Several lessons could be learnt from the story of the rise and fall of Solomon.
1. Blessings are from God. God blesses people with various gifts, and in the specific case of Solomon he was mightily blessed with the gift of wisdom. Anyone who desires a blessing form God, he should make a request. James 1 vs. 5 says: 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.
2. God loves his children and communicates with them. Solomon was on talking terms with God early in his life because his ways were pleasing to God. We should also seek to develop and keep a friendly relationship with God. As a Christian you should be engaging in conversations with God, talking to him and hearing from him.
3. Another lesson from the life of Solomon is that the blessings of God is conditional, and can only be fulfilled by obedience. God promised to lengthen the days of Solomon meaning he supposed to die at a good old age, but Solomon died at age of about 60 (was about 20 years old when he became King and reigned for 40 years). The promises of God will only be fulfilled if we continue to serve God in total obedience.
4. It is possible for anyone to backslide. Solomon loved God with all his heart early in his life, was a prayer warrior, Preacher, and Teacher of the gospel, and had a one to one relationship with God, but he ended up lifting up the altars of Satan. We must continuously read the Bible, pray, and fellowship with the brethren in order to remain in stead with God.
5. The experience of Solomon also shows that all the wealth and pleasures of this world is vain. Solomon had a harem of women, horses, gold, silver, and gifts but was not satisfied. Self control, contentment, and discipline are virtues every Christian should desire.
The fall of Solomon
God angry with Solomon-1 Kings 11 vs. 9-11: And the Lord was angry with Solomon….I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and give it to thy servant.1 Kings 11 vs. 31: Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee.
Solomon died untimely at age about 60-1 Kings 11 vs. 42-43: And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried (Solomon was about 20 years when he became King and reigned for 40 years. See 1 Kings 2 vs. 12 – 11 vs.43; 2 chr.1 vs. 1-9,31).
God plans evil against Solomon-1 Kings 11 vs. 14, 23: And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon…and God stirred him up another adversary.
Solomon becomes an Idolator-1 Kings 11 vs. 5: For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
Solomon led the people to idols-1 Kings 11 vs. 7-8: Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab…and likewise, did he for all strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto gods.
Solomon becomes hardened in sin, unrepentant and plans to commit murder-1 Kings 11 vs. 40: And Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled Egypt…until the death of Solomon.
Solomon as a tragedy
The life of the famed King Solomon is a paradox. He poured his love on God early in his life, but later on devoted his heart to worshipping idols. He was on talking terms with God early in his life, but he spent his adulthood in conversations with Satan.
God specifically promised Solomon that he would die at a good old age, but Solomon died at the age of about 60, which by all standards is premature. His kingdom was fully established in his hands when he ascended the throne, unfortunately the twilight of his reign was characterized by intense opposition which eventually led to the balkanization of his kingdom.
But the greatest tragedy of Solomon is that though he was divinely impacted with wisdom becoming the wisest man that ever lived, this wisdom turned into foolishness as he forsook God and served idols.
The concluding part of Solomon’s life was a story of avoidable sin resulting from compulsive sexual indulgence, crass materialism, unbridled idolatry, and intense hatred. Solomon is a tragedy because in spite of his closeness with God early in his life, his fame, wisdom and wealth, it is very unlikely that he made heaven at death.
There is no biblical record that he repented of all his iniquities, and it would be a great tragedy if Solomon who gained the whole world has lost his place in the kingdom of God.
Let us soberly meditate on the tragedy of Solomon through this tabular explanation of the paradoxes of his life:
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