Searching for a KingSample

Wisdom that never expires.

Hopefully over the past five days you’ve learned a little about the kings of Israel’s United Kingdom and have a deeper understanding of the land and history.  The last of these three kings is a man who is infamous for his extreme wisdom and equally infamous for not following his own advice.  

Solomon, David’s son was next in line for the throne.  Once king he did something very noble, asking God for wisdom over anything else he could have requested from God.  The books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon are filled with his words of wisdom.  Beginning in Proverbs 1:7 where Solomon pens one of the most powerful and timeless phrases of wisdom that anyone will ever read; “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  

What does true wisdom look like for our lives today?  I think one of the things we can often do is confuse wisdom with smart.  You can be very smart yet unwise.  You can know how to solve the biggest math equation, recite Shakespeare all day and be a walking encyclopedia but be a fool in God’s eyes.  True wisdom looks beyond what the world deems as success and intellect.  Godly wisdom seeks to understand God more fully.  Godly wisdom seeks to understand what our purpose in life is meant to be.  

Let’s look at money for an example.  Solomon was one of the richest men that ever lived.  The immense amount of money and stuff he had, as king, was sought after.  Rulers from all over the known world would come to see the greatness of Solomon’s Jerusalem.  In fact, in 2 Chronicles 9 the Bible lists out some of the wealth of Israel’s king.  However, he writes in Ecclesiastes 5:10 that the love of money will not satisfy.  Ask any celebrity, CEO or lottery winner if they’re content with their money and they’ll tell you it’s not enough.

Look at sex and love.  Solomon had a lot of women.  I mean… a lot of women.  1 Kings 11:3 says he had 1,000 wives and concubines… that’s nuts!  Solomon was one who clearly was swooned by women and yet he warns about falling into sinful sexual relationships in Proverbs 7.  Song of Solomon is dedicated to love and sex written by a man that clearly showed little in the self control department.  

What’s the lesson to be learned for us today?  Being smart, being successful, being popular doesn’t carry the badge of wisdom.  Our wisdom needs to come from God through His living word, the Bible.  No where will you find a more relevant book of lessons on what we should do and not do in our lives.  

When it was all over for Solomon, he looked back with regret and the kingdom of Israel went from some of its most prosperous times to dividing and entering a tumultuous period that would eventually end with exile and captivity.  The people were searching for a King to lead them but in the process forgot their true king.  God knew someone was coming who would be that true king… a king that would deliver His people and change the course of history forever.  Until then… God’s people would continue searching for a king.  

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