no longer fully devoted to the Lord. Ecc 2:8 says, "I amassed silver and gold for myself." Again Solomon did exactly the opposite of his instructions from God.
Now you tell me, are these the actions of a man that was applying his knowledge to a lifestyle of obedience that brings honor and glory to God or the actions of a foolish man that was more worried about self preservation? Suffice to say, Solomon did not practice what he preached and suffered the consequences. We can choose to learn from the mistakes of Solomon or we can choose to travel down the same road and find ourselves in the same pit of despair that Solomon found himself in.
