Solomon: The Successful Failure
1 Kings 11:1-13
What might have been? It is a case of would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. Like a sports team that had everything going for them. They make a recruiting violation, and they are not eligible for the tournament. They are the best, but they never realized all their potential because of their mistakes.
This what might have been story can be repeated in many areas of life. A family that could have remained strong ended broken. A ministry going so well becomes disgraced. For Solomon this applied to ruling on the throne of Israel.
Solomon had everything to win in every way. Instead, it ended badly for him. Spiritually there was a slow leak that ruined him. Solomon became a casualty. Solomons infatuation with women turned his heart from God and toward idols. He became distant from God who gave him everything he asked for.
The fall happened gradually as he grew older until finally the bottom dropped out for Solomon. He was directly disobeying God and intermarried to women of other nations when God explicitly forbid this for him. The wives of Solomon brought their idols into his life and the life of the nation Israel.
By many measures Solomon was successful. Maybe the most successful man that ever lived. His heritage gave him all the advantages of life. He inherited wealth which would be the equivalent of billions. He was handed the political power of the throne of Israel when it was at its highest point.
He was about to step up to the plate as king during the golden era. His father King David had extended the boundaries and subdued his enemies. Solomon inherited the throne at a time of peace, prosperity and popularity for the King of Israel.
Solomon had the advantage of a deeply spiritual father. When God came to Solomon and offered to hive him anything he would request Solomon had the insight to ask for Wisdom. He was the wisest of them all. Jesus said Solomon was the greatest, as Messiah one greater than Solomon was here. (Matthew 12:24)
The accomplishments of Solomon were numerous. He built the temple. The temple itself was the most epic structure ever. He built the palace, cities roads fortresses stables navy fleet, merchant fleet. He built an army of 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. Solomon was over commanders who commanded thousands.
His revenue was 25 tons of gold annually. He ruled from a throne made of ivory and inlaid with gold. He made 200 large shields of pure gold to put in the temple. In addition to this was his import and export business.
He had the equivalent of a PhD in many sciences, botany (study of plants), dendrology (study of trees), and zoology (study of animals). In addition, he was lettered in literature. The books of the Bible attributed to Solomon are: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon and Psalm 127 and Psalm 72. He wrote much of what we call the wisdom literature of the Bible.
Kings would come from far and wide to seek him because of his wisdom and intelligence. The Queen of Sheba came to ask him hard questions. His fame spread. Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than any other king.
Solomon was a great success and yet an utter failure. Where did Solomon go wrong? Here is on glimpse at the start of his failure. Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem. (1 Kings 3:1)
He made a misstep when he married Pharaoh’s daughter. Solomon compromised on God’s standard of holiness. He just kept making more and more mistakes. Solomon knew 1,000 women that drew his heart away from God (700 wives and 300 concubines, 1 Kings 11:3).
Solomon’s wives led him down a path of idolatry. Because of his wives he worshiped “gods” that were no gods at all. Idolatry can be defined as anything in our lives that is greater to us than our devotion to God. It is when something becomes a higher priority than God. When Solomon intermarried his wives brought in idols from their background that became a snare to him.
Financial prosperity can be a downfall to many. Solomon began his rule on the throne in humility, but he left himself open to pitfalls success can bring. He could have been the greatest leader of all time.
When we turn away from God consequences follow. We learned that in the life of Solomon’s father King David. It becomes a lesson repeated with Solomon and repeated over and over again.
Solomon inherited a kingdom of peace. His name even means peace. He reaped what he sowed. He sowed disorder and he reaped discord. Adversaries were raised up. King David’s old enemies were revived from the ashes.
Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten of these pieces for yourself; this is by order of the GOD of Israel: See what I’m doing—I’m ripping the kingdom out of Solomon’s hands and giving you ten of the tribes. In honor of my servant David and out of respect for Jerusalem, the city I especially chose, he will get one tribe. And here’s the reason: He faithlessly abandoned me and went off worshiping Ashtoreth goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh god of the Moabites, and Molech god of the Ammonites. He hasn’t lived the way I have shown him, hasn’t done what I have wanted, and hasn’t followed directions or obeyed orders as his father David did. (1 Kings 11:31-33)
Ultimately the rebellion of Jeroboam would result in a division that would remain throughout the Kings. Only Jesus can restore the damage done by Solomon’s lust and adultery. The nation followed his leadership. They were quickly drawn into idol worship.
Solomon left himself open for a downfall. If Solomon can be shipwrecked by sexual son and passionate lust and alliances with unbelievers and idolatry than everyone should be on guard. If you begin by letting something become more important to you than God could lead to this same downfall. This is not limited to the rich and powerful.
The first and most important defense to remain spiritual healthy is your abiding in Christ. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Your time in the Word and your time in prayer will keep you close to Christ.
We can be alerted to recognize the fiery darts that destroyed Solomon. You man need more accountability in your spiritual life. A fellowship that will speak up when you head down the wrong path. Don’t think of yourself above accountability.
Having a small fellowship group is a strategy to keep you on the right path. A good accountability partner is another. A log burns out when it gets separated from the fire. Time in the Word is vital. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Both King David and Solomon sinned but there is not the confession of Solomon like there is for King David. Solomon never had his Psalm 51 moment like his father David. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; (Psalm 51:3-4)
We need to follow the example of King David in confession and avoid the mistake of his son King Solomon and his lack of confession. We need to agree with God that our sin is wrong. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
We trust Christ as our savior. He died for us the just for the unjust to bring us to God. We walk worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus.
