Wisdom of Solomon
Introduction: The Proverbs provide many concise expressions of the wisdom from God, the foolishness of man: the blessings of the former and the consequences of the latter. Nearly all of the writings in the book of Proverbs were penned by Solomon, son of king David. However wisdom that reflects the fear of the LORD must affect the motivations of the heart, not just of the intellect. This study begins with the birth of Solomon and develops some comparison between the devotion of David and the wisdom of Solomon.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the American King James Bible.
A — The First and Second Sons of David and Bathsheba
2 Samuel 12 “13 And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die. 24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.”
Comments: Nathan the prophet brought a message to David from God that would characterize the remainder of his life. After David admitted his sin, the immediate consequence remained: the child born of Uriah's wife died. David then went to the house of the LORD, and worshipped, knowing the LORD was just in what he had done. After that David comforted Bathsheba, and she had another son. The text states that David named this son Solomon — meaning peace — and that God loved that son. Nathan called him Jedidiah, meaning “beloved of the LORD.” Both Solomon and Nathan were born in Jerusalem: one would build the physical temple of God; the other would be the ancestor leading to the seed of the woman who would put away sins for all who would have faith in the Lord.
B — Solomon Became Successor to His Father David
1 Kings 2 “2 I go the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man; 3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do. 12 Then sat Solomon on the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.”
Comments: David had been in declining health in his latter years, and Adonijah was planning to take the throne of his father without David’s knowledge. Nathan the prophet was again used in David’s life to intercede at this point, and all of Adonijah’s plans were disrupted. David personally appointed Solomon to be his successor. When David was near death, he emphasized that Solomon needed to keep the charge of the LORD his God — to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, as it is written in the law of Moses. David said this would cause Solomon to prosper, and then the LORD would continue to fulfill his word.
C — God Spoke to Solomon by a Dream
1 Kings 3 “5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give you. 9 Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad. 12 Behold, I have done according to your words: see, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like to you. 13 And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches, and honor.”
Comments: According to scripture Solomon had a very good start in his reign, as he “loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father.” At Gibeon the LORD said to Solomon in a dream: ask what I should give you. Before Solomon made his request he praised the LORD for showing his father David great mercy. Solomon humbly asked for an understanding heart to judge God’s people. The LORD was pleased and gave Solomon a uniquely wise and understanding heart — and riches and honor besides. And if Solomon would walk in the ways of the LORD as David did, then the LORD would lengthen his days.
D — The LORD Spoke to Solomon Again
2 Chronicles 7 “14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 17 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe my statutes and my judgments; 18 Then will I establish the throne of your kingdom.”
Comments: It took seven years to build the temple, and thirteen years for Solomon’s house to be built. After Solomon gathered the people for a dedication of the temple and personally led their worship by prayer, the LORD spoke to him again. There was promise of blessing if Solomon remained faithful to the LORD, but there was also detail of the consequences if he and the people of Israel turned to other gods.
E — Solomon Turned His Heart Away from the LORD
1 Kings 11 “3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared to him twice.”
Comments: Solomon’s wisdom was not enough to keep him from falling away from the LORD in his later years, as he allowed his wives to influence him to build places of sacrifice to foreign gods. The LORD was angry with Solomon, who had appeared to him twice yet did not keep what the LORD commanded. This brought the judgment of the LORD, and he told Solomon that the kingdom would be taken from Solomon’s son, except for one tribe that would remain with Judah — not for Solomon’s sake, but for the sake of David, because Solomon’s heart was not perfect with the LORD as was the heart of David his father.
F — A Lamp in Jerusalem for David’s Sake
1 Kings 15 “3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him. 5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.”
Comments: The pattern was established in the southern kingdom of Judah that succeeding kings were often compared with David as a measure of their loyalty to the LORD. The text states that David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. Solomon and most of his successors fell prone to recognizing foreign gods, which was not ever recorded as a sin by David. The deterioration of the kingdom continued until the LORD finally brought about the consequence he had promised — the full measure of desolation of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.
G — A Heart Like David Was More Important Than Wisdom Like Solomon
Nehemiah 13 “26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?”
Comments: There were some kings in the line of David who took actions to bring the LORD back before the people, and there were blessings associated with their reigns in Judah. But the cycles of idol worship and revival, over several hundred years, continued to carry the kings and people further away from serving the LORD until “there was no remedy.” Throughout all these centuries recorded in scripture, the wisdom of Solomon was not a referenced standard for leaders — it seems the LORD set that wisdom apart for Solomon alone as he said: “I will give you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like to you.”
H — Jesus Is the Promised King to Rule Forever on the Throne of David
Luke 1 “30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. 31 And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Comments: Before Jacob died he gave prophecy about Judah that may not be completely fulfilled until Christ returns to rule the new heavens and the new earth. While there were yet a few kings of Judah to rule, Isaiah wrote his prophecy of the coming ultimate ruler from the stem of Jesse. His judgment will be in righteousness and he will slay the wicked with the breath of his mouth — not an expression of the power of man, but of the complete and incomparable power of the LORD, the true and living God. The angel told Mary she would conceive in her womb, and that the conception would be from the Holy Spirit. Jesus would be called the Son of the Highest and the Son of God, reigning over the house of Jacob forever.
I — Turn Your Heart Toward Jesus the Christ
Luke 11 “31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”
Hebrews 3 “12 Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Comments: The wise and understanding heart that Solomon had been given by the LORD could only be surpassed by the Lord himself as Jesus said “one greater than Solomon is here.” Those who had sought the wisdom of Solomon and those who had repented at the preaching of the prophet Jonah would by their faith condemn all who reject the preaching of Christ Jesus. Hebrews contains a very solemn warning to those who have heard the word of the Lord to not allow themselves to depart from the living God with a heart of unbelief. We are part of Christ if the confident faith that brought us to him remains in us to the end.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord I thank you for the true historical record in scripture written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Your plan has been in motion from the beginning of creation, and there is no power that can hold back your hand to complete your desire. I want to have the heart of David so I will seek your way in my life, and so I will be ready to repent and confess my sin whenever you confront me with your Word. Help me Lord to overcome my pride and lack of humility as I study your Word, and as I interact with others about the truth it contains. Remind me Lord that I need your strength every day until the end of my physical life to serve you with my whole heart and soul. Enable me to use the opportunities you provide for me to honor your name. Hallelujah, amen.
Published 17 September 2012