The Spiritual Rise and Fall of Solomon the King of Israel
David had purposed to build the Lord a house; however, he would not be permitted to do so due to all the blood that he had shed in war (1 Chronicles 17:1; 2 Chronicles 22:8). The Lord explains the matter to David saying, “Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever” (2 Chronicles 22:9-10).
Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba and beloved of Jehovah God (2 Samuel 12:24). The life of Solomon may best be studied by dividing it into three sections according to the three times Jehovah appeared to the king.
Jehovah Appears to Solomon in a Dream
After the death of David Solomon is named king of Israel. We immediately see the convicted heart of Solomon as he cleanses Israel of the men who dealt wickedly in the days of his father David. First, Adonijah his brother, is killed for trying to usurp the kingdom from David and performing acts of foolishness after David’s death (1 Kings 2). Next, he exiles Abiathar the high priest for his connection with Adonijah and replaces him with Zadok (1 Kings 2). Then Solomon deals with Joab who had been a murderous captain of David’s military. Joab was slain at Solomon’s command for all his foolish acts during the days of his father David (1 Kings 2). Lastly, Solomon slays Shimei the man who had cursed David as he left Israel during the days of Absalom’s attempted take over of the kingdom.
After Solomon cleans Israel of wicked men the Lord appears to him in a dream and said, “Ask what I shall give thee” (2 Chronicles 1:7). Rather than asking for wealth and great fame among men the good king asked the Lord to “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?” (2 Chronicles 1:10). The high priority of Solomon was the people of God. The Lord grants his request and additionally gives the king all that he had not asked for such as long life, wealth, and fame (1 Kings 3:13-14).
Jehovah Appears to Solomon a Second Time
The wisdom of Solomon exceeded all men of the earth (1 Kings 4:30-31). He spoke three thousand proverbs and one thousand and five songs (1 Kings 4:32). Solomon’s wisdom was not only in spiritual matters but in the sciences of zoology and biology as well (1 Kings 4:33). Solomon’s fame came to be known of “all kings of the earth” (1 Kings 4:34).
Solomon builds the temple of God, his own house, and a house for his Egyptian wife. The king spent 20 years building these houses and he spared no expense (see 2 Chronicles 8:1-2). Thousands of animals were sacrificed at the dedication of the temple of Jehovah. The king then leads all of Israel in a beautiful prayer expressing humility and purpose to be obedient unto all the Lord’s commands (see 1 Kings 8:31-53).
The Lord appears to Solomon a second time to make a covenant with the king. The Lord explains to the king that if he will continue in obedience to all the commandments then He would forever be with him. However, if Solomon were to forsake the Lord then Israel would also be forsaken (see 1 Kings 9:1ff).
Solomon’s wealth came to be unimaginable. Year to year the king would see thousands upon thousands of pounds of gold brought to Israel from Ophir and all kingdoms of the earth (1 Kings 10:14-17). Solomon quickly came to be viewed by the world as the most wealthy and wise king alive (1 Kings 10:23). Solomon’s fame was world known (2 Chronicles 9:1). Solomon had come to be the world’s most famous, rich, and wise king.
Jehovah Appears to Solomon for the Third and Final Time
1 Kings 11 opens with Solomon now possessing 700 wives and 300 concubines. These wives were from “The nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them…” (1 Kings 11:2; see also Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:1-3; 17:17). Solomon brought his wives’ idols of Ashtoreth, Milcom, Molech, and Chemosh to Jerusalem and set places of worship for them. Our Bibles tell us that, “Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah” (1 Kings 11:6).
1 Kings 11:9 states, “And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice.” The Lord now appears to Solomon a third time and tells him that He will rend the kingdom from him due to his disobedience. Solomon dies after reigning in Israel forty years.
Lessons from the Life of Solomon
The curious case of Solomon reminds us somewhat of Job. God put Job to the test by permitting Satan to take all that he had (riches and family) (see Job 23:10). One cannot help but ponder the question of Solomon’s great fame, wealth, and wisdom. Had God gave all these things to Solomon to test him as he had put Job to the test by permitting Satan to take everything away?
What happened with Solomon? He went from being a man whose priorities were on the kingdom of God, justice, humility, and obedience to lust and gross disobedience to God. Solomon had turned his heart against Jehovah (1 Kings 11:9). While the Lord gave so much to Solomon the king returns the Lord’s favor with acts of evil.
It is somewhat interesting to note that God has also given you and I very much. We are blessed with homes, transportation, food fit for kings at times, and wonderful families. God has given us his beloved Son Jesus. God has also given us his divine revelation which guides us to attain his marvelous gift of eternal salvation. No treasures or fame the world has ever known can compare to an eternal life of peace and comfort. Will we, like Solomon, be ungrateful now for the blessings that await us in the future? Will we, like Solomon, harden our hearts with blind eyes to the consequences of our actions? Will we, like Solomon, forget God in our old age? Jesus said, ” For what is a man profited , if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 King James Version Bible).
