The series on wisdom by Pst Lakers is so much of a blessing to me, and since then, I have narrowed down on the study of King Solomon to extract more revelations on this topic. It is worth keeping this beautiful series on Godly wisdom alive in our minds so that we can gain a mastery of it for the betterment of us as individuals and for society at large.
The bible describes King Solomon as the wisest man to ever live on earth. However, it is a shame to know that King Solomon was caught up in idolatry towards the end of his life. How could such a man endued with so much wisdom and blessings fall away from God? Was wisdom not sufficient to inform him that the path he was taking would lead him to destruction? This makes me think wisdom is not the principal thing, as Solomon has said in
Proverbs 4, but Godly wisdom is to be exalted because of so many blessings that come with it. Godly wisdom is sourced, sustained and effective through our relationship with God.
While the story of King Solomon shows us how to acquire God's wisdom, it also shows us how we can lose God's wisdom.
King Solomon did not fully follow the Lord. He was so much of a daddy's boy and knew how to acquire wisdom through his dad's instructions but did not know how to sustain Godly wisdom through the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 4:3-10 When I was my father's son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you." Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many.
It is important to note that Solomon's peaceful reign as a King was a fulfilment of God's promise to David.
I Chronicles 22:9-13 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.' Now, my son, may the Lord be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the Lord your God, as He has said to you. Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.
Just as the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the lack of God's reverence and fear in our hearts is the end of Godly wisdom.
I Kings 11:1-6 But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord , and did not fully follow the Lord , as did his father David.
