Sermon series: Learning Life's Lessons from the Old Testament Saints 

Subject: Solomon--the Man Who Didn't Use His Wisdom Wisely.

1 Kings 2:10-12
"So David rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David.
The period that David reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.
Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established."

Solomon was very young when he came to the throne. His own word is that he was "but a little child"; "Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how "to go out or come in." (ch. 3:7)
Eusebius says he was twelve. Josephus says he was fifteen. We may safely say he was not more than twenty years old.
His early accession was precipitated by a conspiracy of Adonijah, David's eldest surviving son, who aspired to the throne.
"Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
(And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?" He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.) (1 Kings 1:5-6).
Adonijah apparently judged that he could bring off his coup d'etat on the threefold ground of David's enfeeblement through old age, Solomon's disqualification through immaturity, and his own eminent suitability as being a favorite son of David, and a very attractive person.
He was backed up by Joab, the head of the army, and Abiathar, head of the priesthood, both of whom presumably sought their own interests--Joab to retain his leadership as under David, and Abiathar to oust his rival, Zadok.
But the stratagem proved abortive owing to the quick counter move of Nathan the prophet, who procured and then proclaimed the aged David's solemn oath that Solomon was the appointed successor. Adonijah's guilt is seen in his own confession, shortly

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afterward, that he had known the kingdom to be Solomon’s "from the Lord." "Then he said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel had set their expectations on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom has been turned over, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from the Lord." (2:15)
As David drew near to death, he gave Solomon some final instructions: "I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, "If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, He said, "you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel." (2:3-4).
Shortly after Solomon ascends to the throne, he orders the death of Adonijah, his brother who had tried to make himself the king.
In chapter 3 of 1 Kings where our study is recorded, we find these words:
"And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places." (v.3)
"At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
And Solomon said, "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on His throne, as it is this day.
Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in."
And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted.
Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
Then God said to him: Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a

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wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
And I have also given you what you have not asked; both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
So, if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." (3:5-14)
Without lessening our appreciation of the noble choice here made by Solomon, it is right that we should clearly understand the kind of wisdom which he here besought, and with which he thereafter become supernaturally gifted; for unless we do understand this we shall find it puzzling to reconcile his wisdom with that later foolishness which appeared alongside of it.
Solomon’s own words indicate that in asking for wisdom he did not mean spiritual wisdom--that insight in Divine things which comes only through a close relationship with God. What Solomon desired was the wisdom to administrate and make sagacious judgment and have intellectual grasp in directing the affairs of the nation. Our text tells us: "And God gave Solomon wisdom, and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore." "And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt."
To the people at large, the first evidence of the young king’s penetrating insight came with his decision in the case of the two young mothers who came as rival claimants to the same baby. Solomon requested a sword and prepared to divide the child between them. "Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said: O my Lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!" Solomon immediately knew the real mother by her compassion for her baby.
In the first twenty years of Solomon’s reign he builds the Temple and his palace. The eloquent description of his accomplishments is found in chapter 10:14-29.
"The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the Kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country.
Verse 18: "Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.

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The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round at the back; there were armrests on either side of the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the armrests. Twelve lions stood there, one on each side of the six steps; nothing like this had been made for any other kingdom."
All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon."
These verses leave us in no doubt as to the material splendor of that time. We are told that Solomon made silver to be as common as stones in Jerusalem. It is well to remember that silver, not gold, was the money of that day!
Probably much of Solomon’s organization had its roots in David’s government, and back of that was an Egypt model, but Solomon placed the stamp of genius upon its final form.
It has been assumed by some that the military organization set up by David was continued by Solomon with but few changes and additions. Israel experienced a sudden spurt of improvement in standard of living and in economic activity. Solomon was extravagant and spared no pains to turn his humble capital into a magnificent city. His first big project was one already started under his father, the construction of the Temple.
1 Kings 5 tells us of the decision of Solomon to commence his Temple building project.
"Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David.
Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying: "You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put his foes under the soles of his feet.
But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor evil occurrence.
And behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build the house for My name.
Now therefore, command that they cut down cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with our servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know there is none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians." (1 Kings 5:1-6)
Solomon determined that only the best was

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good enough for God’s house. Already much material had been gathered but the final size and ornamentation was left largely to Solomon, who in turn procured the artisans of Tyre to insure high quality work.
The Temple was modeled primarily after the Mosaic Tabernacle, though its measurements were almost double the Tabernacle.
It was begun in Solomon’s fourth year and was completed after seven years.
While the temple was being built, Solomon built an elaborate palace, comprised of the "House of the Forest of Lebanon," and "Hall of Pillars" and the "Hall of the Throne."
Each was magnificent and costly.
Solomon inherited from David territory which touched the banks of the Euphrates to the north and the River of Egypt, Wadi al Arish, to the southwest. The Mediterranean Sea served as the western border, the Arabian Desert the eastern border, and the southern anchor was the tip of the Gulf of Aquabah.
What Solomon lacked in military occupation, he made up by forging a series of treaties. One of Solomon’s first treaties was with Egypt. It was not altogether to his advantage, for he was required to take an Egyptian princess as a queen and he gave up control of Philistia.
First Kings 10:24,25 and Second Chronicles 9:23, tell us of 24 network treaties made by Solomon with countries of all sizes, and many of his wives seem to have been sureties for these treaties. If one of your wives was the daughter of a neighboring king, it is very unlikely that the king would wage a battle with his father-in-law!
Another treaty was with Hiram, king of Tyre. Solomon’s relationship with Hiram was not limited to buying lumber and skills for his building projects; Solomon was able to exploit Hiram’s maritime knowledge for his own advantage. Ships and sailors were obtained for a fleet which operated out of Ebion-geber. This fleet made trade contacts with Arabia and the eastern coast of Africa, bringing many strange and exotic goods and animals to Israel.
The celebrated visit of the Queen of Sheba was as much a trade mission as a trip motivated by a strong curiosity about the reputed wisest man in the world. Her elaborate gifts could serve as "samples" of what her country could offer to aggressive traders.
Chapter 10, verse 13 says: "And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about

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your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes, and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard." (10:6-7).
We have noted that after Solomon's initial experience of his dream at Gibeon, he immediately plunged into the task of building the Temple.
The dedication of the temple was a high occasion in Solomon's life. The ceremony was elaborate and impressive. Everyone of importance in Israel came to Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant was transferred from David's Tabernacle to the Temple by the priests and the Levites in an impressive procession. The time was the Feast of Tabernacles.
While numerous sacrifices were being offered, the Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies of the new sanctuary. God placed His blessing on the scene by symbolizing His presence by means of a cloud. The king himself gave public recognition to the divine presence and personally pronounced a blessing upon the assembled congregation.
"And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place., that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord." (1 Kings 8:10-11)
After King Solomon had given his speech and offered his prayer of dedication, our text says: "Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the Lord.
And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord." (1 Kings 8:62-63).
"And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king's house, and Solomon's desire which he wanted to do, that the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to Him at Gibeon. And the Lord said to him; "I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your fa-

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ther. Saying. 'You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'

But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandment and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of my sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
And as for this house which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, "Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?"
Then they will answer, "Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the Lord has brought all this calamity on them" (1 Kings 9:1-9).
Alas, the glory of the Solomonic period was short-lived.
Soon were Israel's sons to lament, "How his gold became dim!" The fault was Solomon's alone. Here was his problem!
"But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh; women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites--from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love.
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
For it was so...when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David." (1 Kings 9:1-4)
"So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you. I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen."

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It was this infidelity of Solomon which precipitated the disruption into the two kingdoms.
The sun of Solomon's glory set in dark clouds. Not all the gorgeous apparel of his costly wardrobe could hide the ugly blot on his character. Not only had Solomon abused marriage; he had filled his great harem with women from nations against which Israel had repeatedly received Divine interdict—Moab, Ammon, Edom, and others, and had even built "high places" for their abominable deities.
Solomon had forfeited further Divine favor. The wisest of all men had become the greatest of all fools, for he had sinned against light and privilege and promise such as had been given to no other man in all the earth.
Truly, in Solomon we see how inferior is the greatest human wisdom to true piety. If, as the psalmist says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," then surely the highest of all wisdom is to obey the Lord in all things, and thus to walk before Him with a perfect heart.
The following quotation gives a fair criticism of Solomon: "In estimating him, we must remember his privileges and opportunities. He did not, as his father, inherit a wretched kingdom and a demoralized army, but a kingdom established in righteousness, and an army all victorious. Then he had the experience of the two previous kings to guide him. Peacefulness, as his name indicates, certainly characterized his reign; but how far he merited his other name, Jedidiah, "Beloved of the Lord," may be questioned.
Abraham was the 'friend of God,' and David the man 'after God’s own heart'; but Solomon did not walk in their ways.
His record has its bright features, as is seen in his early humility, his wise choice of a gift, his building of the Temple, and his wonderful prayer at its dedication. Were these removed from his record, what would be left to the credit of his memory?
He was a man of extraordinary ability, a botanist, zoologist, architect, poet, and moral philosopher; and yet a man who strangely lacked in strength of character. He who was beloved of his God, not so much, one would think, for his own sake as for David’s, was made to sin by 'outlandish women,' after the Lord had appeared to him twice!
So much, then for King Solomon--his ascension, his wisdom, his glory, and his failure. Is there in all history a more thought-provoking irony than this, that the wisest of all men became the greatest of fools? He ends his life with these words; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."