1 Kings 11 - Weak Wisdom

The wisest man in the world serves as a tragic cautionary tale.

Photo credit: Hassan Pasha, via Unsplash

SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... David—though forgiven after his sin with Bathsheba—began to experience the painful consequences of his actions within his own household, as the sword never departed from his house. The kingdom passed through seasons of turmoil marked by rebellion, division, and grief, yet the LORD remained faithful to His covenant promises.

After David’s death, Solomon was established as king and asked not for riches or power, but for wisdom to govern God’s people. The LORD granted his request abundantly, and under Solomon’s reign Israel reached its height—marked by peace, prosperity, international renown, and the construction of the temple where God’s glory dwelt among His people. The kingdom now stands at its pinnacle, with Solomon’s wisdom and wealth drawing the nations to Jerusalem.

1 Kings 11:1–13 (NIV)

^10:23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. ²⁴ The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

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11 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. ² They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. ³ He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. ⁴ As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. ⁵ He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. ⁶ So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.

⁷ On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. ⁸ He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.

⁹ The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. ¹⁰ Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's command. ¹¹ So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. ¹² Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. ¹³ Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

Heidelberg Catechism

Q&A 108

Q. What is God’s will for us in the seventh commandment?

A. God condemns all unchastity.

We should therefore thoroughly detest it

and, married or single,

live decent and chaste lives.

Summary

I wonder how many times a post here on Unfading Truth claims that so and so is the most tragic character in the Bible. Because it seems like we keep meeting a new 'most tragic' all the time - so many men who have been given so much by the LORD, yet squander it, or who come so close to salvation yet ultimately miss out on it. Which Biblical men men would be on your 'most-tragic' list? Which women (if any!!)? Share a comment below!

Solomon certainly belongs on anybody's top ten list of tragic figures - and probably somewhere near the top! On one hand, King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. And there's no secret as to where that wealth came from. When given the chance to ask the LORD for absolutely anything - a divine blank check - Solomon humbly asked for wisdom. The LORD was so pleased with Solomon's request that not only did He make Solomon the wisest man to ever live, but He also gave him great wealth and honor (1 Kings 3:12-13).

But wisdom - even at its greatest - is no match for the sinful nature. So for all of the great things Solomon did in the first ten chapters of 1 Kings (including building the Temple), we jump into the book this week on a low note: King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women... As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods... So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely.

Solomon's great wisdom - inspired by the Holy Spirit - has been canonized in the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. But ironically, it's that great wisdom and wealth that put him on our list of tragic figures. The very gifts God had given him, instead of endearing him to the LORD, estranged Solomon from Him.

This is an important lesson for you, because although your levels of wisdom and wealth are nowhere near Solomon's, it's quite likely they far exceed that of those around you. Be thankful for those gifts; use them well for God's glory - but don't ever let these otherwise good things cause you to lose your reliance upon God's grace alone.

  Dig Deeper  

The question often gets asked by those questioning the Bible's seemingly restrictive sexual morals: how come I must be chaste while so many Biblical 'heroes' are polygamists? Sadly, they have a point. So many Old Testament men used in mighty ways had multiple wives. Solomon tops the chart with seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines.

But two key elements need to be included in this discussion. First, God never ordained nor blessed polygamy. It's always a sin. Second, so often polygamy causes problems. Big problems. Solomon's wives led him astray.

But Solomon's sins were far deeper than adultery. Notice how those seven hundred wives are described: they're of royal birth. Each one of them represented some sort of treaty or agreement with the pagan kingdom they came from. These were exactly the types of agreements God had forbid Israel to enter into.

So heed the words Solomon wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit: though it cost you all you have, get wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 4:5-9). But don't become reliant upon them. Do not let your heart turn away from the LORD, the God of Israel.

AAA Prayer (About)

• ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the LORD, the God of Israel, who becomes angry when our hearts turn away from Him;

• ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for wisdom, and that you would cling to the God who grants it;

• ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

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