King Solomon, David's Son

Solomon succeeded his father, David, as king and ruled over Israel at the height of its wealth and power; during this time, he built the temple for the LORD that David had wanted.

David’s son, Solomon, succeeded his father as king of Israel. When Solomon took the throne, the LORD appeared to him! “What shall I give you? Ask.”

Solomon showed great character in his reply. Gratefully, he began, “You were so kind to my father, David, throughout his life, and now You’ve given him an heir for his throne.” He humbly continued, “I am young and unsure in my new responsibilities.” He wisely and unselfishly requested, “Please give me a discerning heart to lead Your people well, distinguishing between right and wrong.”

God was pleased with Solomon’s request and granted it. The LORD made Solomon wiser than anyone in the world!

Now, Israel was located in the middle of the trade routes. Anyone going from the west (Egypt, Africa, etc.) went right through Israel or Edom (which Solomon also controlled at this time) to get to the east (Assyria, Babylon, etc.), and vice versa. So, people began to hear about Solomon’s wisdom, and they came to hear him. This accomplished God’s plan. He had said to Moses that He wanted Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. Many of these are in the Bible, God’s Word. His book called “Proverbs” contains wisdom for the nations. His book “Ecclesiastes” can be summed up by this statement: “You can have it all, but without God you have nothing.” The “Song of Solomon” tells readers that marriage and its bed can be wonderful.

Solomon also built the temple for God that his father, David, wanted to build. In his prayer of dedication, he declared, “O LORD God of Israel, there is none like You in heaven or on earth. The highest heaven cannot contain You—how could this temple I have built? But hear the prayers of Your people when they pray toward this place. And when we sin, but have a change of heart and turn back to You, forgive our wickedness. Be open to my plea and to the plea of Your people because You have chosen us from all the nations of the world. Turn our hearts to You, LORD, to walk in Your ways and keep Your commands so that all the peoples of the earth may know that You are God and that there is no other.”

What a prayer! What a start Solomon had! But Solomon loved many foreign women from the nations from which God had commanded the Israelites not to marry because they would turn their hearts after false gods. And that is exactly what happened. His wives (He had hundreds!) turned his heart after other gods, so he was not fully devoted to the LORD his God. The king of the nation that was to show the peoples of the earth that “the LORD is God, and there is no other,” followed Ashtoreth, goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites.

Solomon displeased God with his foolish ways. He did not follow God completely, as David, his father, had done.