FOR IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN SOLOMON WAS OLD

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Solomon, the third king of Israel, is looked upon highly by most individuals.  His reign was one of peace for the most part.  The boundaries of the kingdom of Israel reached their greatest expanse during Solomon’s reign.  Great wealth poured into Solomon’s kingdom from all over the world.  It was Solomon who was privileged to build the temple of God in the city of Jerusalem.  In addition, there were numerous other building projects that were completed by the command of this shepherd of Israel. 

            We also honor Solomon because of his great wisdom.  Most of us know the story.  “In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night:  and God said, Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5).  Notice, the Lord did not give options to Solomon from which to choose.  Solomon was free to ask of the Lord anything he desired.  His desire was not for power, popularity, or wealth.  Solomon desired “an understanding heart.”  “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad:  for who is able to judge this thy so great a people” (1 Kings 3:9).  This request amazes us.  It was one that pleased the Lord.  “And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon asked this thing” (1 Sam. 3:10).  Immediately, the Lord granted Solomon’s request.  “Behold, I have done according to thy words:  lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” (1 Kings 3:12). 

            Solomon, however, had one weakness.  He loved strange women.  “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…” (1 Kings 11:1-2a).  According to 1 Kings 11:3, Solomon had “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines.” 

            Solomon did not marry these woman all at once.  They were taken into his harem over the course of his reign as king.  Twice in 1 Kings 11:1-2, it is said that Solomon loved these women.  “But king Solomon loved many strange women” (v. 1).  “Solomon cleaved unto these in love” (v. 2).  Eventually, these women became a thorn to Solomon.  “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” (1 Kings 11:4).  The corrupted heart of Solomon soon expressed itself in evil actions as well.  “Then did Solomon build a 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” (1 Kings 11:7-8). 

            When we read about Solomon’s apostasy, we are shocked.  Our shock stems from three things.  First, Solomon was the wisest man on the earth.  If anyone should have understood the evil of heathen marriages and of false gods, it should have been Solomon.  Second, we are shocked because there was a time when Solomon had a deep love for God.  “And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father…” (1 Kings 3:3).  Third, we are shocked because this happened when Solomon was old.  Older individuals not only have knowledge, but they also have experience.  They understand the consequences of their actions most of the time.  Thus, they have a tendency not to engage in as many sinful activities as those in their youth.

            Solomon’s actions, however, teach us some things.  First, Satan continues his war against individuals even when they are old.  Solomon’s weakness involved strange women.  His position allowed him to come in contact with many beautiful women from many nations.  Satan was constantly enticing his desires (Jms 1:13-15).  Instead of fleeing his fleshly lusts, Solomon fed them.  All Christians, including those who are older, must be very careful.  Paul exhorts us with these words:  “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:14).  Peter gives a similar admonition in 1 Peter 2:12.  “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul.”

            Second, Solomon’s actions teach us that love for God early on in our lives does not guarantee that we will love Him supremely later in our lives.  Early on, Solomon loved God and walked in His ways.  Later, his love for his strange wives took precedence over this love for God.  There have been many individuals who have walked the path of Solomon in this regard.  Early in their Christian life, they served the Lord with diligence.   They labored and built up his kingdom.  They refused to engage in sin and iniquity.  But, later in life, all of that changed.  God and His service was no longer their top priority.  They found other things that robbed them of their deep love for God.  Their service to God in their later years does not compare with the amount of service they gave God early on.  When we look at Solomon, we ask:  “How did this happen?”  We ask the same with regard to those whose love for God has diminished while living the Christian life.

            Third, those who are older and who cease to zealously serve the Lord need to come to an understanding of God’s reactions to Solomon’s departure.  “And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel…” (1 Kings 11:9).  Because of Solomon’s sin two punishments came upon him.  First, the Lord took away the kingdom from Solomon’s lineage except for one tribe (1 Kings 11:11-13).  Second, “the Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite” (1 Kings 11:14).  God is not pleased when His people, at any age, turn from him.  Those who depart can be assured that God will bring consequences upon them if they do not repent of their transgressions.

            Solomon was blessed with many privileges and opportunities.  Yet, this did not keep him from turning from God.  As Christians, we have more blessings than the wise king of old.  We live in the Christian dispensation.  We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  We have all truth revealed unto us in the pages of God’s Word.  If we turn from God, our punishment will be worse than the punishment poured out on Solomon.  This is made plain by the writer of Hebrews.  “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…” (Heb. 2:1-3a).

            Solomon should cause all of us to pause and do some self-reflection.  Old age does not guarantee we will be acceptable unto God.  Just because we have been faithful throughout our youth and middle age years does not mean that we will be faithful in our old age.  The elderly can depart from the Lord just as easily as the young do.  All, young and old alike, must heed the advice of Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:5.  “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobate?”