Solomon Failed To Finish As He Started – Sunday Thought For The Day
When we think of King Solomon we think of a man of great wisdom, wealth and accomplishment. In 1 Kings 10:1-29 (KJV); we read that Solomon’s greatness and manner of life impressed the Queen of Sheba to the point that “…there was no more spirit in her.” Keep in mind the Queen was herself not unfamiliar with wealth, fame, power and reverence from all who knew of her and/or who attended unto her. But, all that took a backseat to Solomon on every quantifiable level. One cannot imagine the splendor and regimen that dwarfed the Queen of Sheba to the point of making her appear insignificant.
In 1 Kings 3:3 (KJV) we are told that: “…Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David, his father.” But, in this third verse we see the beginning of his unraveling when the word “only” is introduced as a preface to the second half the third verse.
Such was Solomon’s favor with God that the Lord appeared unto him and instructed him to ask for whatever he wanted and He would give it to him. Solomon chose “understanding.” The choice and reasons for same pleased God, which further resulted in God expressing His pleasure with Solomon and blessing him with things he had not asked for, e.g., riches and honor.
The rest of his story is told in 1 Kings and Chronicles, as well as his wisdom being displayed in the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and The Song of Solomon. He built and dedicated the Temple. He brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple and God’s Shekinah-glory filled the the house of the Lord.
Solomon’s greatness is unchallenged. So the question must be asked: Why isn’t he listed in Hebrews 11 (KJV), commonly referenced as the “Heroes of Faith?” Why are his father David, Samson and Rahab mentioned, but not Solomon?
I believe it’s because, while every one of those mention in Hebrews chapter of 11, stumbled and fell, only Solomon led his people astray. In 1 Kings 11:1-13 (KJV) we read that Solomon not only followed after the false gods of those he was warned of Jehovah God not to take as wives, but he introduced the false gods to the people of his kingdom. Because of this God severely rebuked him and pronounced significant punishment on him.
Solomon started out well and he did great things in honor of God and it’s evident that he at one time loved the Lord. But, for all of his great deeds and all of his misdeeds, it was his following after false gods and causing the people to follow them that cost him dearly.
These are the same gods many preachers, teachers and those who claim to have Christ as their Savior are promoting as just acts of love. Sodomites are not engaging in love, they’re engaging in that which God called an abomination. Women who are murdering their children in order to avoid the responsibility of their actions and men who support the murder of innocent children so they can avoid parental responsibility are sacrificing their children to false gods. God punished Solomon for this.
Solomon proves the point that it isn’t only how one starts/lives their life, but it’s important how one finishes the race called life.
I’m both sickened and saddened at the people who make a mockery of the finality of God’s Word. When we stumble and fall, we can cry out for our merciful God to pick us up; it’s His grace that forgives and restores. That doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t pay a price for the error of our way, but it does mean we won’t see hell.
God holding Solomon accountable, proves to us that He isn’t a respecter of persons. His forgiving David, Samson, Rahab and Abraham and Sarah when they ran ahead of His will and timing, shows us he is merciful, forgiving and willing to show grace.
Those people who are not only committing the abominations of today, but who are also knowingly forcing the demonic disease of sodomy and butchering children as well as convincing them that they are mentally ill, by having them believe the insane lies of transgenderism, will one day stand before God.
You and I have a responsibility to confront evil and wickedness wherever we’re called to preach and teach against it. We cannot please God by keeping silent about sexual abuse of children, sodomites in the church and classrooms and the gross lie of transgenderism.
Most importantly, if we have accepted Christ as Savior, let us finish the race of our Christian life as we began it. Not as Solomon ended his.
READ:
Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
About the Author
Mychal Massie
Mychal S. Massie is an ordained minister who spent 13 years in full-time Christian Ministry. Today he serves as founder and Chairman of the Racial Policy Center (RPC), a think tank he officially founded in September 2015. RPC advocates for a colorblind society. He was founder and president of the non-profit “In His Name Ministries.” He is the former National Chairman of a conservative Capitol Hill think tank; and a former member of the think tank National Center for Public Policy Research. Read entire bio here