TITLE: Lessons from the Life of Solomon
Text: 1 Kings 3:5-15
PROPOSITION: We learn from the life of Solomon, 1) In all your getting, get wisdom, 2) Earthly things cannot satisfy, 3) Marriage is important, but God always comes first.
INTRODUCTION:
Read: 1 Kings 3:5-15
About the Text:
This is perhaps the one story that we remember most regarding Solomon.
The life of Solomon is both one of great accomplishment and great tragedy.
Solomon was the son of David by Bathsheba.
God told David that Solomon would be king and that Solomon would build the temple ( 1 Chronicles 22:9-11).
Solomon's life began with great purpose.
However, Solomon also multiplied to himself wives and in so doing was lead to idolatry ( 1 Kings 11:1-3).
The book of Ecclesiastes ends with Solomon saying, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" ( Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14).
Yet Solomon was able to offer some service to God. 1 Kings 4:32-34 states "He wrote the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. And he 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 springs out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom."
We can learn several lessons from the life of Solomon. Let's note a few today.
DISCUSSION:
I. In All Your Getting, Get Wisdom
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.
The book of Proverbs reiterates the importance of wisdom again and again.
The word wisdom is used some 53 times in the book.
The purpose of the book was to impart wisdom ( Proverbs 1:2-7).
In the book, we see wisdom personified ( Proverbs 1:20-33).
The person who has wisdom is happy. Proverbs 3:13 "Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding."
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."
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."
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!"
Wisdom is not to be released once we have it. Proverbs 23:23 "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding."
How do we get wisdom today? James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him."
This was certainly one of Solomon's successes in life and we would do well to imitate his desires.
II. Earthly Possessions Cannot Satisfy
We spoke how Solomon received not only wisdom, but also all things that one could desire upon the earth.
Wealth ( 1 Kings 10:10-25) Silver was made as common as stones (vs.27).
Power (1400 chariots 1200 horsemen 1 Kings 10:26)
Relationships (700 wives, 300 concubines, 1 Kings 11:3)
Peace ( 1 Kings 4:24 "For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.")
Solomon truly "had it all."
1 Kings 3:11-13 "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days."
The way possession of material things is glamorized today, you would think that Solomon would have had happiness. However, the book of Ecclesiastes tells us differently.
Solomon concluded that all that was worldly was mere vanity.
Ecc.1:2 "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity."
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."
Solomon thought that his own wisdom could save him, but this was vanity (Ecc.1:16-18).
Solomon thought that he could satisfy his life with pleasure and mirth, but this was vanity (Ecc.2:1, 2).
Solomon gave himself to wine and food, but this was vanity (Ecc.2:3).
He built houses, vineyards, servants—vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:10, 11 "And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun."
In regard to power, Solomon wrote, "So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun." (Ecc.4:1-3).
In regard to riches and wealth, he wrote, "He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity." (Ecc.5:10).
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).
Let us learn from Solomon that earthly things cannot satisfy. Here is certainly an area in which Solomon had great failure; we would do well to heed his example and follow his words.
III. Marriage is important, but God always comes first.
In the area of marriage, Solomon had great successes and great failures.
Solomon succeeded in marriage in that God inspired Solomon to communicate the joy and love of a good marriage in the Song of Solomon.
One can scarcely read the song and not experience the sacred joy that belongs to husbands and wives.
The song conveys love in marriage. Son.2:4 "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."
The song speaks regarding friendship in marriage Son.5:16 "… he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."
The song exalts love above all material things. Son.8:7 " Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned."
Solomon failed, however, chose in his life to allow his marriage partner's influence him in his relationship with God.
Solomon disobeyed God in who he was authorized to marry. 1 Kings 11:1, 2 "But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love."
Solomon disobeyed God by allowing these women to draw him away after idols. 1 Kings 11:4-8 " For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. Then did Solomon build an 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 strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods."
Because of Solomon's disobedience to God in these matters, God divided the kingdom of Israel and took 10 tribes away from Solomon.
Solomon had both successes and failures in marriage. Ultimately, Solomon's marriages were failures because they lead him away from God. This all points to the truth that while marriage is important, no one comes before God.
CONCLUSION:
There are many other lessons from Solomon's life, but these three are paramount.
In all your getting, get wisdom.
Earthly things cannot satisfy.
Marriage is important, but God always comes first.