King SolomonPart 3

His Later Years

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The Second Dream(1 Kings 9)

If—thou wilt walk before me in integrity of heart, in uprightness, do according to a" I have commanded, keep my statutes and my judgments

Then—I wi" establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever

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If—ye (or your children) turn %om fo"owing me, and wi" not keep my commandments and my statutes and serve other gods and worship them

Then—I wi" cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them

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The daughter of Pharaoh

Women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites

Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines

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And his wives turned away his heart.

(1 Kings 11:3)

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Solomon went after . . .

Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians

Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites

Chemosh, the abomination of Moab

Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon (1 Kings 11:5-7)

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But even before he worshiped other gods and built high places

for the gods of his wives, he was turning

from God.7

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8

Prominent among the primary causes that led Solomon into

extravagance and oppression was his failure to maintain and foster

the spirit of self-sacrifice. {PK 61.1}

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9

The descendants of these workmen [who built the tabernacle] inherited to a large degree the

talents conferred on their forefathers. For a time these men of Judah and Dan remained humble and unselfish; but gradua"y, almost imperceptibly, they lost their hold upon God

and their desire to serve Him unselfishly. They asked higher wages for their services,

because of their superior ski" as workmen in the finer arts. {PK 62.3}

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10

In some instances their request was granted, but more o-en they found employment in the

surrounding nations. In place of the noble spirit of self-sacrifice that had fi"ed the hearts of their i"ustrious ancestors, they indulged a spirit of

covetousness, of grasping for more and more. That their selfish desires might be gratified, they used

their God-given ski" in the service of heathen kings, and lent their talent to the perfecting of works

which were a dishonor to their Maker. {PK 62.3}

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11

It was among these men that Solomon looked for a master workman to superintend

the construction of the temple on Mount Moriah. Minute specifications, in writing,

regarding every portion of the sacred structure, had been entrusted to the king; and

he could have looked to God in faith for consecrated helpers, to whom would have been granted special ski" for doing with

exactness the work required. (PK 63)11Fri, Mar 7, 14

12

But Solomon lost sight of this opportunity to exercise faith in God. He sent to the king of Tyre for a man, “cunning to

work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can ski" to grave

with the cunning men . . . in Judah and in Jerusalem.” 2 Chronicles 2:7.

The Phoenician king responded by sending Huram, “the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was

a man of Tyre.” Verse 14. Huram was a descendant, on his mother’s side, of Aholiab, to whom, hundreds of years before,

God had given special wisdom for the construction of the tabernacle. {PK 63.2}

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13

Thus at the head of Solomon’s company of workmen there was placed a man whose efforts were not prompted by

an unselfish desire to render service to God. He served the god of this world, mammon. The very fibers of his being were inwrought with the principles of

selfishness. {PK 63.3}

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14

The sharp contrast between the spirit and motives of the people building the wilderness tabernacle, and of those engaged in erecting Solomon’s temple, has a

lesson of deep significance. The self-seeking that characterized the workers on the temple finds its

counterpart today in the selfishness that rules in the world. The spirit of covetousness, of seeking for the highest position and the highest wage, is rife. The

wi"ing service and joyous self-denial of the tabernacle workers is seldom met with. But this is the only spirit

that should actuate the fo"owers of Jesus. (PK 64)

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15

Not for the wages we receive are we to labor. The motive that prompts us to work for God should have in it nothing akin to self-serving.

Unselfish devotion and a spirit of sacrifice have always been and always wi" be the first

requisite of acceptable service. Our Lord and Master designs that not one thread of selfishness

sha" be woven into His work. (PK 65)

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16

Not only to the youth, but to those of mature years, and to those who are descending the hi" of life and facing the

western sun, the life of Solomon is fu" 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 fe" %om his steadfastness under the power of temptation. When his

strength should have been the firmest, he was found to be the weakest. {PK 82.1}

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His failure teaches us that, whatever a man’s inte"ectual qualities may be, and however faithfu"y he may have served God in the past, he can never with safety trust in his own wisdom

and integrity. {PK 82.2}

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18

A-er a morning of promise and a manhood of integrity, Solomon took a course displeasing to the Lord. He did

not continue to walk before God in truth. Raised to the pinnacle of human greatness, and surrounded with the

gi-s of fortune, he became dizzy. He was exto"ed by kingly powers for his unsurpassed wisdom, and he could not stand the flattery. Thus the very gi- of heaven,--the wisdom which was entrusted to him by God, and which

should have reflected honor upon the Giver,--fi"ed Solomon with pride. {ST, November 26, 1896 par. 4}

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Solomon thought himself strong enough and wise enough to maintain the purity of his

religion and yet deviate %om the commands of God. He thought he could convert his wives to

the true religion, and that by thus binding himself with idolatrous nations, he could win them a" to the service of the true God. But we can not incorporate light with darkness. Christ has no fe"owship with Belial. {ST, November

26, 1896 par. 6}

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20

One false step leads to another. Solomon’s a"iance with heathen nations was fo"owed by evils which led the children of Israel to violate the law of God.

The people became contaminated with the principles and practices of the heathen. Polygamy was

introduced into Palestine. The pure religious service instituted by God was replaced by idolatry of the

darkest hue. Human sacrifices were offered; and the licentious rites practiced by the inhabitants of the

Noatic world, were countenanced. {ST, November 26, 1896 par. 8}

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While we are to be kind and courteous to a", we are not to connect with those who we know are acting in opposition to God. Solomon was

estranged %om God by the influence of his heathen wives; and God has forbidden his people

to unite with unbelievers; for in so doing, they bring untold sorrow upon themselves, and

reproach upon the cause of God. {ST, November 26, 1896 par. 11}

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22

They may think, like Solomon, that their influence over those who are in the wrong wi"

be beneficial; but too o-en they themselves, entrapped and overcome, yield their sacred faith, sacrifice principle, and separate themselves %om

God. By one false step they place themselves where they can not hope to break the chains that

bind them. {ST, November 26, 1896 par. 11}

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