THE LIFE OF KING SOLOMON

 

THE LIFE OF SOLOMON - Text: 1 Kings 3:5–15

King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and also one of the most foolish. God gifted him with unsurpassed wisdom, which Solomon squandered by disobeying God's commandments. Some of Solomon’s most famous achievements were his building projects, particularly the temple in Jerusalem.

King Solomon Biography

Solomon was the third king over Israel.

Solomon ruled with wisdom over Israel for 40 years, securing stability through treaties with foreign powers.

He is celebrated for his wisdom and for building the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.

Solomon wrote much of the book of Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, the book of Ecclesiastes, and two psalms.

Application and Lessons

Ø  Each should understand more about the life of Solomon and the lessons we learn from that life.

Ø  To exhort each listener to learn from Solomon’s successes and failures.

Ø  We learn from the life of Solomon: 1) In all your getting, get wisdom, 2) Marriage is important, but God always comes first.  3) Earthly things cannot satisfy.

1. SOLOMON ASK FOR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

Perhaps the story that we are most familiar with in Solomon’s life is that of his asking for wisdom from God. This is found in 1 Kings 3:5-11.

As a result of this request, God granted Solomon’s prayer for wisdom and also gave Solomon power, wealth, and prosperity. There was nothing which Solomon lacked.

Book of Proverbs Emphasis the Importance of Wisdom

1) The word wisdom is used some 53 times in the book.

2) The purpose of the book was to impart wisdom -  (Proverbs 1:2-7).

3) In the book, we see wisdom personified (Proverbs 1:20-33).

4) The person who has wisdom is happy. (Proverbs 3:13) - “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

5) Among all the things that we “get” in this life, wisdom should be among them.

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

6) Wisdom begins with proper respect for God.

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

7) Wisdom is more valuable than the most precious substances on earth.

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

2. GOD COMES FIRST IN MARRIAGE

Nehemiah 13:26
Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations, there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. (NIV)

In the area of marriage, Solomon had great successes and great failures.

1.  Solomon succeeded in marriage in that God inspired Solomon to communicate the joy and love of a good marriage in the Song of Solomon.

2.  Solomon failed, however, in that he chose to allow his marriage partners to influence his relationship with God.

SOLOMON’S WEAKNESS

To satisfy his curious mind, Solomon turned to worldly pleasures instead of the pursuit of God. He collected all sorts of treasures and surrounded himself with luxury.

In the case of his non-Jewish wives and concubines, Solomon allowed lust to rule his heart instead of obedience to God. Apparently, he let his foreign wives worship their native gods and even had altars to those gods built in Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:7–8).

Solomon taxed his subjects heavily, conscripted them into his army and into slave-like labour for his building projects.

Ø  Solomon's downfall began when he married the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh to seal a political alliance. He could not control his lust. Among Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines were many foreigners, which angered God. The inevitable happened: They lured King Solomon away from Yahweh into the worship of false gods and idols.

SOLOMON’S  STRENGTH

 King Solomon greatest strength was his unsurpassed wisdom, granted to him by God.  King Solomon skills in architecture and management turned Israel into the showplace of the Middle East. As a diplomat, he made treaties and alliances that brought peace to his kingdom.

Ø  The Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon she came to Jerusalem and when she heard and seen the wisdom of Solomon, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the servants and waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers and the entry house to the house of the Lord – when she left - there was no more spirit in her.  Wow!

 

3. EARTHLY WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS CANNOT SATISFY

1) Wealth (1 Kings 10:10-25) Silver was made as common as stones (vs.27).

2) Power (1400 chariots 1200 horsemen 1 Kings 10:26)

3) Relationships (700 wives, 300 concubines, 1 Kings 11:3)

4) Peace (1 Kings 4:24 “For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river,  … and he had peace on all sides round about him.”)

5) Solomon truly “had it all.”

SOLOMON CONCLUSION

Solomon concluded that all that was worldly was mere vanity.

A) Ecc.1:2 “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”

B) Ecc.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 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.”

Ø  Solomon thought that his own wisdom could save him, but this was vanity (Ecc.1:16-18).

Ø  Solomon thought that he could satisfy his life with pleasure and mirth, but this was vanity (Ecc.2:1, 2).

Ø  Solomon gave himself to wine and food, but this was vanity (Ecc.2:3).

Ø  He built houses, vineyards, servants—vanity.

 

OUR LIFE IS TO FEAR GOD

C) In regard to riches and wealth, he wrote, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” (Ecc.5:10).

D) In essence Solomon is saying to us, “I’ve done it all and there is only one thing that is constant and upon which you can depend your entire life.” “Fear God and keep his commandments….” (Ecc.12:13).

LIFE LESSONS

King Solomon's sins speak loudly to us in our current day materialistic culture. When we worship possessions and fame over God, we are headed for a fall. When Christians marry an unbeliever, they can also expect trouble. God ought to be our first love, and we should let nothing come before him.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father we pray and ask for your divine wisdom of God to come upon us to lead us in all our ways and directions for life.  We pray for your heavenly wisdom from above.  We pray for our marriage life that we will keep it pure for your glory. Help us to flee from worldly pleasure.  We pray that riches and wealth will not be our No.1 priority in life and that we will not worship possession and wealth but only You Jesus the only God of all gods.  In Jesus Name, Amen!

BENEDICTION

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

(Heb. 13:20-21)