Reading: I Kings 9 – 11
And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice(I Kings 10:6-9).
King Solomon had it all—wisdom, prosperity, and fame. His land was at peace. He had fulfilled his father’s dream to build a permanent Temple for the Lord. His subjects loved him and were happy and content with their lives. He was respected and revered the world over—the epitome of a gracious king. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart (I Kings 10:24).
Solomon was blessed beyond measure, but somewhere along the way, he forgot from where all those blessings flowed, just as Moses had warned could happen. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day (Deut. 8:10-11). And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth (8:17).
The sin of pride was Solomon’s downfall. Little by little, Solomon began to believe his own press. He forgot that he was expressing the wisdom of God and, instead, accepted the accolades of the people as no more than his due. He looked around him and saw his land, his people, and his accomplishments, and he swelled with personal pride. He then sought more, in direct contradiction to the command of God. Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold (Deut. 17:15-17).
In the eyes of the world, Solomon was the greatest king ever to live (I Kings 10:23). He accumulated great personal wealth (10:14), raised and kept a standing cavalry (10:26), and married multiple foreign wives (11:1). But in the eyes of God, Solomon was a foolish man who willfully threw his blessed life away. Wherefore the Lord 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 (11:9-11). When Solomon turned his back to the light of God, he became lost in the dark.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness(Matt. 6:22-23)!
Thought For Today:If we believe our success is due only to ourselves, then we will only rely on ourselves, and our nature will always be the first thing to betray us.
Christ Portrayed:By David, who lived to please the Lord in integrity of heart (I Kings 9:4).
Word Studies:9:13 Cabul = displeasing, as worthless; 9:15 levy = tax in the form of forced labor; 9:22 bondmen = slaves, forced laborers; 9:24 Millo = a mound of earth raised as a fortress just north of Mount Zion and outside the original city of David; 10:2 train = royal attendants.
Pray For Staff:Lithuania (3,515,858) Eastern coast of Baltic Sea in Northeastern Europe • Major Languages: Lithuanian, Russian, Polish • Limited religious freedom • 79% Roman Catholic; 4.1% Russian Orthodox; 1.9% Protestant; 5.5% Other/Unspecified; 9.5% None • Prayer Suggestion: Wives, pray for a quiet, loving spirit to win your husband to Christ (I Pet. 3:1-2).
Optional ReadingActs 26