Lesson 23: Solomon Part 4: His Decline

We have been able to look into one of the great kings of Israel. I won’t say the greatest, because there were several others that were greater which we will look at later and of course David whom we have already studied. But Solomon was a great king because he was a wise king. He was blessed with wisdom from on high.

God answered his prayer and allowed him to become one of the wisest men that ever lived. But while God honored his request - I think Solomon could have had a better answer. I believe this because had he chosen it - he would not have fallen out of grace with God.

His better answer would have been to when God asked Solomon what he wanted - the better answer would have been to honor and glorify God with his life and kingdom. Now, I’m not picking on him - I’m just saying that would have been the better answer.

No doubt, God in his sovereignty, used Solomon and meant for him to have wisdom to see Israel grow, expand and to become successful.

I believe that with his wisdom - came not only spiritual wisdom but also worldly wisdom. This wordly wisdom drove him to experience, taste, touch and be able to know everything.

This became his downfall. In so doing his heart was stolen away from God. There are some specific things mentioned here that we will look at tonight, but read through Proverbs and Ecclesiastes to look at more of those things. But one thing specifically contributed to the fall of Solomon tonight - it was:

I. The Strange Women vv.1-8

We see the use of the word “but” here at the beginning of the chapter 11. As you all know, but is a conjunction, it joins to clauses or thoughts and it can be used to share a contrasting thought - and in the case a contrasting legacy that Solomon was portraying on one side of the but and the other.

He has gone from the everything that was good about his father and more and a picture of Christ in a few ways - to worse that his father in many more ways.

So God says he loved many strange women. That is what God called them. They go by many names. The Bible calls them

strange - foreign or unusual - I believe it means as much unusual in this passage as foreign.

Proverbs 7:4–5 (AV)

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

They could be akin to when Proverbs calls them clamorous - odious -

A. Women from many nations were forbidden

Moabites

Ammonites

Edomites

Zidonians

Hittites

Don’t go into their nations and don’t allow them to come into Israel.

Why? This issue was not national pride or prejudice - the Bible gives the reason:

“…for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.”

God does not just warn, he commands that believers should not marry unbelievers. God says don’t do it.

Love doesn’t matter, situations matter not - God’s will and instruction should always be paramount.

We love to excuse ourselves or say - it worked out for someone else. Indeed, God is merciful - but that does not justify us to be disobedient to His commands.

B. A multiplicity of wives

This is just against God’s Word from, from the beginning to Christ to today.

Matthew 19:5–6 AV

And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Matthew 19:8 AV

He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Genesis 2:23–24 AV

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

In 1 Timothy 3:2 Paul gives the standard of the pastor, which by the way was the same standard and expectation that God has for every believer.

1 Timothy 3:2 AV

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

C. The Stealing of Solomon’s Heart

v. 5 His wives turned aways his heart after other gods.

There was more than just one reason that men and women are to have one spouse till they part in death and then be allowed to marry another. It wasn’t just because adultery, etc.

The other reason is, especially concerning the kings of Israel is found in:

Deuteronomy 17:17 AV

Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

So we have two principles here broken, the one husband or wife commandment of God and unequally yoked both being broken.

Wive’s and husbands influence each other for good or for bad to lesser or greater degrees.

If one marries many wives then and most of them are lost or many are worshippers of false gods, then the greater of their combined influence upon that same man or king.

And yea - here we see Solomon all over the map.

1. Ashtoreth - Zidonians goddess

She is known all over the ancient middle east was often called upon to help in crushing the skulls of her enemies. She had many variations depending on the culture - some as eternally pregnant but never having an offspring - and as a sex goddess.

The goddess was closely associated with Baal and Baal worship.

2. Milcom - Ammonite god

Milcom - abomination of the Ammonites

2 Samuel 12:30 AV

And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

He was possibly an Ammonite king whom they worshipped. If it was talent of gold there is no way it could set upon a human head - so likely it was taken from the head of a statue of a the former king.

3. Chemosh - Moabite god

His name meant “conqueror.” It was to him that the Moabite king likely sacrificed to when he burnt his eldest son who was to reign in his stead.

4. Molech - of Ammon

He demanded infant sacrifice - his worship permeated even the Roman Empire in its power.

And more:

1 Kings 11:8 AV

And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

Who knows how many wives and consequently - how many gods that he worshipped.

His heart was not perfect

He did evil in God’s sight

He was not fully following after the Lord

2 Kings 23:13 AV

And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

He left a wicked legacy and changed the culture in Israel for many generations.

II. God’s Reaction vv.9-13

A. The Lord was angry v.9

The Bible mentions here that the anger God had for Solomon was, at least in part, because he had appeared unto him twice.

B. The rending of the kingdom vv.10-13

1. Not in Solomon’s day

This was for David’s sake

2. Only part of the kingdom

Once again was because of the promise that God had made to David.

Let’s remember here that God is no respecter of persons.

I believe the same promise was there for Saul and for Solomon as it was for David.

C. The Adversaries vv.14-40

The interesting thing to note here is that the adversaries were all appointed of God. This does not mean he overruled their free will, but that God’s will - will be done.

1. First adversary - Hadad

He was fugitive out of Edom - who hated Israel.

2. Second adversary - Rezonvv.23-25

Much like Israel has always had - someone that abhorred Israel, someone that hates them with a passion.

3. Third adversary - Jereboam vv.26-39

a. He was mighty

b. He was industrious

c. He was an appointed a ruler

of 1/6 of Israel

d. The proclamation of Ahijah vv.29-39

The 12 pieces of garment.

10 would to go to Jereboam and one to the son of Solomon - Judah.

Now God, once again, is giving Jereboam the same opportunity that he gave Saul, that he gave David, that he gave Solomon

1 Kings 11:38 AV

And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

D. Solomon’s departure vv.40-43

v.40

We see Solomon getting just like Saul was in v.40 chasing down a newly appointed king. This kind of shows in like fashion, that his kingdom was finished and he was on his way out.

So many great lessons from Solomon of how much potential someone can have, yet, at the same time - how fast one who rises to such heights can also fall.