Lessons From the Life of Solomon 1

Background Son of David and Bathsheba He asks God for wisdom to be able to rule Israel At the beginning Solomon follows God and His word 2

He took many wives and concubines This led him into idolatry 3

Eccl. 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 4

1 Kings 4:32-34 And he 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:… 5

he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. 6

Some Lessons from the life of Solomon 7

I. Get wisdom Solomon asked wisdom of God (1 Kings 3) God gave him wisdom and much more! 8

1 Kings 3:11-13 And God said unto him, 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;.. 9

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… 10

And I have also given thee 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. 11

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 12

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 13

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 14

Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! 15

Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 16

Js. 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 17

Wisdom was one of Solomon’s successes in life and we also need to seek wisdom 18

II. Earthly possessions cannot satisfy Solomon had: Wealth Power Relationship (700 wives 300 concubines) 19

Peace Solomon “had it all” It the eyes of todays world, Solomon would have been a great success What does Solomon say about this? 20

Eccl. 1:12-14 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God… 21

given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 22

Eccl. 2:1-2 (earthly pleasure and amusement) I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 23

Eccl. 2:3 (wine and food) I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 24

Eccl. 2:10-11 (whatever he desired) And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. 25

[11] Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. 26

Eccl. 5:10 (riches) He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 27

Eccl. 12:13 (the conclusion of the man who had done it all) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 28

III. Marriage is important, but God always comes first God allowed Solomon to write about the joy and love of a good marriage in the Song of Solomon 29

His failure came because he allowed his marriage partners to influence him in his relationship with God 30

1 Kings 11:1-2 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;… 31

Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 32

1 Kings 11:4-8 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 33

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites… 34

And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is.. 35

before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 36

Because of Solomon’s disobedience God divided the kingdom of Israel and took away 10 tribes from Solomon Solomon’s marriages were failures because they led him away from God 37

There are many other lessons from Solomon’s life but these three are very important 1. Get wisdom 2. Earthly things cannot satisfy 3. Marriage is important –but God always comes first! 38

References Adapted from material from the Berryville church of Christ website 39