Solomon is a complex and fascinating individual in the Bible, known for asking for wisdom from God and his failure to fully heed it, he is also famous for his writings of the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song that bears his name. It is also clearly shown that, despite his human shortcomings and sins, he continued to be used by God for His plan, ultimately being a part in the lineage of Christ.
Solomon is first introduced as one of the sons of David and Bathsheba in 2nd Samuel 12:24, and we can read in the subsequent chapters that he remained loyal to his father while David’s other children rebelled against him, wronged their family, or even sought to instigate civil war. Solomon would have seen some of these conflicts and their consequences first hand, as well as the other external forces and pressures that David was forced to face or endure as both a man of God and as the king of Israel. Solomon may have witnessed how David deeply grieved at his brother Absalom’s death, how David praised God for delivering Israel from a later famine, and that throughout his life he had earned the love and respect of the mighty men so they would support him, fight for him, and sometimes speak difficult things to David if they were what he needed to hear. Solomon would have known of these, and when he was crowned as king he ascended to the throne with others already vying and conspiring to take it in his place; David worked to solidify his son’s position by openly proclaiming Solomon’s kingship and by making an effort to publicly and properly give Solomon the throne, ensuring that all the people of Israel could see David blessing Solomon’s succession, a rarity in a world where kingship was usually passed on after death.
David’s first words in 1 Kings 1:48 are to give glory to God as he sees Solomon take his place, and Solomon’s first act in verse 52 was an attempt to make peace with those who had earlier tried to claim his throne, sparing Adonijah in the moment and giving him an opportunity to be judged as good or wicked by his own merit. In this, Solomon sought to begin his reign with an act of peace, setting an example of mercy within a greater time of conflict and turmoil. Sadly, he would later have to execute Adonijah for continuing his conspiracy, however we are also reminded here that Solomon’s role as king required both mercy and justice, and is a representation of the authority that God has over us all as our true Lord.
Continuing in chapter 2, Solomon is then advised by his father in verses 3 - 4 to “keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel’” (ESV). While the remainder of chapter 2 can be sad to read, as it records a number of executions ordered by Solomon against those who continued to actively work against him, it also clearly shows the importance of surrounding oneself with reliable, grounded people to plan for future success, to seek counsel or insight from, as well as the need to make sure that justice was fully executed so that of the nation he was crowned to lead would have stability and peace.
Chapter 3 begins with Solomon securing treaties with other nations and establishing a political marriage, which would also be what started his downfall. He also inherited a kingdom that was not yet fully equipped to worship God: verse 3 records that while Solomon loved the Lord and walked in the statues of David, he along with the nation of Israel as a whole was violating the command in Deuteronomy 12: 13-14 that specified burnt offerings to God were only to be offered in proper places, and not in “the high places” as the pagans around Israel had done (and it may be important to note that God did not speak as Solomon was offering the unlawful sacrifices, despite their great number in verse 4). However, despite these mistakes, God still loved Solomon, and He appeared later a dream to ask Solomon what he wanted from God.
1 Kings chapter 3:6 reports that Solomon first acknowledged God’s great mercy upon his father David, and that it was because David walked in God’s truth, righteousness, and an uprightness of heart. He also recognizes that God’s kindness to David extended to his own life as well, and in verse 7 Solomon recognizes his ignorance of how to proceed as ruler of God’s people. In verse 9 Solomon asks the Lord for “an understanding heart to judge”, that he may “discern between good and evil.” God not only answers Solomon, but also recognizes his humility in not asking for power or wealth, and grants him all of those as well as the discernment and wisdom that he did request. However, God also adds a condition in verse 14: “And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days” (ESV).
Again, sadly, we know reading forward that Solomon did not do so; while he was given all the wisdom and power and riches he could have ever dreamed of and built mighty and awe-inspiring works, he failed to truly apply or make use of that wisdom at critical points in his rule- he was led astray by the nations around Israel, was led into pagan practices by the many wives he unlawfully took, and as he distanced himself further from God and His commandments and laws, the Israelite nation he had initially hoped to lead so well fell into chaos, eventually dividing entirely.
There is a sobering lesson for us Christians today here in the story of Solomon: it is not enough to simply know what God wants, to be able to quote scriptures or read off hymns, we must put what God says into action, obeying His word in our lives and instead of letting the world and it’s pleasures and pressures conform us to it’s image, we must seek God and allow Him and His word to shape us into who and what God would have us be. His ways are so much higher than ours, His laws are true and enlightening to us, far better are they to hold to than any wisdom or treasure, and our words and actions should reflect that.