Royalty and Ruin

Solomon Acknowledges His Sin

In repentance Solomon began to retrace his steps toward the high position of purity and holiness from which he had fallen. He could never hope to escape the terrible results of sin, but he would humbly confess the error of his ways and warn others so that they would not be hopelessly lost because of the evil influences he had set in operation. The truly repentant person thinks of those he or she has led into evil and tries to lead them back to the true path. Such people do not gloss over their own wayward course, but lift the danger signal so that others may take warning. RR 29.1

Solomon acknowledged that “the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts.” “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God. ... But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days.” Ecclesiastes 9:3; 8:12, 13. RR 29.2

By inspiration the king recorded the history of his wasted years with their lessons of warning. In this way his lifework was not wholly lost. With lowliness, in his later years Solomon “taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.” He “sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.” Ecclesiastes 12:9, 10. RR 29.3

“Fear God, and keep His commandments,” he wrote, “for this is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Verses 13, 14, NRSV. RR 29.4