The rise and fall of King Solomon

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                                                            The rise and fall of King Solomon 


READ 1KINGS 9-11 (Morning Gleanings)


King Solomon was a man who started his reign with great wisdom and prosperity. He was the son of King David and Bathsheba and was the third king of Israel. He inherited a stable kingdom and expanded it, making Israel a powerful nation. However, as time passed, Solomon's actions led to his downfall.

Solomon's reign started with an act of wisdom. He prayed to God for wisdom to rule his people, and God answered his prayer by giving him wisdom beyond measure. He was known for his wise judgments, and people from all over the world came to hear his wisdom. He built the temple in Jerusalem, which became the center of worship for the Israelites.

His reign was marked by prosperity. He made alliances with neighboring countries and established trade relations with distant lands. He amassed wealth and had a vast army. However, his wealth and power led him to indulge in excesses. He had many wives and concubines, which were against God's commandment. He also accumulated horses and chariots, which were forbidden for kings of Israel.

God had warned the Israelites that a king who had many wives and chariots would lead them astray. Solomon's actions were a clear violation of God's commandment, and he was not oblivious to it. However, he continued to indulge in excesses, ignoring the warning signs.

Solomon's downfall started with his disobedience to God's commandment. He built high places for his wives to worship their gods, which were idols. This was a clear violation of the first commandment, which stated that there should be no other gods before God. God was angry with Solomon and warned him of the consequences of his actions.

His disobedience led to a series of events that resulted in his downfall. First, the prophet Ahijah prophesied that the kingdom would be divided after Solomon's death. Second, Solomon's trusted advisor, Jeroboam, rebelled against him. Third, the Edomites, whom Solomon had conquered, rebelled against him. Fourth, the Pharaoh of Egypt attacked Israel, and Solomon was unable to defend his kingdom.

Solomon's reign ended in strife and division. After his death, his son Rehoboam became king, but he was unable to keep the kingdom united. Jeroboam, who had rebelled against Solomon, became king of the northern kingdom of Israel. The southern kingdom of Judah remained under the rule of Rehoboam.

The rise and fall of King Solomon is a cautionary tale of how power and wealth can lead to a person's downfall. Solomon started his reign with wisdom and prosperity, but he ended it in disobedience and strife. His excessive indulgence and disobedience to God's commandment were the reasons for his downfall.

The lesson from Solomon's story is that we should always be mindful of our actions and not let our power and wealth cloud our judgment. We should follow God's commandment and not indulge in excesses that can lead to our downfall. The story of King Solomon is a reminder that wisdom and prosperity should be used for the greater good and not for personal gain.

Toward the end of his life Solomom concluded, "I have seen everything that is done under the sun and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind" -Ecc.1:14. We learn the only life worth living is not under the under the "sun" only, but under the "SON." 

Location: Edmond, OK, USA

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