〉 Chapter 3—Prosperity and Pride Bring Disaster
Chapter 3—Prosperity and Pride Bring Disaster
At first, as wealth and worldly honor came to him, Solomon remained humble. He “reigned over all kingdoms from the river [Euphrates] unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt.” “He had peace on all sides round about him.” 1 Kings 4:21, 24. (SS 26.1)
But after a morning of great promise Solomon’s life was darkened by apostasy. He who had been honored with tokens of divine favor so remarkable that his wisdom gained him worldwide fame, he who had led others to ascribe honor to the God of Israel, turned from Jehovah to bow before the idols of the heathen. (SS 26.2)
The Lord, foreseeing the perils that would beset those chosen as rulers of Israel, gave Moses instruction for their guidance. “He shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them; that his heart may not be lifted up above his brethren, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left; so that he may continue long in his kingdom.” Deuteronomy 17:19, 20, RSV. (SS 26.3)
The Lord particularly cautioned the one who might be anointed king not to “multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.” Deuteronomy 17:17. (SS 26.4)
For a time Solomon heeded these warnings. His greatest desire was to live and rule in accordance with the statutes given at Sinai. His manner of conducting the affairs of the kingdom was in striking contrast with the customs of the nations of his time whose rulers trampled underfoot God’s holy law. (SS 26.5)
In seeking to strengthen his relations with the powerful kingdom south of Israel, Solomon ventured on forbidden ground. Satan knew the results that would attend obedience; and he sought to undermine Solomon’s loyalty to principle and to cause him to separate from God. “Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt; he took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David.” 1 Kings 3:1, RSV. (SS 27.1)
From a human point of view, this marriage seemed to prove a blessing, for Solomon’s heathen wife united with him in the worship of the true God. Furthermore, Solomon apparently strengthened his kingdom along the Mediterranean seacoast. But in forming an alliance with a heathen nation and sealing the compact by marriage with an idolatrous princess, Solomon rashly disregarded the provision God had made for maintaining the purity of His people. The hope that his Egyptian wife might be converted was a feeble excuse for the sin. (SS 27.2)
For a time in His mercy God overruled this terrible mistake, and the king, by a wise course, could have checked in a measure the evil forces that his imprudence had set in operation. But Solomon had begun to lose sight of the Source of his power and glory. Self-confidence increased, and he reasoned that political and commercial alliances with surrounding nations would bring these nations to a knowledge of the true God. Often these alliances were sealed by marriages with heathen princesses. (SS 27.3)
Solomon flattered himself that his wisdom and example would lead his wives to worship the true God and that the alliances would draw the nations into close touch with Israel. Vain hope! Solomon’s mistake in regarding himself strong enough to resist the influence of heathen associates was fatal. (SS 27.4)
The king’s relations with heathen nations brought him renown, honor, and riches. “The king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stone, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance.” 2 Chronicles 1:15. Wealth came in Solomon’s day to an increasingly large number of people; but the fine gold of character was marred. (SS 28.1)
Before Solomon was aware of it, he had wandered far from God. He began to trust less in divine guidance. Little by little he withheld from God unswerving obedience and conformed more closely to the customs of the surrounding nations. Yielding to temptations incident to his honored position, he forgot the Source of his prosperity. Money that should have been held in sacred trust for the worthy poor and for the extension of principles of holy living throughout the world was selfishly absorbed in ambitious projects. (SS 28.2)
To glorify himself before the world, he sold his honor and integrity. The enormous revenues acquired through commerce were supplemented by heavy taxes. Pride, ambition, and indulgence bore fruit in cruelty and exaction. From the wisest and most merciful of rulers, he degenerated into a tyrant. Once the God-fearing guardian of the people, he became oppressive and despotic. Tax after tax was levied to support the luxurious court. The respect and admiration the people had cherished for their king was changed into abhorrence. (SS 28.3)
More and more the king came to regard luxury, self-indulgence, and the favor of the world as indications of greatness. Hundreds of beautiful women were brought from Egypt, Phoenicia, Edom, Moab, and other places. Their religion was idol worship, and they had been taught cruel and degrading rites. Infatuated with their beauty, the king neglected his duties. (SS 28.4)
His wives gradually prevailed on him to unite with them in their worship of false gods. “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. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.” 1 Kings 11:4, 5. (SS 29.1)
Opposite Mount Moriah, Solomon erected imposing buildings as idolatrous shrines. To please his wives, he placed huge idols amidst the groves. There before the altars of heathen deities were practiced the most degrading rites of heathenism. 1 Kings 11:7. (SS 29.2)
Solomon’s separation from God was his ruin. He lost the mastery of himself. His moral efficiency was gone. His fine sensibilities became blunted, his conscience seared. He who in his early reign had displayed so much wisdom and sympathy in restoring a helpless babe to its unfortunate mother (see 1 Kings 3:16-28), fell so low as to erect an idol to whom living children were offered as sacrifices! He in later years departed so far from purity as to countenance licentious, revolting rites connected with the worship of Chemosh and Ashtoreth. He mistook license for liberty. He tried—but at what cost!—to unite light with darkness, good with evil, purity with impurity, Christ with Belial. (SS 29.3)
Solomon became a profligate, the tool and slave of others. His character became effeminate. His faith in God was supplanted by atheistic doubts. Unbelief weakened his principles and degraded his life. The justice and magnanimity of his early reign were changed to despotism and tyranny. God can do little for men who lose their sense of dependence on Him. (SS 29.4)
During these years of apostasy the enemy worked to confuse the Israelites in regard to true and false worship. Their keen sense of the holy character of God was deadened. They transferred their allegiance to the enemy of righteousness. It came to be a common practice to intermarry with idolaters. Polygamy was countenanced. In the lives of some, the pure religious service instituted by God was replaced by idolatry of the darkest hue. (SS 29.5)
God is fully able to keep us in the world, but we are not to be of the world. He watches over His children with a care that is measureless, but He requires undivided allegiance. “No man can serve two masters ... . Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24. (SS 30.1)
Men today are no stronger than Solomon; they are as prone to yield to the influences that caused his downfall. God today warns His children not to imperil their souls by affinity with the world. “Come out from among them,” He pleads, “and be ye separate, ... and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. (SS 30.2)
Throughout the ages, riches and honor have been attended with peril to humility and spirituality. It is not the empty cup that we have difficulty in carrying; it is the cup full to the brim. Adversity may cause sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life. In the valley of humiliation, where men depend on God to guide their every step, there is comparative safety. But men who stand, as it were, on a lofty pinnacle and who are supposed to possess great wisdom—these are in gravest peril. (SS 30.3)
Pride, feeling no need, closes the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven. He who makes self-glorification his aim will find himself destitute of the grace of God, through whose efficiency the truest riches and the most satisfying joys are won. But he who gives all and does all for Christ will know the fulfillment of the promise, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10:22. The Saviour banishes from the soul unrest and unholy ambition, changing enmity to love and unbelief to confidence. When He speaks to the soul, saying, “Follow Me,” the spell of the world’s enchantment is broken. At the sound of His voice, greed and ambition flee from the heart, and men arise, emancipated, to follow Him. (SS 30.4)