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Solomon's Profile
Wisdom is only effective when it is put into
action. Early in his life, Solomon had the sense to recognize his need for
wisdom. But by the time Solomon asked for wisdom to rule his kingdom, he had
already started a habit that would make his wisdom ineffective for his own
life-he sealed a pact with Egypt by marring Pharaoh's daughter. She was the
first of hundreds of wives married for political reasons. In doing this, Solomon
went against not only his father's last words, but also God's direct commands.
His action reminds us how easy it is to know what is right and yet not do it.
It is clear that God's gift of wisdom to Solomon did not mean that he
couldn't make mistakes. He had been given great possibilities as the king of
God's chosen people, but with them came great responsibilities; unfortunately,
he tended to pursue the former and neglected the latter. While becoming famous
as the builder of the temple and the palace, he became infamous as a leader who
excessively taxed and worked his people. Visitors from distant lands came to
admire this wise king, while his own people were gradually alienated from him.
Little is mentioned in the Bible about the last decade of Solomon's reign.
Ecclesiastes probably records his last reflections on life. In that book we find
a man proving through bitter experience that finding meaning in the life from
God is a vain pursuit. Security and contentment are found only in a personal
relationship with God. The contentment we find in the opportunities and
successes of this life is temporary. The more we expect our successes to be
permanent, the more quickly they are gone. Be sure to balance your pursuit of
life's possibilities with reliable fulfillment of your responsibilities.
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Solomon's Strengths and Accomplishments
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* Third king of Israel, David's chosen heir
* The wisest man who ever lived
* Author of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs, as well as many of the proverbs and
a couple of the psalms
* Built God's temple in Jerusalem
* Diplomat, trader, collector, patron of the arts
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Solomon's Weaknesses and Mistakes
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* Sealed many foreign agreements by marrying
pagan women
* Allowed his wives to affect his loyalty to God
* Excessively taxed his people and drafted them into a labor and military force
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Lessons from Solomon's Life
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* Effective leadership can be nullified by an
ineffective personal life
* Solomon failed to obey God, but did not learn the lesson of repentance until
late in life
* Knowing what actions are required of us means little without the will to do
those actions
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Solomon's Vital Statistics
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* Where: Jerusalem
* Occupation: King of Israel
* Relatives: Father: David. Mother: Bathsheba. Brothers: Absalom, Adonijah.
Sister: Tamar. Son: Rehoboam
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Key Verse
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"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" (Nehemiah 13:26).
Solomon's story is told in 2Samuel 12:24-1Kings
11:43. He is also mentioned in 1Chronicles 28, 29; 2Chronicles 1-10; Nehemiah
13:26; Psalm 72; and Matthew 6:29; 12:42.
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