Of all the life lessons that the Bible teaches, what king Solomon’s life teaches us stands out. In this post then we will seek to learn the lessons that God desires us to learn from Solomon’s life, if we wish to receive eternal life from God.
Who is God?
First of all, before we can even begin to understand the lessons that Solomon’s life teaches us, we need to get a basic grasp of who God is. Now “God” (Genesis 1:1) and “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) are interchangeable names in the Bible for a divine Family.
Note that “Genesis 1:1” and “Acts 17:29” are examples of what is known as Bible notation which is a way of referencing the Bible. As for the Bible, it is a collection of books, where each book in the Bible consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses.
The quotation referred to as “Genesis 1:1” is taken from the book with the title Genesis in the Bible, the 1st chapter, and the 1st verse. Similarly, the quotation referred to as “Acts 17:29” is taken from the book with the title Acts in the Bible, the 17th chapter, and the 29th verse.
As it happens, the Godhead has three members and, No, there are not three Gods! Why? Because the members of the Godhead never contradict each other at any time, that is, we can say that they speak with one voice. Therefore, we can say, “there is one God.” Mark 12:32.
What are the names of these three Persons in the Godhead? Their names are “the Father” (Matthew 11:27), “the Son” (Psalm 2:12) also called Christ (Matthew 1:1), and “the Holy Spirit” (Psalm 51:11).
Each Person in the Godhead is “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” Hebrews 7:3.
What is God Like?
We can know what is God like because God describes Himself by saying that He is “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) and “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. That is to say, the definitive thing to know about the Godhead is that the three members have the identical character of love, and this love is the only definition of true love in the universe.
Also, just to be clear, a related question is, Who is Jesus? The name Jesus was given to Christ when He was born as a baby boy on earth over 2,000 years ago.
OK, great! With this foundation, you are now ready to understand all that the Bible has to say.
What Is the Bible?
“The word of God [the Bible]…it [is] not as the word of men [of human beings], but as it is in truth, [it is] the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and also called “the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.
In other words, the Bible is God’s love letter to humanity to make God known to the human race and to cause people to live in accordance with God’s ways of love.
Our Bible Verse of Focus
In this blog post, the following Bible verse will guide our discussion: “Beware lest [if by any means] any man [any person] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men [human beings], after the rudiments [principles] of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8.
King David Gives His Throne to Solomon
It was God Himself who chose both David to be king over Israel, for Israel was a theocracy, a nation under the the direct rule of God. Now in his old age, when David’s death was near, his son, “Adonijah…exalted himself, saying, I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5), seeking to wrongfully gain the throne of Israel.
For David said, “Of all my sons, (for the LORD [God] hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD [God] over Israel.” 1 Chronicles 28:5.
Thus, to prevent the kingdom of Israel from falling into Adonijah’s hands, David gave up his throne and made Solomon king over Israel.
David Tells the Story of God’s Command to Him
God says, “And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.” 1 Chronicles 28:1.
“Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people [Israel]: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD [a golden box with a golden lid called the Mercy Seat, containing the tables stones on which God Himself had written the ten commandments], and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.” 1 Chronicles 28:2, 3.
“And he [God] said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.” 1 Chronicles 28:6.
“Moreover I [God] will establish his [Solomon’s] kingdom for ever, if he be constant [steadfast] to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.” 1 Chronicles 28:7.
“Now therefore [you, king David, says God,] in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:8.
David’s Command to Solomon
“And [king David said,] thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father [David], and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD [God] searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9.
“Take heed now; for the LORD [God] hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.” 1 Chronicles 28:10.
“Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, and the pattern of all that he had by the [Holy] spirit.” 1 Chronicles 28:11, 12. “All this, said David, the LORD [God] made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.” 1 Chronicles 28:19.
“And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD [God].” 1 Chronicles 28:20.
“And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee [Solomon] for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful [skillful] man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly [completely] at thy commandment.” 1 Chronicles 28:21.
Solomon’s Golden Opportunity
As a theocracy, God had said to ancient Israel, long before Solomon’s time, “Keep therefore and do them [God’s commandments]; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation [Israel] is a wise and understanding people.” Deuteronomy 4:6.
Therefore, God had promised Israel “to make thee [Israel] high above all nations which he [God] hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he [God] hath spoken.” Deuteronomy 26:19.
Hence, David said to his son, Solomon, “And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies…that thou mayest prosper in all that thou [Solomon] doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD [God] may continue his word which he [God] spake concerning me [David], saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man [a descendant] on the throne of Israel.” 1 Kings 2:3, 4.
This was Solomon’s golden opportunity to fulfill God’s great destiny for Israel as a nation that correctly represented God and attracted all the world to God’s ways of love.
The Extent of the Kingdom of Israel in Solomon’s Time
After the death of his father, king David, “king Solomon was king over all Israel.” 1 Kings 4:1.
“And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river [Euphrates] unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.” 1 Kings 4:21.
“For he [Solomon] had dominion over all the region on this side the river [Euphrates]…over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him…And…Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree…all the days of Solomon.” 1 Kings 4:24, 25. And at this time, the people of “Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude.” 1 Kings 4:20.
“And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified [increased] him exceedingly.” 2 Chronicles 1:1.
Thus, during the reigns of the two kings of a united kingdom of ancient Israel, David and Solomon, the nation of Israel reached the height of its greatness.
God Gives Wisdom to Solomon
God says, “And Solomon loved the LORD [God], walking in the statutes of David his father…And the king [Solomon] went to Gibeon to sacrifice there…[and] in Gibeon the LORD [God] appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said [to Solomon], Ask what I [God] shall give thee.” 1 Kings 3:3-5.
“And Solomon said… And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant [Solomon] king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people [Israel] which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.” 1 Kings 3:6-8.
“Give therefore thy servant [Solomon] an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” 1 Kings 3:9.
“And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” 1 Kings 3:10.
“And God said unto him [Solomon], Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.” 1 Kings 3:11, 12.
“And I [God] have also given thee [Solomon] that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream.” 1 Kings 3:13-15.
Thus, “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. ” 1 Kings 4:29.
Solomon Made Famous by His Wisdom
God says, “And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he [Solomon] was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.” 1 Kings 4:30, 31.
“And he [Solomon] spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.” 1 Kings 4:32, 33.
“And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.” 1 Kings 4:34.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Image: Gift Habeshaw at unsplash.com.
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