Learning from King Solomon's Repentance and Restoration
Solomon became the wisest king Israel ever had yet he made a lot of foolish decisions. Even before his dream at Gibeon - he already made the mistake of marrying a pagan princess from Egypt. We know Egypt is an ungodly nation and God already warned not to make such ill alliances. Also, Deuteronomy 17:17 warns that a king must not take multiple wives or greatly enrich himself. Yet's that's what he did - he enriched himself and took multiple wives!
The tragedy was that Solomon was such a wise king yet he made some foolish decisions! He became worldly wise than godly wise! His wisdom that God entrusted to him was now wasted on personal glory. It's suggested that Solomon married several princesses to form alliances or to avoid war. Yet, he wasn't careful that in doing so - he had jeopardized the very good he did for the Kingdom of Israel. In fact, his kingdom would be divided when he died. This was a real situation that proves that God's original plan was in fact lifelong monogamy!
David wrote Psalm 51 after he had repented of his adultery with Bathsheba. David wrote one chapter emphasizing his repentance. Solomon wrote an entire book called Ecclesiastes which emphasizes the very sad fact of his backsliding.
Solomon had so many worldly pursuits it led to his backsliding! What he saw was that he found no satisfaction. He had 699 other women yet he couldn't find satisfaction. It's highly possible that the sixth chapter of the Song of Solomon was perhaps written later in Solomon's life due to this passage.
Solomon wrote songs and he started out with a good start. He had his one love and no other. He couldn't enjoy his other women. He could only think of the Shullamite woman. If he wrote it early in his life then he may have written the sixth to eighth chapters later on. It's possible that he wrote it to remember the only woman he ever loved for real - the Shullamite woman. He had gone from a virtuous king to an backslid pervert. He finally saw just how he had wasted his life on folly as evidenced by the whole Book of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes really thinks about the foolishness of man. He saw how worldly wisdom wasn't able to stop him from doing what he did. He had to admit that he had become a fool in his later years. One can think of how Solomon needed to repent to be restored to God. It's not wrong to pursue success, nothing wrong with being wealthy but the pursuit for wealth can lead to serious backsliding. All the worldly wealth and wisdom pales in comparison to what God has in store. He may have written Ecclesiastes as a warning to everyone not to follow in his folly.
Later, Nehemiah would even talk this about Solomon as a reminder not to follow his example:
See also:
1 Kings 11:1-4
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: [2] Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. [3] And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. [4] For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
The tragedy was that Solomon was such a wise king yet he made some foolish decisions! He became worldly wise than godly wise! His wisdom that God entrusted to him was now wasted on personal glory. It's suggested that Solomon married several princesses to form alliances or to avoid war. Yet, he wasn't careful that in doing so - he had jeopardized the very good he did for the Kingdom of Israel. In fact, his kingdom would be divided when he died. This was a real situation that proves that God's original plan was in fact lifelong monogamy!
David wrote Psalm 51 after he had repented of his adultery with Bathsheba. David wrote one chapter emphasizing his repentance. Solomon wrote an entire book called Ecclesiastes which emphasizes the very sad fact of his backsliding.
Ecclesiastes 2:13-15
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. [14] The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. [15] Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Solomon had so many worldly pursuits it led to his backsliding! What he saw was that he found no satisfaction. He had 699 other women yet he couldn't find satisfaction. It's highly possible that the sixth chapter of the Song of Solomon was perhaps written later in Solomon's life due to this passage.
Song of Solomon 6:8-9
There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. [9] My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
Solomon wrote songs and he started out with a good start. He had his one love and no other. He couldn't enjoy his other women. He could only think of the Shullamite woman. If he wrote it early in his life then he may have written the sixth to eighth chapters later on. It's possible that he wrote it to remember the only woman he ever loved for real - the Shullamite woman. He had gone from a virtuous king to an backslid pervert. He finally saw just how he had wasted his life on folly as evidenced by the whole Book of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes really thinks about the foolishness of man. He saw how worldly wisdom wasn't able to stop him from doing what he did. He had to admit that he had become a fool in his later years. One can think of how Solomon needed to repent to be restored to God. It's not wrong to pursue success, nothing wrong with being wealthy but the pursuit for wealth can lead to serious backsliding. All the worldly wealth and wisdom pales in comparison to what God has in store. He may have written Ecclesiastes as a warning to everyone not to follow in his folly.
Later, Nehemiah would even talk this about Solomon as a reminder not to follow his example:
Nehemiah 13:26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
See also:
- Chastisement Brings Both Sorrow and Safety
- David's Greatest Enemy Was His Self-Confidence
- Do Your Material Possessions Come In Between Your Christian Life?
- God's Original Plan for Marriage was Lifelong Monogamy
- King Solomon's Pleading and Praying for God's Wisdom
- Proverbs 31, Bathsheba and King Solomon