• Home
• About FCM
  • About FCM
  • FCM Board
  • Mission Statement
  • Statement of Faith
  • Our Focus
  • Ministry Needs
  • Links
  • Ministry Needs
  • Submit Material
  • Link To Us
• Sermons & Stuff
  • Sermons Page
  • Poems Page
  • Stories Page
  • Encouraging Thoughts
  • Site Author Page
• Bible Studies
  • Bible Studies Page
  • Daily Devotionals
  • Bible Commentaries
  • Small Groups & Individuals
  • How to...
  • Daily Studies
  • Bible Outlines
  • Bible Book Quizzes
• Forum
• Accept Jesus
• Key Sections
  • Family page
  • Games
  • Daily Devotionals
  • Key Topics
  • Submit Material
• Team Log In
  • Team Admin Login
  • Team Login
  • Team Sign Up
• View Articles
• Daily Readings
• Team Page

Visit our new blog. It lists all the new things that we are doing and what new material has been added to our site. We even list new missionaries who sign up with us for technical support so you can pray for them. FCM BLOG

Solomon – A Very Wise Guy

The Life of Solomon
Birth and Early Life:  Solomon was David’s second son by Bathsheba after the death of their first (illegitimate) child. He was born around 1000 BC. Nathan, to whom his education was entrusted, called him Jedidiah, i.e., “beloved of the Lord” (2 Sam 12:24-25). The name “Solomon” is derived from a root word meaning “to be quiet” or “peaceful,” and Solomon was certainly the least warlike of all the kings of Israel or Judah, and in that respect a remarkable contrast to his father (1 Chron 22:9). Unlike his father, Solomon spent his early years in luxury and finery within the seclusion of a palace. His upbringing in such a context likely had a great influence on his leadership style.

He succeeded his father on the throne in early manhood, probably about sixteen or eighteen years of age. His father chose him as his successor, passing over the claims of his elder sons: “Assuredly Solomon my son shall reign after me” (1 Kings 1:17). His history is recorded in 1Kings 11 and following and in 2 Chronicles.

Solomon Becomes King:  His elevation to the throne took place before his father’s death, and was hastened on mainly by Nathan and Bathsheba, in consequence of the rebellion of Adonijah (1Kings 1). While Adonijah was still planning his rebellion, the leaders of the nation anointed Solomon as king. As soon as he had settled himself in his kingdom, and arranged the affairs of his extensive empire, he entered into an alliance with Egypt by the marriage of Pharaoh’s daughter (1 Kings 3:1). He surrounded himself with all the luxuries and the external grandeur of an Eastern monarch, and his government prospered. Never again were the bounds of Israel so wide; never again was the nation so united. During his long reign of forty years the Hebrew monarchy gained its highest splendor. There is no doubt that the success the nation enjoyed is due to the wisdom of Solomon.

Great Projects:  Solomon entered into an alliance with Hiram, king of Tyre, who in many ways greatly assisted him in his numerous building projects. David had stored up many materials for a permanent Temple in Jerusalem, and Solomon put these plans into effect. After the completion of the Temple, he built many other important structures in Jerusalem and in other parts of his kingdom.

Solomon seems to have been more interested in breeding horses and trading merchandise than conquering more land through warfare. He appears also to have had a fine collection of armor (1 Kings 10:25), but much of it was made of gold and was intended for show, not for use. For thirteen years he was engaged in the building of a royal palace. In front of this house was another building, which was called the Porch of Pillars, and in front of this again was the “Hall of Judgment,” or Throne-room, “the King’s Gate,” where he administered justice and gave audience to his people. This palace was a building of grand magnificence and beauty. Solomon also commissioned work projects for bringing water into the city. He then built Millo (a wall) for the defense of the city, completing a line of ramparts, along with other fortifications throughout the kingdom.

Prosperity and Wealth:  During his reign Palestine enjoyed great commercial prosperity. Israel conducted extensive commerce by land with Tyre, Egypt and Arabia, and by sea with Spain, India and the coasts of Africa, by which Solomon accumulated vast stores of wealth and of the produce of all nations. This was the “golden age” of Israel. The royal magnificence and splendor of Solomon’s court were unrivalled.  He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, an evidence at once of his pride, his wealth, and his worldliness. The maintenance of his household involved immense expenses: “Solomon’s daily provisions were thirty cors (about 185 bushels) of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks and choice fowl” (1 Kings 4:22-23).

Intellectual Life:  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). His fame was spread abroad through all lands, and men came from far and near “to hear the wisdom of Solomon.” Among others thus attracted to Jerusalem was the queen of Sheba, a country in Arabia. She was filled with amazement by all she saw and heard to the extent that “there was no more spirit in her.”

Dismal End:  The bright day of Solomon’s glory ended in clouds and darkness. His decline and fall from his high estate is a sad record.  Chief among the causes of his decline were his polygamy and his great wealth. The idle king lived among idle women, for 1,000 women, with all their idle and mischievous attendants, filled the palaces and pleasure-houses which he had built. Solomon learned first to tolerate and then to imitate their heathen ways. He did not cease to believe in the God of Israel, nor did he cease to offer the usual sacrifices in the temple at the great feasts. But his heart was not right with God and his worship became merely formal. He started attending the pagan worship ceremonies of his heathen wives. This brought upon him God’s displeasure. His enemies prevailed against him and one judgment after another fell upon the land. He died after a reign of forty years and was buried in Jerusalem. He left behind him but one weak and worthless son, to dismember his kingdom and disgrace his name.
Within the space of about 100 years, we watch the nation of Israel rise from obscurity, strengthen itself under David, achieve great wealth and power under Solomon, and then fracture and return to obscurity and oppression under Solomon’s son Rehoboam. Israel would never enjoy another “golden age” such as that under Solomon.

Solomon’s Strengths

• Wisdom: Solomon’s greatest claim to fame is his wisdom. God granted Solomon his request for the wisdom to lead Israel, and such wisdom also resulted in his fame reaching around the world. When the queen of Sheba came to visit him, she was astounded by his wisdom and the workings of his government (1 Kings 10). Despite his faults, Solomon stands as one of Israel’s fines rulers.*1

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. For he was wiser than all men. … 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 4:29-32

• Building of the Temple:  God chose Solomon to build a permanent worship site in Jerusalem. The building was magnificent–beautiful, ornate, and majestic. He commissioned many other projects that turned Jerusalem into a world-class city. Israel became known throughout the Middle East as a result of extensive building, trading and international relationships.
• Worshipping God:  1 Kings 8 contains Solomon’s words of praise and adoration to God. These are some of the most worshipful and reverent expressions in the Bible. Under Solomon, the true worship of God at the Temple assumed a form and dignity in keeping with the regulations of the Mosaic Law.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have built? 1 Kings 8:27

• Inspired writing:  He wrote 1005 songs and 3000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32). Much of the book of Proverbs is attributed to Solomon. He likely wrote the Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. Arts and literature advanced significantly under Solomon’s leadership.

Solomon’s Weaknesses

• Oppressive government:  Solomon reduced a free people to slavery, and concentrated the wealth of the whole country in the capital. Once on the throne he became a complete despot. Virtually all political power was taken out of the hands of the tribal leaders and placed in the hands of officers who simply carried out Solomon’s orders. The resources of the nation were expended, not on works of public utility for the most part, but on the personal exaltation of the king. He drafted many thousands of people into his work crews, which came to be one of the chief sources of resentment among the people. As a result of Solomon’s oppressive government and Rehoboam’s desire to continue such policies, the ten of the tribes of Israel rejected Rehoboam’s leadership.
• Polygamy:  Solomon is famous for having 700 wives and 300 concubines *2. Many of these marriages were intended to strengthen relationships between neighboring countries. It is largely because of these relationships that Solomon drifted away from proper worship and allowed the worship of false gods.
• Idolatry and polytheism:  Toward the end of his life, Solomon turned from his commitment to the God of Israel and was influenced by his heathen wives.

Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his foreign wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice (1 Kings 11:7-9).

Lessons from the Life of Solomon

• Wisdom comes from God. Everyone can develop intelligence and skill, but true wisdom is a gift from God. God gave Solomon the privilege of asking for anything his heart desired, and he asked for wisdom to rule the people. James encourages us to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5).

Proverbs 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 16:16  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Application:  Ask God for wisdom, seek wisdom.

• Don’t be an oppressive leader. Solomon imposed outrageous taxes on the people and employed a slave labor force to construct his great building projects. The citizens grew weary of such oppression and rejected Solomon’s policies, which split the nation.

Application:  Don’t be an autocrat/despot/tyrant when you get a chance to lead.

• Flee immorality. Solomon’s downfall, like his father’s, was his immoral relationships with women. Having so many wives and concubines was obviously was not God’s will. He could not possibly fulfill the duties of a husband to so many women. The Biblical standard for marriage is monogamy, not polygamy.

Application:  Stick with one mate. In dating, the objective is not to see how many girls/guys you can date, but to find the right one to marry.

• Don’t compromise. Few rulers had greater opportunities and prospects for success as Solomon–an empire, superhuman wisdom, workers, and wealth. For many years he succeeded in building and strengthening the nation. But eventually he permitted the thinking and customs of ungodly people to influence his decisions and manner of living. This defection likely began slowly and gradually as his heathen wives and alliances “turned away his heart after other gods.” He did not remain faithful to God’s will and ways. Fortunately, Solomon realized his error and turned back to God prior to his death, as is evidenced by the book of Ecclesiastes. He no doubt looked back on his life with deep regret for having not remained faithful to God throughout his life.

Application:  Retain and renew your commitment to worshipping and serving God. Don’t fudge on your principles and standards. We must persevere in faith and in good works.

• God hates sin and punishes sinners. God warned Solomon early in his career (1 Kings 9:4-9) of what would happen if he turned away from following him. When Solomon sinned, punishment quickly followed. The nation fell from great prosperity and power within a very short time.

Application:  You reap what you sow. Sin naturally leads to problems.

Conclusion:  The great wisdom of Solomon sometimes overshadows the fact that he failed so miserably in his spiritual life. Solomon is another Bible character who experienced both success and failure from God’s perspective. His example should teach us to seek wisdom, to flee from sin and to stand firm in our commitment to God.

Discussion:

• How was Solomon’s upbringing different from David’s?  David was used to a life of labor–shepherding and soldiering. Solomon grew up in a luxurious palace surrounded by many women.
• How do you think Solomon’s childhood affected his reign as king? Think of life in an Oriental harem. He enjoyed luxury and ostentation–decoration, majesty, showing off. He was used to getting his own way–probably a spoiled brat as a child. Imagine all those women (David’s wives, concubines and attendants) fawning over him.
• Why did Solomon become king rather than one of his older brothers?  David chose him before he died.
• What was the cause of Solomon’s sins?  His many heathen wives and foreign alliances.
• What are some of Solomon’s strengths?  See list
• What are some of his weaknesses?  See list.
• What can we learn from the life of Solomon?  See list.