182. THE WARNING OF SOLOMON'S OLD AGE

"When Solomon was old ... his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father."

The decline of Solomon from a man of faith was gradual, not sud­den. A sense of self-importance began to show in his life. The humble attitude he showed at Gibeon, when he spoke of himself as a child, began to fade away. No longer did he serve God with his whole heart. Other interests began to absorb his time.

1 Kings 10:24-11:25.

SOLOMON'S FAITH BEGINS TO WEAKEN. 1 Kings 10:25-29.

The record tells us that Solomon gathered together chariots, horsemen and horses from Egypt. He was becoming like the kings of the nations about him, and trusting in the arm of the flesh. When Solomon looked to these, he was in effect turning his back on God, the real strength of Israel. Isaiah many years later issued a warning against putting trust in horses, "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Yahweh" (Isaiah 31:1 — see also Psalms 147:10; 33:17). But God had given specific advice to the kings of Israel. Through Moses He command­ed that Israel's earthly king was not to multiply to himself horses, nor riches, nor wives. Each would lead the king away from trust in God, to trust in the flesh (note carefully Deuteronomy 17:16-17). Solomon failed in each command.

There is no doubt of course, that Solomon would have been aware of God's command. Each king was commanded to personally write out a Copy of the law when he came to the throne (Deuteronomy 17:18). Despite this warning Solomon failed. If ever we have a clear example of the deceitfulness of sin, and how one can slowly drift out of the truth, then we have it in the life of Solomon. Solomon was a man of great wisdom, and perhaps he reasoned that he had the wisdom and strength of character to withstand any temptation arising from such possessions. He thought that others may fail, but he would be able to withstand.

Such is the reasoning of the flesh. Once one step is taken in the wrong direction, further steps will easily follow and be explained away as being in order and "harmless". So we might be ensnared by our reasoning with very damaging results. Eve found in the garden of Eden that fleshly reasoning led to the sentence of death, and Solomon, reasoning likewise, found out that when a person is led by the human will, the results are fatal. It could have been overcome with a "thus saith Yahweh", but they did not do this, and the consequences are recorded in scripture as lessons for us all.

SOLOMON'S FALL. 1 Kings 11:1-8.

Solomon's desire for riches and horses weakened his faith. He still, however, recognised Yahweh as the one and only true God. But he had given way to the flesh, and his extra-ordinary wisdom was not sufficient to keep him from falling into another grievous error. We read that "king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians and Hittites" (v.l).

His choice of wives could not have been worse. Everyone of them came from nations "concerning which Yahweh 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" (v.2). But the record bluntly states, "Solomon clave unto these in love". Besides the wives listed in verse 1, Solomon had also 700 other wives and 300 concubines! In this his judgment erred and he ignored the unmistakable warning of scripture.

The inevitable soon happened, for we read, "His wives turned away his heart, 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 Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father" (v.3, 4). What a tragic state the wise and privileged king of Israel had fallen into. Love of the world and pleasure-seeking had corrupted his heart and blinded his eyes. The son of faithful David instead of showing wisdom, stability and leadership, became at length an old and foolish king. Solomon seems to confess this, "Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished" (Ecclesiastes 4:13).

Through the influence of his heathen wives, Solomon became an idolator, and worshipped images of wood and stone in sight of the Tem­ple which he had erected to the true God. He went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians. What a degrading effect this would have had on the nation, quite apart from Solomon. Milcom, or Molech, the abomination of the Ammonites, was another god Solomon turned to. To this god children were sacrificed and drums were used to drown their cries. This abominable worship became a part of the way of life in Israel, and was centred in the valley of Hinnom. It was not until the purges of righteous King Josiah many years later that these abominable religions were abolished (2 Kings 23:10).

GOD'S JUDGMENT OF SOLOMON BECAUSE OF FOLLY. 1 Kings 11:9-25.

The commandments were clear and there was no excuse for Solomon's departure from them. Besides the clear direction from the Law of Moses, God had also appeared unto Solomon twice.

1. At Gibeon with the promise of blessing if he would keep God's com­mands.

2. At Jerusalem at the dedication of the Temple, with the warning of judgment should he and the nation follow after other gods (1 Kings 3:13-14; 9:6-8).

It is a principle of scripture that to whom much is given, much is ex­pected. It was therefore proper and necessary that on one, who had been favoured so much, a terrible judgment should fall. "Wherefore Yahweh said unto Solomon, forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant" (v. 11).

This was indeed a terrible punishment, and Solomon no doubt would have recalled a similar punishment passed upon Saul for his foolishness (1 Samuel 13:13-14). However, because of the righteousness of David, God decreed that the judgment would not take place in Solomon's days, but in the days of his son Rehoboam. Moreover, not all the kingdom was to be rent from Rehoboam, but two tribes would remain; one (Judah) to con­tinue the royal line and Benjamin (1 Kings 12:21). God's mercy would not depart from the seed of David as it was taken from Saul (2 Samuel 7:15).

Though the greater judgment was deferred, God raised up an adver­sary to the king, namely Hadad, the Edomite. Hadad had fled from an attack made on the Edomites by Joab into Egypt and there remained while David was king. However, upon hearing that David and Joab were dead, he returned to his country with the objective of persuading Edom to revolt against Solomon. Rezon is mentioned in v.23-25 as another adversary stirred up by God to trouble Solomon. He ruled Syria from Damascus and from there raided Israel.

The greatest judgment lay yet in the future. Jeroboam, one of Solomon's servants, would rise up and lead ten of the tribes in rebellion. The days of glory, unity, peace and prosperity were at an end and would be no more until Christ should come and then God would give the throne to him (Ezekiel 21:27; 37:22).

LESSON FOR US:

Solomon brought tragedy and destruction to himself and the kingdom through his folly. Yet in the life of this man whom Yahweh had loved (2 Samuel 12:24-25), and to whom He had twice appeared, there is a power­ful lesson for us. We see an example of the principle that "friendship of the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4).

Solomon's friends in the surrounding nations trusted in horses and riches and so Solomon, trying to impress them, accumulated both these things. His heart was where his treasure was, on earth; and not where it should have been, with God in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). We must take care that the things of God always take first place in our lives, and that we do not trust in the material things of this evil age (see Luke 21:34-36).

In his marriage with unbelievers Solomon's heart was turned to follow I them in their idolatry. If we form close friendships with people who do not know Yahweh in truth, then we are turning our backs upon Him, for He has forbidden such friendships and marriage with unbelievers (1 John 2:15-16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Corinthians 7:39). This is a wise pro­hibition for it spares us much heartache and deep feelings of regret if we ever flout this divine commandment.

We must seek out and keep close to our believing friends, en­couraging each other in the ways of righteousness and truth which we learn from the Bible.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield) — Vol. 4, No. 10.

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. List the ways Solomon failed and thus caused his kingdom to fall.

2. How must we choose our friends so that we are not led away from God as Solomon was?

3. What did God say He would do as a result of Solomon's failures?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the circumstances that brought about Solomon's departure from the ways of God.

2. Explain the lessons we can learn from the folly of Solomon's later years.

3. Is marriage to the unbeliever allowable? In your answer refer to Solomon's experiences.