Chapter 5—Solomon’s Repentance
Twice during Solomon’s reign the Lord had appeared to him with
words of approval and counsel—in the night vision at Gibeon, when
the promise of wisdom, riches, and honor was accompanied by an
admonition to remain humble and obedient; and after the dedication
of the temple, when once more the Lord exhorted him to faithful-
ness. Plain were the admonitions, wonderful the promises, given to
Solomon; yet of him who in circumstances, in character, and in life
seemed abundantly fitted to heed the charge and meet the expectation
of Heaven, it is recorded: “He kept not that which the Lord com-
manded.” “His heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which
had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this
thing, that he should not go after other gods.”
1 Kings 11:9, 10
. And
so complete was his apostasy, so hardened his heart in transgression,
that his case seemed well-nigh hopeless.
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From the joy of divine communion, Solomon turned to find satis-
faction in the pleasures of sense. Of this experience he says:
“I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vine-
yards: I made me gardens and orchards: ... I got me servants and
maidens: ... I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar trea-
sure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women
singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments,
and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that
were before me in Jerusalem....
“And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I with-
held not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor....
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the
labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation
of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
“And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly:
for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which
hath been already done.... I hated life.... Yea, I hated all my labor
which I had taken under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 2:4-18
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