48
Prophets and Kings
pursuing, but he would endeavor earnestly to dissuade others from
following after folly. He would humbly confess the error of his ways
and lift his voice in warning lest others be lost irretrievably because of
the influences for evil he had been setting in operation.
The true penitent does not put his past sins from his remembrance.
He does not, as soon as he has obtained peace, grow unconcerned in
regard to the mistakes he has made. He thinks of those who have been
led into evil by his course, and tries in every possible way to lead them
back into the true path. The clearer the light that he has entered into,
the stronger is his desire to set the feet of others in the right way. He
does not gloss over his wayward course, making his wrong a light
thing, but lifts the danger signal, that others may take warning.
Solomon acknowledged that “the heart of the sons of men is full
of evil, and madness is in their heart.”
Ecclesiastes 9:3
. And again
he declared, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed
speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to
do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be
prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear
[79]
God, which fear before Him: but it shall not be well with the wicked,
neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he
feareth not before God.”
Ecclesiastes 8:11-13
.
By the spirit of inspiration the king recorded for after generations
the history of his wasted years with their lessons of warning. And thus,
although the seed of his sowing was reaped by his people in harvests of
evil, his life-work was not wholly lost. With meekness and lowliness
Solomon in his later years “taught the people knowledge; yea, he
gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.” He
[80]
“sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was
upright, even words of truth.” “The words of the wise are as goads,
and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given
from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished.”
Ecclesiastes 12:9-12
.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter,” he wrote: “Fear
God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Verses 13, 14
.
Solomon’s later writings reveal that as he realized more and still
more the wickedness of his course, he gave special attention to warning