If someone asks you about King Solomon, you would probably identify him as the wisest man to ever live. You might talk about his prayer to God, his extreme wealth, and his solving the dilemma of the two mothers claiming a son. Few people would identify the sins of this great king.
It is interesting to note that he made his first mistake before the Lord appeared to him in a dream. First Kings 3:1 tells us that he made an agreement with Pharoah, king of Egypt; and he took Pharaoh’s daughter as his wife. Marrying outside the people of Israel was condemned, but Solomon made a political move that would cost him in the end.
Still, Solomon loved the Lord, and he walked in the statutes of his father, David. He offered sacrifices and burnt incense in high places because there was no house of God.
When the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, Solomon begged for wisdom. Because he had not asked for wealth and prosperity, God gave him all the wisdom he asked for and more. Then the Lord said this: “And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statues and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days” (First Kings 3:14). God repeats this in chapter 9, reminding Solomon that he must walk in integrity of heart and to do all that God commanded him.
That seems simple enough. Obey God, and He will be with you. When we get to chapter 11, we see a different Solomon. Solomon loved many strange women. He took wives from the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites. He had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and his wives turned his heart away from God.
He wanted his wives to be happy, and he put up temples for their gods, and he was not faithful to the Lord as his father David was. As you might guess, the Lord was angry with Solomon “because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice” (First Kings 11:9). His punishment was that he would take the kingdom away from him and give it to one of his servants (verse 11).
Lest you think marrying strange women was his only sin, Solomon committed others. He collected horses and gold, engaged a foreigner in a business transaction in building the temple, and apparently worshipped the gods of his wives. All of these acts were condemned.
Have you ever thought about the fact that, other than Rehoboam, none of Solomon’s children are mentioned in Scripture? With that many wives and concubines, he surely had more than one child. It is as though Solomon had nothing to show for his life.
Solomon was indeed a wise man. First Kings 4:32 tells us that he wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. Though he did not write all of the proverbs, he wrote things that tell us Solomon knew what he should do. It is though the theme of the book is “Don’t be stupid.”
Though Solomon came from an environment of dedication to God, he let wealth, position, pride, and other worldly desires get in his way. No matter how good his father was, (and yes he made some mistakes), Solomon had to make his own choice—obey or disobey. Unfortunately, he chose disobedience to God over obeying all the statutes and commandments of the one who put him as king over God’s people.
The lesson for us is simple. Study the Word. Know what God wants us to do, and then do it. Don’t make the same mistakes Solomon made.
Sandra Oliver