Chapter 5
Solomon's Repentance
TWICE during
Solomon's reign the Lord had appeared to him with words of approval and
counsel--in the night vision at Gibeon, when the promise of wisdom,
riches, and honor was accompanied by an admonition to remain humble and
obedient; and after the dedication of the temple, when once more the Lord
exhorted him to faithfulness. Plain were the admonitions, wonderful the
promises, given to Solomon; yet of him who in circumstances, in character,
and in life seemed abundantly fitted to heed the charge and meet the
expectation of Heaven, it is recorded: "He kept not that which the
Lord commanded." "His heart was turned from the Lord God of
Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him
concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods." I
Kings 11:9, 10. And so complete was his apostasy, so hardened his heart in
transgression, that his case seemed well-nigh hopeless.
From the joy
of divine communion, Solomon turned to find satisfaction in the pleasures
of sense. Of this experience he says:
"I made
me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me
gardens and orchards: . . . I got me servants and maidens: . . . I
gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and
of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights
of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I
was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem. .
. .
"And
whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart
from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor. . . . Then I looked
on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had
labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and
there was no profit under the sun.
"And I
turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the
man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
. . . I hated life. . . . Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken
under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:4-18.
By his own
bitter experience, Solomon learned the emptiness of a life that seeks in
earthly things its highest good. He erected altars to heathen gods, only
to learn how vain is their promise of rest to the spirit. Gloomy and
soul-harassing thoughts troubled him night and day. For him there was no
longer any joy of life or peace of mind, and the future was dark with
despair.
Yet the Lord
forsook him not. By messages of reproof and by severe judgments, He sought
to arouse the king to a realization of the sinfulness of his course. He
removed His protecting care and permitted adversaries to harass and weaken
the kingdom. "The Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad
the Edomite. . . . And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon, . . .
captain over a band," who "abhorred Israel, and reigned over
Syria. And Jeroboam, . . . Solomon's servant," "a mighty man of
valor," "even he lifted up his hand against the king." I
Kings 11:14-28.
At last the
Lord, through a prophet, delivered to Solomon the startling message:
"Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept My
covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend
the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in
thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it
out of the hand of thy son." Verses 11, 12.
Awakened as
from a dream by this sentence of judgment pronounced against him and his
house, Solomon with quickened conscience began to see his folly in its
true light. Chastened in spirit, with mind and body enfeebled, he turned
wearied and thirsting from earth's broken cisterns, to drink once more at
the fountain of life. For him at last the discipline of suffering had
accomplished its work. Long had he been harassed by the fear of utter ruin
because of inability to turn from folly; but now he discerned in the
message given him a ray of hope. God had not utterly cut him off, but
stood ready to deliver him from a bondage more cruel than the
grave, and from which he had had no power to free himself.
In gratitude
Solomon acknowledged the power and the loving-kindness of the One who is
"higher than the highest" (Ecclesiastes 5:8); in penitence he
began to retrace his steps toward the exalted plane of purity and holiness
from whence he had fallen so far. He could never hope to escape the
blasting results of sin, he could never free his mind from all remembrance
of the self-indulgent course he had been pursuing, but he would endeavor
earnestly to dissuade others from following after folly. He would humbly
confess the error of his ways and lift his voice in warning lest others be
lost irretrievably because of the influences for evil he had been setting
in operation.
The true
penitent does not put his past sins from his remembrance. He does not, as
soon as he has obtained peace, grow unconcerned in regard to the mistakes
he has made. He thinks of those who have been led into evil by his course,
and tries in every possible way to lead them back into the true path. The
clearer the light that he has entered into, the stronger is his desire to
set the feet of others in the right way. He does not gloss over his
wayward course, making his wrong a light thing, but lifts the danger
signal, that others may take warning.
Solomon
acknowledged that "the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and
madness is in their heart." Ecclesiastes 9:3. And again he declared,
"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily,
therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I
know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before Him:
but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his
days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God."
Ecclesiastes 8:11-13.
By the spirit
of inspiration the king recorded for after generations the history of his
wasted years with their lessons of warning. And thus, although the seed of
his sowing was reaped by his people in harvests of evil, his life-work was
not wholly lost. With meekness and lowliness Solomon in his later years
"taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out,
and set in order many
proverbs." He "sought to find out acceptable words: and that
which was written was upright, even words of truth." "The words
of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of
assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my
son, be admonished." Ecclesiastes 12:9-12.
"Let us
hear the conclusion of the whole matter," he wrote: "Fear God,
and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God
shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it
be good, or whether it be evil." Verses 13, 14.
Solomon's
later writings reveal that as he realized more and still more the
wickedness of his course, he gave special attention to warning the youth
against falling into the errors that had led him to squander for nought
Heaven's choicest gifts. With sorrow and shame he confessed that in the
prime of manhood, when he should have found God his comfort, his support,
his life, he turned from the light of Heaven and the wisdom of God, and
put idolatry in the place of the worship of Jehovah. And now, having
learned through sad experience the folly of such a life, his yearning
desire was to save others from entering into the bitter experience through
which he had passed.
With touching
pathos he wrote concerning the privileges and responsibilities before the
youth in God's service:
"Truly
the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the
sun: but if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him
remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is
vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in
the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the
sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will
bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put
away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity."
Ecclesiastes 11:7-10.
"Remember
now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
While the
evil days come not,
Nor the years
draw nigh,
When thou
shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
"While
the sun,
Or the light,
Or the moon,
Or the stars,
Be not
darkened,
Nor the
clouds return after the rain:
"In the
day when the keepers of the house shall tremble,
And the
strong men shall bow themselves,
And the
grinders cease because they are few,
And those
that look out of the windows be darkened,
And the doors
shall be shut in the streets,
"When
the sound of the grinding is low,
And he shall
rise up at the voice of the bird,
And all the
daughters of music shall be brought low;
"Also
when they shall be afraid of that which is high,
And fears
shall be in the way,
"And the
almond tree shall flourish,
And the
grasshopper shall be a burden,
And desire
shall fail:
"Because
man goeth to his long home,
And the
mourners go about the streets:
"Or ever
the silver cord be loosed,
Or the golden
bowl be broken,
Or the
pitcher be broken at the fountain,
Or the wheel
broken at the cistern.
"Then
shall the dust return to the earth
As it was:
And the
spirit shall return unto God
Who gave
it."
Ecclesiastes
12:1-7.
Not only to
the youth, but to those of mature years, and to those who are descending
the hill of life and facing the western sun, the life of Solomon is full
of warning. We see and hear of unsteadiness in youth, the young wavering
between right and wrong, and the current of evil passions proving too
strong for them. In those of maturer years, we do not look for this
unsteadiness and unfaithfulness; we expect the character to be
established, the principles firmly rooted. But this is not always so. When
Solomon should have been in character as a sturdy oak, he fell from his
steadfastness under the power of temptation. When his strength should have
been the firmest, he was found to be the weakest.
From such
examples we should learn that in watchfulness and prayer is the only
safety for both young and old. Security does not lie in exalted position
and great privileges. One may for many years have enjoyed a genuine
Christian experience, but he is still exposed to Satan's attacks. In the
battle with inward sin and outward temptation, even the wise and powerful
Solomon was vanquished. His failure teaches us that, whatever a man's
intellectual qualities may be, and however faithfully he may have served
God in the past, he can never with safety trust in his own wisdom and
integrity.
In every
generation and in every land the true foundation and pattern
for character building have been the same. The divine law, "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, . . . and thy neighbor as
thyself," the great principle made manifest in the character and life
of our Saviour, is the only secure foundation, the only sure guide. Luke
10:27. "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and
strength of salvation," the wisdom and knowledge which God's word
alone can impart. Isaiah 33:6.
It is as true
now as when the words were spoken to Israel of obedience to His
commandments: "This is your wisdom and your understanding in the
sight of the nations." Deuteronomy 4:6. Here is the only safeguard
for individual integrity, for the purity of the home, the well-being of
society, or the stability of the nation. Amidst all life's perplexities
and dangers and conflicting claims, the one safe and sure rule is to do
what God says. "The statutes of the Lord are right," and
"he that doeth these things shall never be moved." Psalms 19:8;
15:5.
Those who
heed the warning of Solomon's apostasy will shun the first approach of
those sins that overcame him. Only obedience to the requirements of Heaven
will keep man from apostasy. God has bestowed upon man great light and
many blessings; but unless this light and these blessings are accepted,
they are no security against disobedience and apostasy. When those whom
God has exalted to positions of high trust turn from Him to human wisdom,
their light becomes darkness. Their entrusted capabilities become a snare.
Till the
conflict is ended, there will be those who will depart from God. Satan
will so shape circumstances that unless we are
kept by divine power, they will almost imperceptibly weaken the
fortifications of the soul. We need to inquire at every step, "Is
this the way of the Lord?" So long as life shall last, there will be
need of guarding the affections and the passions with a firm purpose. Not
one moment can we be secure except as we rely upon God, the life hidden
with Christ. Watchfulness and prayer are the safeguards of purity.
All who enter
the City of God will enter through the strait gate--by agonizing effort;
for "there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth."
Revelation 21:27. But none who have fallen need give up to despair. Aged
men, once honored of God, may have defiled their souls, sacrificing virtue
on the altar of lust; but if they repent, forsake sin, and turn to God,
there is still hope for them. He who declares, "Be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life," also gives the
invitation, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man
his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy
upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Revelation
2:10; Isaiah 55:7. God hates sin, but He loves the sinner. "I will
heal their backsliding," He declares; "I will love them
freely." Hosea 14:4.
Solomon's
repentance was sincere; but the harm that his example of evil-doing had
wrought could not be undone. During his apostasy there were in the kingdom
men who remained true to their trust, maintaining their purity and
loyalty. But many were led astray; and the forces of evil set in operation
by the introduction of idolatry and worldly practices could not easily be
stayed by the penitent king. His influence
for good was greatly weakened. Many hesitated to place full confidence in
his leadership. Though the king confessed his sin and wrote out for the
benefit of after generations a record of his folly and repentance, he
could never hope entirely to destroy the baleful influence of his wrong
deeds. Emboldened by his apostasy, many continued to do evil, and evil
only. And in the downward course of many of the rulers who followed him
may be traced the sad influence of the prostitution of his God-given
powers.
In the
anguish of bitter reflection on the evil of his course, Solomon was
constrained to declare, "Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but
one sinner destroyeth much good." "There is an evil which I have
seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: folly is
set in great dignity."
"Dead
flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor:
so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and
honor." Ecclesiastes 9:18, 10: 5, 6, 1.
Among the
many lessons taught by Solomon's life, none is more strongly emphasized
than the power of influence for good or for ill. However contracted may be
our sphere, we still exert an influence for weal or woe. Beyond our
knowledge or control, it tells upon others in blessing or cursing. It may
be heavy with the gloom of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with
the deadly taint of some cherished sin; or it may be charged with the
life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and sweet with the
fragrance of love. But potent for good or for ill it will surely be.
That our
influence should be a savor of death unto death is a fearful thought, yet
it is possible. One soul misled, forfeiting eternal bliss--who can
estimate the loss! And yet one rash act, one thoughtless word, on our part
may exert so deep an influence on the life of another that it will prove
the ruin of his soul. One blemish on the character may turn many away from
Christ.
As the seed
sown produces a harvest, and this in turn is sown, the harvest is
multiplied. In our relation to others, this law holds true. Every act,
every word, is a seed that will bear fruit. Every deed of thoughtful
kindness, of obedience, of self-denial, will reproduce itself in others,
and through them in still others. So every act of envy, malice, or
dissension is a seed that will spring up in a "root of
bitterness" whereby many shall be defiled. Hebrews 12:15. And how
much larger number will the "many" poison! Thus the sowing of
good and evil goes on for time and for eternity.
Previous