Basic HTML Version
Prosperity and Pride Bring Disaster
At first, as wealth and worldly honor came to him, Solomon
remained humble. He “reigned over all kingdoms from the River
[Euphrates] to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of
Egypt.” “He had peace on every side all around him.”
1 Kings 4:21,
24
.
But after a morning of great promise, apostasy darkened
Solomon’s life. He had received such remarkable evidences of
God’s favor that his wisdom brought him worldwide fame. He had
led others to give honor to the God of Israel. Now he turned from
Jehovah to bow before the idols of the heathen.
Foreseeing the dangers that would come to the rulers of Israel,
the Lord gave Moses instruction to guide them. “He shall read it all
the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and
be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that
his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn
aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and
that he may prolong his days in his kingdom.”
Deuteronomy 17:19,
20
.
The Warning and Solomon’s First Wrong Step
The Lord especially cautioned anyone who might be anointed
king not to “multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor
shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.”
Verse 17
.
For a time Solomon obeyed these warnings. His greatest desire
was to live and rule in harmony with the laws given at Sinai. His way
of administering the kingdom contrasted sharply with the customs
of the rulers around him who trampled God’s holy law underfoot.
When he set about to strengthen relations with the powerful
kingdom south of Israel, Solomon ventured on forbidden ground.
Satan knew the results that would follow obedience, and he worked
to undermine Solomon’s loyalty to principle and to cause him to sep-
27