How Wise Was Solomon?

Solomon's Court

 

'So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: walk in obedience to Him and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and regulations...' 1 King 2:2-3

The wisdom of King Solomon was dramatically evident by the judgement he made on the custody of a child disputed by two mothers. It is a well-known account of sound judgement found in the Bible in 1 King 3:16-28. 

Two women living in the same house gave birth to a child each but one died soon after. The two mothers claimed the living baby as their own, resulting in a child custody dispute brought before the king. Solomon called for the living child to be cut into two giving each half to the mothers. The false claimant did not contest the verdict agreeing that if she could not have the baby then no other person should. In contrast the true mother, protested against this action and asked for the child to be kept alive and be given to the other woman. The King declared her to be the true mother because she was prepared to give up her claim if it meant that the child could be kept alive.    

This was a moment of profound wisdom that marveled many and became an epitome of sound judgement. That wisdom came from God. Early in King Solomon's reign, God asked the King what he wanted and Solomon replied,  

'Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?' 2 Chronicles 1:10

God answered, 

"Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you." 2 Chronicles 1:11-12a

It was a brilliant and unselfish request from Solomon, so much so that God promised Solomon great wealth and prestige along with wisdom. 

"And I will give you wealth, possessions and honour, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." 2 Chronicles 1:12b  

Under Solomon's wise leadership Israel reached its zenith but it all went wrong subsequently. The strong united kingdom broke into two under Solomon's successors, decayed until the Jews were driven from their land first by the Assyrians (733 BC) later by the Babylonians (598 BC). Finally, in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple by Rome, the remnant Jews were scattered. The State of Israel ceased to exist until 1948 when it was established after the British Mandate of Palestine.

Why did Solomon self-destruct? Kevin and Lynette Teo (Ref 1) in analysing 1 King 11:1-11 gave the reasons

• Distraction. Solomon had many wives and concubines, nearly 1000 in all, many of them foreigners. It was recorded that these wives led Solomon astray. 

'As Solomon's grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.' 1 King 11:4

• Disobedience. Solomon was disobedient in having many foreign wives and of worshipping other gods and idols. He built places of worship to these other gods causing God to be angry with him

 'Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command.' 1 King 11:10

• Drift. In time, Solomon drifted and turned away from God. His beliefs and faith became nominal and compromised.

'So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.' 1 King 11:6

• Decline. Solomon's relationship with God went downhill. It is not only in his actions but in his attitude too. Thus the kingdom that was established by his father King David went into a tailspin decline.

'So the Lord said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinate." ' 1 King 11:11

Kevin and Lynette put it plainly and bluntly, "The wisest man on earth became the greatest fool."

What about us? The Christian Life begins with Salvation but it should continue to Sanctification. Like Solomon we can start off well but many falter in a continuing journey to righteousness by being distracted and disobedient. To avoid the pitfalls of a compromised Christian Life, let us wisely learn from the Solomon blunder.

The journey of sanctification requires a undivided devotion for God as the hymn 'Be Thou My Vision' articulates. Notice how Kristyn Getty sang with much prayerfulness. Isn't this like the prayer of Solomon at the start of his reign?

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art

Thou my best thought, by day or by night

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord

Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise

Thou mine inheritance, now and always

Thou and Thou only first in my heart

High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won

May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O ruler of all

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O ruler of all

   

Lionel

Ref1: Kevin and Lynette Teo, Passion with Purpose: A weekly devotional 38.2 2023/6

Look Forward

 

Heliconia Bird Of Paradise: Look Forward

'One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on  toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.' Philippians 3:13-14

When King Solomon was an old man he had an advice for younger men,

'Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them." Ecclesiastes 12:1

Solomon was holding out a daunting prospect to growing old. There was nothing to look forward to other than disappointment and unhappiness. His book of Ecclesiastes started out very grimly by stating that all of life is futile and full of vanities. Towards the end of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon discovered the life that is worth living. He remembered God. Solomon advised the young to do the same so as to avoid futility but find fulfilment.

In 2021, our dear brother Lim Chin Leng was diagnosed to have cancer. In a New Year message for 2022, Chin Leng wrote, "Looking back, although 2021 has been a difficult year, I’m thankful that God has never forsaken me or my family as we walked through the valley of the shadow of death. God also sent many people to make sure we won’t go through this scary journey alone. Our cell group, and many in Charis, fasted and prayed for us. Many also blessed us with much needed practical help. We experienced the importance of being connected to a spiritual community during this crisis.

God is still at work in our lives as we prepare to face the unknown ahead. At the end of the day, we believe that God will show us His glory, whether I get healed or not. Thank you, church, for your love and encouragement. We appreciate you all! My prayer for you is that you too will be able to experience the presence of God in every season of your life, regardless of the challenges you face. May God bless you! The Best is Yet to Be. To God be the Glory!"

It takes much courage to battle cancer. Chin Leng demonstrated this because  God is at work in his life. Despite this setback, Chin Leng remained undaunted, he looked forward. Looking forward is looking to God.

'Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'  Isaiah 41:10

Bishop Solomon wrote a book (Ref 1), 'We Are Pilgrims' on the 15 Songs of Ascent (Psalms 130-134). These are the songs sung by the Jewish pilgrims as they climbed their way up to Jerusalem. These songs, wrote the Bishop, "contain profound thoughts about God amid the painful realities of life". They are filled with trusting and very poignant prayers.  These prayerful songs help us to face life, its pain as well as its joy.

'I lift up my eyes to You, to You who sit enthroned in heaven' Psalm 123:1

Like the pilgrims of old singing their songs of ascent, we can carry on the upward way just as this song, 'Higher Ground' encourages us to press on. St Paul encouraged the Philippi Christians to reach forward to the things ahead and press on towards the goal, the upward call of God in Jesus Christ.

I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining every day;

Still praying as I onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
  Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 

Lionel

No Man Is An Island

Fyfield Down Neolithic Stones

'Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.' Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

A sad commentary of our individual-centric modern living reality is found in the words of Simon and Garfunkel ‘I am a rock. I am a Island’ This song drums in all the loneliness of life without companionship or friendship. The second verse reads,

“I've built up walls, a fortress deep and mighty,

that nothing penetrates.

I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.

It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.

I am a rock, I am an island.”

In Tokyo, a guide informed that there are many homeless people in the city. And it is entirely by personal choice and preference that they desert friends and families to wander the streets alone. They are not poor. They are never hungry because the Japanese strict laws on the validity period of food ensured that they had lots to eat. Food sold in supermarkets had to be discarded immediately, once expired. These people are spoilt for choice as far as food is concerned. They choose to become distant islands in a sea of humanity.

During the lockdown caused by Covid-19, our church decided to house homeless people. We discovered to our dismal surprise that there are many homeless men and women in Singapore!

They preferred to be left alone; pitiful sights of old men and women left to wander alone in crowded cities. In 1969, Ralph McTell wrote the song, "The Streets of London." It was inspired as Mc Tell was basking at the Surrey Street market in Croydon. The song laments the plight of the homeless, lonely and elderly who are largely ignored by society. 

"Have you seen the old man in the closed-down market

Picking up the paper, with his worn out shoes?

In his eyes you see no pride and hands held loosely by his side

Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news.

So how can you tell me you're lonely, And say for you that the sun don't shine?

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London

I'll show you something to make you change your mind."

We ask, why this sad state of affairs? The likely answer is that in a modern city, Singapore included, everyone is busy. We are too busy with climbing up the corporate ladder, too busy for anyone. Along with this busyness is a healthy dose of selfishness; too much of worrying of one's self to be concerned with others. 

Remember the song, “The Cat’s in the Cradle?” The son is always asking his dad when is he coming home. The father replies that he will be home soon enough but he does not know when. But when the dad comes home they are going to have a good time together. Unfortunately, this never happens. So tragically when the father finally had the time, the kid had grown up and this time the kid has no time for this dad.

The last verse of the song recorded that the father retired and now has time for his son but the son is too busy.  

I used to think that I would work till I die but when I turned 68, I decided that I will retire. I realised that the desire to keep on working was an ego trip designed to satisfy the feeling of being wanted or important at work. I changed my mind because by that time we had an empty nest at home for several years. I felt that the two of us, Pat and I should be able to spend our remaining years with each other and with people who are dear to us. 

So now we decided to holiday more and visit with our two daughters and their families in Newcastle, Australia and Marlborough, UK. We enjoy the privilege of scenic views, different cultures, different cuisines and understanding different histories. We realised that the world has diminished in size; people and places are not that far away after all. It is good to be able to view life and world together. 

We were ever so busy, growing our marriage, my career and our two daughters. Watching our children through their childhood and formative years was a delight. Before we know it we have been married 45 years now. The time to build a career and raising a family has taken all our attention. Before we grow too old, we should appreciate what we have the love, the companionship and the time for each other.

This was also the insight for King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 4:8-12. Solomon concluded that life on earth was futile. The sad commentary Solomon made was about a rich man who was all alone. No one, no family, no relatives, no friends,

'There was a man all alone; he had either son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless- a miserable business!' Ecclesiastes 4:8

Solomon came to the conclusion,

'Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. Also if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves, A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.' Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

In the many places that Pat and I have visited around the world, we view with much pity the lonely lives of old men and women. This is a sad reflection of modern societies that revere individualism and independence and do not value friendships, dependencies and community. 

John Donne, who was left alone and expected to die of bubonic plague wrote in 1623. "No man is an island, entire of itself; Every man is a piece of a continent, a part of the main..." 

Loneliness should not happen in Christian communities. An understanding of the fellowship and interdependencies between men and women was evident in the early church among apostles and believers,

'They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.' Acts 2:42. 

Appreciating neighbourliness and friendships is a counterpoise to the proud and boastful, "I am a rock, I am an island." Better the old Swedish saying, 'Shared joy is double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow.'      

·    Lionel

Updated 1st published 12 Jul 2008