S is for Solomon

Did you hear what happened?

Yeah, what do you think they’re going to do?

I don’t know. I think they’ve called in an adviser who knows how to handle these things.

An adviser. Who?

The wisest man in all of Israel.

Ohhhhh.

People who know, know BDO …. oops, I mean Solomon.

The wisdom of Solomon. Legendary.

The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. ~1 Kings 10:24

Born around 1030 BC, he was the tenth son of King David and second son of Bathsheba. Solomon reigned as a king of Israel over 12 united Jewish tribes for 40 years. Early on, God came to him in a dream and asked “What shall I give you?”

Isn’t THAT a loaded question. Well God, as long as you’re asking, how about wealth, power, fame, prestige….and maybe a Ferrari?

But instead, he asked for an understanding heart, wisdom and knowledge, and the ability to discern between good and evil. God was so moved by his unselfishness that he told him, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. ~1 Kings 3:12

Word of Solomon’s wisdom spread quickly throughout the land, and his wealth grew and eventually exceeded all the kings in the known world. Solomon is credited with writing 3,000 proverbs, 1,005 songs, and the books of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. People came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

Someone targeting to put you out of business? Ask Solomon.
Child custody battle? Ask Solomon.
Trouble with your neighbor? Ask Solomon.

Yes, God’s blessing was certainly alive and well in Solomon’s life. He did great things during his reign, including building the first Jewish temple dedicated to God.

If you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.

But these blessings came with a caveat. If Solomon turned away from looking to God for guidance and direction, there would be severe consequences.

I will uproot them from My land which I have given them, and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight.

Eventually, Solomon couldn’t handle the temptations that came along with great wealth and fame, and he began to make very bad decisions; decisions in direct contrast to what God had told him to do. And true to his word, God followed through with his warning. No idle threats or maliciousness. Solomon’s bad decisions had consequences.

Knowing the correct thing to do doesn’t always result in doing the right thing. Solomon was given almost supernatural wisdom about what was right and wrong. But he was mortal, and subject to temptation just like everyone else. Once he had amassed an ostentatious fortune, he might have thought he was nine foot tall and bulletproof. Once it was obvious he had risen to the creme-de-la-crem in society, something kidnapped his humility and common sense. It’s easy to begin to believe we’re pretty hot stuff when things are going great.

And so God took away his blessing on Solomon’s kingdom. Mercifully, he waited until Solomon’s death and the kingdom splintered with only one tribe being governed by David’s descendents. Because of Solomon’s disobedience, the kingdom wasn’t nearly as great or as extensive as it could have been, which caused hundreds of years of warfare between the northern and southern kingdoms.

Lesson learned: God will not judge us based on how much knowledge or wisdom we have. He is not impressed by how much we know about Scripture. He may decide to bless us with great wealth and wisdom, but He’ll judge us based on how we apply these blessings to the way we live our lives. We always have a choice, but must always be alert to the things that pull us away from doing what we know is right.

Linking up with ABC Wednesday