Bible in 365 Days

1 Kings 10-11

1 Kings 10

The Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon shows how far his fame was spread abroad. Moreover, reports had coupled Solomon's wisdom and greatness with the name of Jehovah. The Queen of Sheba saw what the government of God really meant.

Arriving as she did at the time of the nation's peace and prosperity, she was constrained to speak of Solomon's greatness as exceeding all reports of the prosperity of his kingdom and the happiness of his subjects.

But through all this she clearly saw that everything was due to the overruling of God. This she expressed in words which revealed the clearness with which this truth had been manifest to her. "Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made He thee king, to do judgment and justice."

Then follows the story of Solomon's wealth, and, considering the times, it is an amazing amount. The story cannot be read, however, without a consciousness that the weaker, if not the baser, side of the king's nature is manifest in the abounding luxury with which he surrounded himself. Display seems to have meant more to him than government. Indeed, one is inclined to feel that as in the case of the de Medici in Florence long after, the subjugation of the people by the throne was maintained by this very lavishness of display. Alas for any people where this is the case.

1 Kings 11

At this point the story of Solomon suddenly changes. The glory passes away, and we observe his rapid degeneracy and doom. The nature of the man had ever a strong animal side. His commercial enterprises led him into contact with surrounding peoples, and he allowed his heart to go after "strange women." The wrong thus begun invaded higher realms. He built temples for these women. There followed the demoralization both of the king and his people, until at last it was written, "The Lord was angry with Solomon." The doom pronounced on him was the inevitable issue of his own folly and sin. The kingdom was to be rent, and pass from him.

The judgment of God begins to operate. "The Lord raised up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite" (1 Kings 11:14);"God raised up another adversary unto him, Rezon, the son of Eliada" (1 Kings 11:23); "And Jeroboam . . . he also lifted up his hand against the king" (1 Kings 11:26).

In all this we have a remarkable illustration of how the judgments of God proceed. Man is never punished for sin but that in the midst of the punishment he may say, "This is the stroke of Jehovah, but it is my own deed and act." The story of the life of Solomon ends with the announcement, "Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father." So ends in gloom and failure a life full of promise, and that because the heart of the man turned from its loyalty to God in response to the seductions of his own sinful nature.