He inherited a peaceful, secure kingdom but faced a big job—to build the temple of the LORD. His father had given him a detailed design, gathered materials, and fostered a good relationship with a supplier for skilled labor and lumber. The work was accomplished without a hitch. Solomon added a temporary platform in the temple courtyard.
On dedication day, the new monarch humbled himself before his people and God. His citizens watched as he knelt on the platform to pray. In his prayer, he praised God for maintaining His covenant and showing His love to those who walked in God’s law. He asked God to help them keep the covenant and forgive them when they erred.
God offered Solomon anything he wanted and Solomon asked for wisdom. God was pleased and granted him his request along with riches and long life. This was a stellar beginning for Solomon’s reign.
Then Solomon built a house for himself, much larger and far more extravagant than the LORD’s temple. The throne was spectacular; nothing like it had ever been built for a king. He collected gold and silver and horses, twelve thousand horses! Why do horses matter? In Deuteronomy, Moses instructs the Israelites that their king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself and certainly not get them from Egypt.* From where did Solomon get horses? From Egypt. Scripture records that Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. Solomon had a divided heart; he compartmentalized. His life of luxury was Solomon’s domain, and the Giver of his wealth was Lord of the other house, the temple.
Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and married his daughter. King Solomon stepped onto a deadly path. He proceeded to love and marry many foreign women. What had God told the Israelites? Do not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods. And sure enough, Solomon not only followed many false gods with his foreign wives but even built shrines for the gods of the Moabites and Ammonites. Solomon’s heart turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel. At this, God announced that He would rip the kingdom away from Solomon.
How could this happen? How could a king who knew the law of the LORD and knew the importance of obedience be so disobedient? How could a king who publicly prayed so sincerely fall so far? Solomon knew he and his people were weak and would fail. Could he not find a way to protect and strengthen himself?
Moses’ sermon regarding horses also warned against Solomon’s other distractions: the king must not take many wives and must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. And then Moses prescribed the antidote to falling away: The king must write for himself a copy of this law. He must always keep it with him, and read it daily so that he may learn to revere the LORD and carefully follow the law.* This personal discipline is what Solomon lacked. His religious life was limited to the temple obligation of offering sacrifices three times a year. Unlike his father David, Solomon did not seek God through daily, personal reading of the law.
This antidote against the pull of the world works for us, too. Spend time with the Lord in his Word every day. It will keep you and protect you. I encourage you to read whole books of the Bible, not just familiar or favorite parts. You will be surprised at what you discover. As King David wrote: By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.*
- Excerpt from David’s “Lament”, 2 Samuel 1:19
- Deuteronomy 17:16-19
- Read Solomon’s story in 1 Kings 3-11 and 2 Chronicles 1-9.
- Psalm 19:11
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