The Review and Herald

August 17, 1905

Lessons From the Life of Solomon—No. 1

EGW

I have been instructed by the Lord to call the attention of our people to the history of Solomon. From the record of his reign we may learn many lessons helpful in avoiding the paths that led to Israel's downfall. RH August 17, 1905, par. 1

The early life of Solomon was bright with promise. He chose the wisdom of God, and the glory of his reign excited the wonder of the world. He might have gone on from strength to strength, from glory to glory, ever approaching nearer the similitude of the character of God. RH August 17, 1905, par. 2

The Kingdom of Israel in Solomon's Time

In the reigns of David and Solomon, Israel reached the height of her greatness. Solomon was anointed and proclaimed king in the closing years of his father David, who abdicated in his favor. After the death of David, “Solomon was king over all Israel.” At this time “Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 3

Extent of the Kingdom

“Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river [Euphrates] unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.... He had dominion ... over all the kings on this side the river [Euphrates]: and he had peace on all sides round about him. RH August 17, 1905, par. 4

“And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 5

“Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 6

“Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 7

The promise given to Abraham and repeated through Moses was fulfilled: “If ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 8

Solomon's Opportunity

The last great work of David, in his official position, was to call the attention of the people once more to their solemn relation to God as subjects of his theocracy. Summoning the princes of Israel, with the representative men from all parts of the kingdom, he delivered, in their presence, an inspired charge to his son, vesting him with kingly authority, and bidding him perform faithfully the duties devolving upon him. “Know thou the God of thy father,” the aged monarch pleaded, “and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 9

Through obedience the Israelites could have stood at the head of the nations of the earth. God would have made them “high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor.” “All the peoples of the earth,” said Moses, “shall see that thou art called by the name of Jehovah; and they shall be afraid of thee.” “The nations which shall hear all these statutes” shall say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 10

None understood these promises better than David. By his own experience he had learned how hard is the path of him who departs from God. He had felt the condemnation of the broken law, and had reaped the fruits of transgression; and his whole soul was moved with solicitude that the leaders of Israel should be true to God, and that Solomon should obey God's law, shunning the sins that had weakened his father's authority, embittered his life, and dishonored God. David knew that it would require humility of heart, a constant trust in God, and unceasing watchfulness, to withstand the temptations that would surely beset Solomon in his exalted station; for such prominent characters are a special mark for the shafts of Satan. RH August 17, 1905, par. 11

When he felt that death was approaching, the burden of David's heart was still for Solomon and for the kingdom of Israel, whose prosperity must so largely depend upon the fidelity of her king. “And he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man; and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, ... that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: that the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 12

O, what an opportunity was Solomon's! He was to be not merely a warrior, a statesman, and a sovereign, but a strong, good man, an example of fidelity, a teacher of righteousness. With tender earnestness David entreated Solomon to be manly and noble, and to show mercy and loving-kindness to his subjects. The many trying and remarkable experiences through which David had passed during his lifetime, had taught him the value of the nobler virtues, and led him to exclaim: “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 13

Had Solomon followed the divinely inspired instruction of his aged father, his reign might have been indeed a reign of righteousness, so beautifully described in the seventy-second Psalm: RH August 17, 1905, par. 14

A Reign of Righteousness

“Give the king thy judgments, O God,
And thy righteousness unto the king's
son.
He will judge thy people with righteousness,
And thy poor with justice.
The mountains shall bring peace to the people,
And the hills, in righteousness.
He will judge the poor of the people,
He will save the children of the needy,
And will break in pieces the oppressor.
They shall fear thee while the sun
endureth,
And so long as the moon, throughout
all generations.
He will come down like rain upon the
mown grass,
As showers that water the earth.
In his days shall the righteous
flourish,
And abundance of peace, till the moon
be no more.
He shall have dominion also from sea
to sea,
And from the River unto the ends of
the earth.
They that dwell in the wilderness
shall bow before him;
And his enemies shall lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
shall render tribute:
The kings of Sheba and Seba shall
offer gifts.
Yea, all kings shall fall down before
him;
All nations shall serve him.
For he will deliver the needy when he
crieth,
And the poor, that hath no helper.
He will have pity on the poor and needy,
And the souls of the needy he will
save.
He will redeem their soul from oppression
and violence;
And precious will their blood be in
his sight:
And they shall live; and to him shall
be given of the gold of Sheba:
And men shall pray for him continually;
They shall bless him all the day long.
There shall be abundance of grain in
the earth upon the top of the
mountains;
The fruit thereof shall shake like
Lebanon:
And they of the city shall flourish like
grass of the earth.
His name shall endure forever;
His name shall be continued as long
as the sun:
And men shall be blessed in him;
All nations shall call him happy. RH August 17, 1905, par. 15

“Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of
Israel,
Who only doeth wondrous things:
And blessed be his glorious name
forever;
And let the whole earth be filled with
his glory.
Amen, and Amen.” RH August 17, 1905, par. 16

Solomon's entire history might have been in accordance with this inspired prophecy. Exalted to a position of sacred trust, he for a time heeded the wise counsels of David, and brought glory to the name of the God of Israel. But the later years of his reign were marred by pride, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation. Desire for political power and self-aggrandizement led him to form alliances with heathen nations. The silver of Tarshish and the gold of Ophir were procured at a terrible expense, even the sacrifice of integrity, the betrayal of sacred trust. Association with idolaters corrupted his faith. One false step led to another, until there was a breaking down of the barriers that God had erected for the safety of his people. RH August 17, 1905, par. 17

Gradually, yet surely, Solomon's life was corrupted by conformity to worldly customs. Looking to the standards of right followed by heathen nations, he began to lose sight of the standard of God's law. Uniting in marriage with worshipers of false gods, at last he gave himself up to idolatry. A character that had been pure and elevated, became marred and degraded. The mind that was once given to God, and inspired to write the precious words of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs,—that noble mind, through evil associations and constant indulgence, became weak in moral power. Solomon dishonored himself, dishonored Israel, and dishonored God. RH August 17, 1905, par. 18

Sad as is the story of Solomon's apostasy, it portrays the result of separation from God. One false step prepares the way for a second and a third, and every additional step is taken more easily than the last. It is our privilege to take heed to the God-given warning of Solomon's life. As followers of Christ, we are to honor our Master by studying and obeying his teachings. We are to manifest our love and fear of God by refusing to conform to the world's standard of right. Let us beware of departing from the simplicity of our faith. The Christian's standard of right must ever be the standard that is given in Holy Writ. Constantly we are to guard against every worldly influence that would weaken us in moral power. RH August 17, 1905, par. 19