Solomon was a great king of the Old Testament era. He was the third and last king of the United Kingdom of Israel. David preferred Solomon as his successor rather than his elder son Adonijah. Immediately after his enthronement the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night at Gibeon and said him “Ask What I shall give you?” (I King 3:5). Solomon’s replay pleased God a lot. He said that “ Thou hast shown great and steadfast love to thy Servant David my father, because he walked before thee in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward thee; and thou hast kept for him this great and steadfast love, and hast given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant King in place of David my father, although I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great People, that cannot be numbered or Counted for multitude. Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy People that I may discern between good and evil for who is able to govern this thy great People” (I Kg. 3:6-9). God gave him a wise and discerning heart with a commend that “None like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you”. God gave him both riches and glory and honor though he did not asked for that. This dream account ends with a Solemn warning. “If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statues and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days” (1 Kg 3:14). Scripture says that God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure and largeness of mind like the sand on the seashore. So that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the People of east, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser that all other man……and his fame was in all the nations around about. ( Kg 4: 29-31 ) There came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon and from all kingdoms of the earth who had heard of his wisdom. His Knowledge about the nature was so great.

He spoke 3000 proverbs and his songs were a 1005. He spoke of trees from the “Cedar” that is in Lebanon(the long lived tree) to the hyssop that grows on wall. He also spoke mysterious things about beasts, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea. Because he was considered to be an authority on all subjects his courts was visited by the intellectuals of the then known world. He was a great man with great wisdom and understanding.

Not only he had great knowledge and wisdom about earthly things but also he had a deep insight about the spiritual things. His knowledge about God was so great. He had a very good start of his spiritual life in the sight of God. In the beginning of his reign he submitted himself into the hands of almighty to fulfill His will in his life. As we saw he asked for an understanding heart to govern the people of God. This shows that he accepted the truth that King is nothing but God almighty is the king of Israel. (as we know theocracy was the form of government in respect of Israelites ). This shows his humbleness and obedience in the sight of God. He could have asked many things but he did not. This is one of the best proof that he had a very good start. Moreover God enabled him to build a temple for Him which his father couldn’t do though he earnestly wished for that. The prayer of King Solomon at the time of dedication of the temple is a marvelous one. It reveals his wisdom and understanding about God Almighty and it also shows his faith in God.

First of all he says that “O Lord God of Israel there is no God like thee in heaven or on earth keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to thy servants who walk before thee with all their heart.” (2 Chro. 6:14) That means he personally know and experience that god of Israel is faithful to those who walk before him faithfully. He knew that He is also a God of mercy who shows His steadfast love to those who serve Him and He always keeps His covenants that is why apostle Paul says that He is so faithful even if we are unfaithful for He cannot change His character (deny himself) as faithfulness is one of His divine attribute. (2 Tim 2:13)

Secondly he says that “will God dwell indeed with men on earth ? behold heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built”. (2 Chro. 6:18). This revels his wonderful wisdom about God’s Omnipresence. God is present everywhere and hence how man can limit His presence within four walls of a temple. Solomon knew this wonderful and divine truth through the divine wisdom he possessed.

Thirdly he says that “for thou, thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men (2 Chro. 6:30). Solomon had a deep knowledge that God alone is able to know the hearts of men.

Samuel was a great man of God and a seer but he couldn’t know the hearts of men. When he came to anoint a King in place of Saul from the sons of Jesse he was not sure whom God has really elected for His purpose. When Samuel saw Eliab he thought that surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. But God intervened and said to Samuel that God looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance. Scripture says God discern our thoughts from afar and searchest out our path and our lying down and he knows all our ways. Solomon possessed this wonderful knowledge. He also knew that God will judge men according to his ways ( 2 Chro. 6: 30).

So Solomon was a great man. He lived a life of splendor and glory and honor. His lifestyle was incomparable and his fame was so great. The tradition of Solomonic splendor was famous even in Christ’s time. Jesus himself quote it during his public ministry (Mathew 6:29). He was a successful King in the history of Israel and there was complete peace and harmony with the neighboring countries during his reign. He was a very diplomatic ruler and his foreign policy was a remarkable one. He exercised control and authority over all nations around him. His wisdom was wonderful and his knowledge about God was tremendous. He was indeed a powerful King and ruler, a great man and a wise person. The queen Sheba was amazed by his wisdom and splendor. He is known as the Father of Hebrew wisdom literature. He made a good start in the sight of god and lived a faithful life in the first half of his life. He was the wisest of all who seek God (Ps. 14:2). But he failed to remain faithful in the sight of the Lord. He failed to serve God when he become old. This was because he violated many instructions of God which have been set in respect of Kings in Deuteronomy. We read in Deuteronomy that he (the King) mustn’t multiply horses for himself or cause people to return to Egypt in order to multiply horses (Deut. 17:16). The reason was that Egypt was famous for horses in ancient time. Solomon deliberately violated this commandment. Scripture says that he had forty thousand stalls for horses and he had twelve thousand horsemen for his chariots only. (1 King 4:26). If means he had tens of thousands of horses most of them would have brought from Egypt.

The second commandment in Deuteronomy was that he shall not greatly multiply Gold and Silver. This commandment was also probably violated by Solomon. He collected Gold like anything. The weight of Gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty six talents besides that which came from traders, and from traffic of the merchants and from all the Kings of Arabia and the governors of the land etc., etc. ( 1 King 10:14) Gold was plenty enough so that silver had no value during the reign of Solomon. ( 1 King 10:21).

The third commandment in the Deuteronomy in respect of King is that he shall not multiply wives for himself, that his heart turn away from God. There is yet another commandment that an Israelite should not have matrimonial ties with heathen people around them. Both these commandments have been deliberately and willfully violated by Solomon. Bible says that Solomon had seven hundred wives (princess) and three hundred concubines. He had matrimonial relationship with every heathen country around Israel. Early in his region he had married the daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh. That Egyptian princess remained his favorite queen. He built her house close to his own. ( 1 King 9:24). Tradition out side scripture says that even the visit of queen of Sheba transformed into a romance. Though polygamy was the matrimonial standard of the time among Jews; Rabbis interpreted later the fact that Solomon had only one son (Rehoboam) as a judgment sent by God for his violation of God’s law regarding marriage. Such feminine influence had its very bad effects on the Purity of his religious life.

Solomon deliberately violated all these commandments and turned away from God. His finishing was a complete failure though his beginning was very good. Though he possessed wisdom and divine knowledge about God he turned sway his heart after other gods. He went after heathen gods and goddesses. He offered burned offerings and sacrifices to Ashtoreth the goddess of Sisonians and Mikcom the abomination of the Ammonites and thus he did evil in the sight of the Lord. (1 King 11:5). Moreover he built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Melech the abomination of Ammonites on the Mountain east of Jerusalem. (1 King 11:7). He did this for all the dieties of his foreign wives. He preferred tp please his foreign wives rather than obeying God almighty. As a result God has rejected Solomon. God said to him that since you are guilty of not keeping my commandments and statues I will surely tear the Kingdom from you and will give to your servant (1 King 11:11). It has been literally fulfilled soon after the death of Solomon. So one man’s sin and unfaithfulness caused the division of the monarchy which ended in bitter rivalry and enimity among brothers throughout the history. Scripture doesnot contemplate Solomon never ever again. (his name does appears a few time in the Bible especially in new testemant). God forsaked him for ever. His name doesnot find any place in the list of heroes of faith though Rahab; the harlot and Jephthah; the son of a harlot have been mentioned by the Spirit of God.

Dear reader, beginning is of no use if you fail to have a good finishing. Paul reminds this principle to Timothy that “an athlete is not crowned unless he completes according to the rules” (2 Tim: 2:5). India’s Shyny Abraham lossed her Gold medal in Soul Asiad for such a violation of rule in respect of changing trackes. In fact God counts the end rather than beginning. Gos is impartial and he will judge or reward each one impartially in accordance with his deeds. Paul reminds this wonderful turth to Corinthians and warns them that

“we all must appear before the judgement seat of Christ so that each one may receive good or evil according to what he has done in the body. (2 Cori. 5;10). Though Solomon didnot tell that there is no God; yet he rejected the only living God and served the heathen gods. So by his deeds he became a fool eventhough he possessed all the worldly wisdom and understanding. So we can say that Solomon is a wise fool in the light of Scripture as scripture says that he who seekth not God is a fool. One who doesnot live inaccordance with the word of God and doesnpt walk in the ways of God; he is a fool who says in his heart that there is no God because he deleberately ignores the warning of judgement. Dear friend, how about you? You may have a very good start of your spiritul life. You may be born and broughtup in a Pentecostal family. You amy have a very good spiritual family background. Many of your parents may be christian workers or leaders or pastors. Some of you might have actively involved in the spiritual activities in your early christian life. All these things are very good but remember that if you fail to live a life worthy unto God today or till your death your labour is in vain because God recons the end rather than beginning. You may have a very good knowledge about God and you may be a scholar in theology. You may be able to preach well and speak the doctrines authoritatively or you may have done a lot of things for the glory of the name of God in the past and your meterial contribution towards gospel works may be a remarkable one. But all your efforts are in vain if you are turn away from God now or if you are a backslider at the moment. Remember that “Present” and “Future” are more important in the sight of God rather than the “Past”. So as Paul reminds the Corinthians “Run that you may obtain a prize”. Donot be a wise fool like Solomon but be a wise who walk in the ways of the Lord and does the will of God on earth till the death. Let us earnestly wish to finish our race like Paul did. (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Those who only finish the race will be remembered and rewarded. So run the race to obtain the glorious reward which the Lord had kept for us. May God bless you all. Amen.