Even The Wise Are Weak

Solomon’s greatest achievement was to build the Temple. This beautiful Temple replaced the Tent of the Tabernacle and became the dwelling place of God on earth. It took 13 years to build, and the Temple of Solomon stood for about 500 years before it was eventually destroyed by the Babylonian army.

Soon after the Temple was complete, I Kings 10 tells about a visit from the Queen of Sheba. This Queen is also mentioned in the written history of Ethiopia and Yemen, so that’s probably how far she traveled. I Kings 10:10 records: When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon with hard questions. It’s interesting that the reason she came was not just to hear wisdom and see wealth … she came because she had heard that this King had a unique relationship with his God.

Here was her response after examining Solomon: She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” I Kings 10:6-9

She really summed it up! What impresses me the most is that her encounter with Solomon caused the Queen to praise the one true God. What she saw amazed her. She saw how happy citizens can be when a nation has a wise and godly leader.

2. Solomon’s Writing

Solomon was truly a King who had it all. He had wisdom and wealth, and besides that, he was a prolific writer and musician. I Kings 4:32 says He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He was also a botanist and a biologist. Vs 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.

Solomon was the author of 3 books of the Bible: Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes is a book of philosophy. Solomon wrote about the search for meaning in life. He had the resources to try everything … and he did. He tried education, wisdom, romantic love, hedonism and pleasure of all types, materialism and hard work, creativity and art. He summed it up by saying, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” Ecclesiastes 12:8 (elaborate – most of us make this discovery – house, masters)

Ecclesiastes 12:13 gives Solomon’s final conclusion: Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. I have to say “amen” to that!

Song of Solomon is a book of poetry and prophecy. Solomon was a musician (like his father, David) and parts of this book may have been put to music. These were the romantic love songs of the day. (elaborate: Teenagers showed interest when I preached on Song of Solomon in the past)