Solomon’s Wisdom: “”I give you a heart so wise...there will come no one ISSUE 9 VOLUME 1 2014 equal to you” (1 Kings 3:10- 12). THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON: “THE CLOUD FILLED THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD” (1 KINGS 8:10). SOLOMON’S SIN: “HIS WIVES TURNED HIS HEART” (1 KINGS 11:3). of the Heroes Bible At the beginning of his reign, Solomon asked God for wisdom to govern his people. focus SOLOMON BECAME A GRE AT KING. HIS FAILURE CAME LATER BECAUSE HE BETRAYED GOD BY AC- CEPTING OTHER GODS AND EXPLOITING HIS PEOPLE . King Solomon: God, Give Me Wisdom! Solomon had the unique and distinc- Solomon invited everyone in the tive privilege and opportunity to be kingdom to the dedication of the king over 12 united tribes of Israel at temple. A grand procession conduct- its zenith, the short-lived glory days ed the Ark of the Covenant to its lo- of Israel. Early in his reign, the Lord cation in the temple's inner chamber, asked Solomon in a dream, “What the Holy of Holies. When the Ark shall I give you?” Solomon asked for was positioned, the glory of the Lord an understanding heart to judge God' in the form of a cloud filled the tem- people, wisdom and knowledge, and ple. It was so intense the priests had the ability to discern between good to go outside. and evil. On an elevated scaffold made espe- God blessed Solomon with wisdom cially for the occasion, Solomon and understanding, and exalted him prayed on his knees with his hands in the sight of Israel. His wisdom held high. When Solomon had fin- quickly became known worldwide ished praying, the fire of God came and his wealth exceeded all the kings down from heaven and consumed all in the world. Solomon spoke 3,000 the offerings and sacrifices and the proverbs, wrote 1,005 songs, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. book of Ecclesiastes and the Song of When all the children of Israel saw The Temple of Solomon Solomon. He accumulated how the fire came down and the glo- knowledge of trees, animals, birds, ry of the Lord shining bright, they Solomon’s temple was approximately 90 feet long fish and more. Men came from all fell to their knees and face down, by 30 feet wide, and 3 stories high. David had con- nations to hear the wisdom of Solo- worshiped and praised the Lord. tributed his personal wealth and extensive amounts mon. There was a great celebration that of timber, stone, iron, bronze, silver and gold. Solo- In his fourth year, King Solomon lasted three weeks. When the dedica- mon, too, personally purchased imported lumber began building the temple of the tion festivities ended, everyone went and stone. Almost 200,000 of his own people la- Lord according to the blueprints that home joyful for God's blessings on bored to transport materials to Jerusalem. The interi- God revealed to David. It was con- Solomon and all of Israel. or of the temple was decorated with detailed carv- structed in Jerusalem on Mount Mo- The Lord appeared again to Solo- ings and plated with over 20 tons of gold. It took riah (see “Solomon’s Temple”). mon, assur- (See SOLOMON, pg. 2) seven years to construct, but it was one of a kind. SOLOMON (continued) DID YOU ing him that his prayer had The queen of Sheba was im- all these things. He built been heard. God said that He pressed beyond words. See- places of worship for the KNOW? would abundantly bless and ing how marvelously he gods of his foreign wives, dwell with Israel, if they kept lived, and everyone in Jeru- and they turned his heart King Solomon was the Him first, and that He would salem, she told him that eve- from the true God. He even last of the Biblical kings be with Solomon, “If you rything she had heard was participated in their rituals. of the United Monarchy keep My statutes and My true, and more. “Indeed the This displeased God and He period. judgments, then I will estab- half of the greatness of your said to Solomon, “Because A famous illustration of lish the throne of your king- wisdom was not told me. you have done this, I will Solomon’s wisdom oc- dom, as I covenanted with You exceed the fame of surely tear the kingdom away curs in 1 Kings 3: 16-28, David your father, saying, which I heard.” She not only from you and give it to your when two women come You shall not fail to have a complimented Solomon but servant. Nevertheless I will to Solomon, asking him man as ruler in Israel.” But praised God for His good- not do it in your days, for the to determine which of the God included a stern warning ness to Israel. She and Solo- sake of your father David. I two of them should be that there would be severe mon exchanged an abun- will give one tribe to your awarded a disputed in- consequences if Solomon and dance of gifts before her de- son for the sake of My serv- fant. Both mothers the people of Israel turned parture. King Solomon sur- ant David, and for the sake claimed to have given away from Him and wor- passed all the kings of the of Jerusalem which I have birth to the baby. Solo- shipped idols. “I will uproot earth in riches and wisdom. chosen.” mon came up with what them from My land which I Although God had forbidden This was soon to be fulfilled sounded like a logical have given them, and this marriages between Israelites with Jeroboam, and Solo- idea. He suggested the house which I have sanctified and people of other nations mon's son, Rehoboam. Solo- baby be cut and split for My name I will cast out (Deuteronomy 7:1-4) and mon reigned 40 years until between the two women. of My sight.” had warned against having his death, ending the golden When one of the women The queen of Sheba heard of many wives, and becoming years of Israel. (2 Samuel immediately understood the fame of Solomon, and overly wealthy 12:24; 1 Kings 1:10-11:43; 1 that the beloved child came to Jerusalem. Solomon (Deuteronomy 17:17), in Chronicles 22:6-29:28; 2 would be killed, she no answered all her questions. Solomon's latter years, he did Chronicles 1:1-9:31) longer cared whether she got to raise him. All she wanted was that he be safe. The other potential mother didn't care: she How Did Solomon Become King? wanted her piece. Solo- For Your mon decided the real Solomon, who became ruler mother -- or at least the in approximately 967 B.C.E., Reflection: was the son of King David one who should be the real mother -- was the and Bathsheba. Solomon was Whenever you are in a one who would rather not the oldest son of David, leadership position, re- give up her child than but David promised Bathshe- member that you you see it be destroyed. ba that Solomon would be the must use the power or next king. When David’s Solomon was a tremen- authority you have in dous organizer, able rul- elder son Adonijah declared himself king, David ordered veiled threat to take over his service to God and God’s er, clever politician, and people; never use it to great builder. These his servants to bring Solomon kingdom and sent a messen- to the Gihon spring where the ger to kill Adonijah. He ban- exploit others or for your strengths also became own selfishness. his greatest weaknesses. priest anointed him while ished Abiathar to the city of To fulfill his great accom- David was still alive. Solo- Anathoth. Solomon then fol- Who is a leader today plishments, Solomon mon inherited a considerable lowed his father’s last in- taxed his people heavily, empire from his father. structions in which David had that you feel remains married foreign women to At first Solomon was faced ordered him to kill both Joab faithful to God’s call to seal political alliances, with opposition. Two of Da- and one of his father’s ene- be a servant of those in and used forced labor to vid’s closest advisors, Joab mies, Shimei son of Gera. need? complete his building son of Zeruiah and the priest Solomon thus overcame the projects. These things Abiathar, sided with Adoni- last potential threats to his What can we do to call offended God and made jah. When Adonijah came to kingdom. He then appointed our leaders to Solomon unpopular with Solomon and requested the his friends to key military, accountability? the people of Israel. king’s servant as a wife, governmental and religious Solomon saw that this was a posts. .