Wisdom is Vindicated by her deeds

Solomon is regarded as the wisest man to ever live. But was he?

Scripture tells us that “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. (1 Kings 4:29-30). 

Solomon started off so well, and established the house of David as the world wide super power of the day. He built a house for the Lord that his father David longed to but could not; his breadth of mind was fully utilized in the project from securing materials from King Hiram, to organizing the tens of thousands of forced labor, to laying out materials of the temple and its utensils and ornaments. No specific instructions were given for it (that we know of) like were given for the tabernacle, possibly because it was built by the wisdom of Solomon. 

For a time Solomon’s light captivated the world and drew people to Israel, and it had to have made them wonder about the God of Solomon. Much more than just the often mentioned Queen of Sheba, 1 Kings 10:23-25 says “Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God has put into his mind. Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.” Although he was overflowing with wealth, it only increased as other wise men and nobles paid for the opportunity to hear from him, and get his discernment on their problems. 

And though vast wealth flooded the kingdom, this is not what turned Solomon’s heart away. Wealth was one of the blessings that God promised him in the dream, when he had just enough wisdom to ask for wisdom. Solomon’s wisdom was overruled, was choked out by the thorns of his particular vice, his love of foreign women. Many use his falling away to condemn polygamy, but this is not what the text emphasizes, but specifically that they were foreign women, and that it was a direct violation of Deuteronomy 7:3-4. In pleasing his wives, he fell into worshiping their gods. Quite unbelievable that someone who knew so much, who had experienced such closeness in building the temple and seeing that temple filled with God’s glory, could at the end of his life chase the folly of gods carved with human hands. He even resorted to the wickedness of Saul, trying to kill his predecessor who had been chosen by the Lord. 

What is even more sad is that Solomon knew very well what he was doing. He had to. In his prayer of dedication of the temple, he concludes by praying “that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other” (1 Kings 8:60). God himself visited Solomon twice, the second time after the building of the temple, specifically to warn Solomon not to stray and turn aside in serving other gods (1 Kings 9:6). 

And yet his wisdom failed him in the end, if we take Jesus’ definition that wisdom is vindicated by her children (Luke 7:35, Matthew 11:19). 

So here’s what I’ve learned from Solomon, or to use his own verbiage at the closing of Ecclesiastes, here is the “conclusion of the matter”. 

Simply obeying what God specifically warns us against will keep us walking with Him, knowing much will not. 

All men have their vices, and experiencing God for a time does not rule out a falling from Him. We must continue to abide and remain. 

No one is wise enough or disciplined enough to entangle himself in the things of the world and remain faithful. If Solomon couldn't, what chance do we have? The end of the race is what matters most. Unless Solomon repented and it was not recorded in scripture, he was the biggest loser this world has ever seen, gaining the world but forfeiting his soul. 

So what is true wisdom? Obedience. That’s it. If you aren’t obeying the LORD, godly wisdom does not dwell with you.