By Babatope Babalobi
The greatest tragedy of Solomon is that though he was divinely impacted with wisdom becoming the wisest man that ever lived, this wisdom turned into foolishness as he forsook God and served idols.
The concluding part of Solomon’s life was a story of avoidable sin resulting from compulsive sexual indulgence, crass materialism, unbridled idolatry, and intense hatred.
Solomon is a tragedy because in spite of his closeness with God early in his life, his fame, wisdom and wealth, it is very unlikely that he made heaven at death.
There is no biblical record that he repented of all his iniquities, and it would be a great tragedy if Solomon who gained the whole world has lost his place in the kingdom of God.
Lets us soberly meditate on the tragedy of Solomon through this tabular explanation of the paradoxes of his life:
| Rise of Solomon |
Fall of Solomon |
| Solomon became famous- 1 King Kings 2 vs. 12: Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly |
Solomon became materialistic and greedy- 1 Kings 10 vs. 25-26: And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of Gold, and garments, and amour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year
And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen |
| Solomon lived in Holiness and Righteousness – 1 Kings 3 vs. 3: And Solomon loved the Lord walking in the statutes of David his father: |
Solomon goes in sin- Adultery and disobedience 1 kings 11 vs. 1-3: But the King Solomon loved many strange women…of the nations concerning which the Lord had said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in unto them…..and he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned away his heart. (Jehovah had warned against this. Deut. 17 vs. 17- Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turned away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself and gold) |
| Solomon walked with God: 1 Kings 3 vs. 5:In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said: Ask what I shall give thee
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Solomon walked with Satan 1 Kings 11 vs. 4: 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.
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| God loves Solomon- 1 Kings 9 vs. 2 and 5: That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time…I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised David thy father. |
God angry with Solomon-1 Kings 11 vs. 9-11: And the Lord was angry with Solomon….I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and give it to thy servant.
1 Kings 11 vs. 31: Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee |
| Solomon promised long life- 1 Kings 3 vs. 14: And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days |
Solomon died untimely at age about 60-1 Kings 11 vs. 42-43: And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried (Solomon was about 20 years when he became King and reigned for 40 years. See 1 Kings 2 vs. 12 – 11 vs.43; 2 chr.1 vs. 1-9,31) |
| God blesses Solomon-1 Kings 4 vs. 29:
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, |
God plans evil against Solomon-1 Kings 11 vs. 14, 23: And the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon…and God stirred him up another adversary |
| Solomon as a prayer warrior-1 Kings 8 vs. 14: And the King turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood |
Solomon becomes an Idolator-1 Kings 11 vs. 5: For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites |
| Solomon led the people to God-1 Kings 8 vs. 21: And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven |
Solomon led the people to idols-1 Kings 11 vs. 7-8: Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab…and likewise, did he for all strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto gods |
| Solomon preaches repentance- Kings 8 vs. 33: When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemies, because they have sinned against thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house; Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel |
Solomon becomes hardened in sin, unrepentant and plans to commit murder-1 Kings 11 vs. 40: And Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled Egypt…until the death of Solomon |
Several lessons could be learnt from the story of the rise and fall of Solomon.
1. Blessings are from God. God blesses people with various gifts, and in the specific case of Solomon he was mightily blessed with the gift of wisdom.
Anyone who desires a blessing form God, he should make a request. James 1 vs. 5 says: If any of you lack wisdom, let him asks of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.
2. God loves his children and communicates with them. Solomon was on talking terms with God early in his life because his ways were pleasing to God. We should also seek to develop and keep a friendly relationship with God. As a Christian you should be engaging in conversations with God, talking to him and hearing from him.
3. Another lesson from the life of Solomon is that the blessings of God is conditional, and can only be fulfilled by obedience. God promised to lengthen the days of Solomon meaning he supposed to die at a good old age, but Solomon died at age about 60 (was about 20 years old when he became King and reigned for 4o years). The promises of God will only be fulfilled if we continue to serve God in total obedience.
4. It is possible for anyone to backslide. Solomon loved God with al his heart early in his life, was a prayer warrior, Preacher, and Teacher of the gospel, and had a one to one relationship with God, but he ended up lifting up the altars of Satan. We must continuously read the Bible, pray, and fellowship with the brethren in order to remain in stead with God.
5. The experience of Solomon also shows that all the wealth and pleasures of this world is vain. Solomon had a harem of women, horses, gold, silver, and gifts but was not satisfied. Self control, contentment, and discipline are virtues every Christian should desire.
The rise and fall of Solomon is a great lesson to all Christians, especially those in authority. If we forsake God, God will forsake us. If we reject God, he will cast us to the devil. God wrote the first chapters of Solomon’s life, but Satan wrote the concluding chapters.
One Bible commentator said that though Solomon was reputed to be the wisest man on earth that ever lived, yet he also became the most foolish man on earth that ever lived.
It is unlikely that Solomon made heaven, because unlike the case of David, there is no biblical record of is repentance. What a tragedy.
For those of us alive, now is the best time to make our ways right with God so that the judgment of God would be in our favor. If you are never accepted the plans of God for you then you remained a fool in the league of Solomon. If you have backslide like Solomon, you have an opportunity to rewrite your history before you death.Jesus is the way and the truth towards your salvation. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today if you do not want your life to end in a tragedy like that of Solomon. Say this simple prayer: Jesus the son of God, I come to you today, just as I am. I confess that is a Sinner, I repent from my sins.
And pray that you forgive me my sins by the mercy in your blood. I promise to go and sin no more. I invite the Holy Spirit to rule my life in Jesus name. I am born again.
