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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise When Solomon turned away from you, you rebuked him sharply and warned him that you would “tear the kingdom” from his hands. You also raised up adversaries against him who harried and harassed his peaceful reign. Your intent was to bring him to repentance, and you were grieved and angry when he refused to turn back to you. You are a God who wants more than anything for your people to love and serve you, and I praise you for your kindness and longsuffering. How wonderful it is to worship you! Today in Your Word Today you shared with me the tragic and troubling story of Solomon’s descent into darkness. What could possibly have turned the heart of such a wise and discerning man away from you? “For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods” (1 Kgs 11:4). This teaches me that the person I choose to marry will affect the destiny of my soul. Such a decision should be made with much prayer and the counsel of godly friends. Solomon’s apostasy fills me with a strange mix of sorrow and fascination, and my mind is filled with questions. What will happen when the wisest man who ever lived decides to see if meaning and fulfillment can be found in a life “under the sun”? What will happen when a man who is thoroughly versed in the Scriptures and has spent many years fearing you decides to try a Godless approach to life and living? If anyone was ideally suited for such an experiment, it was Solomon. His brilliant mind, fantastic wealth and international power gave him a unique ability to sample everything life could offer. He filled his mind with wisdom and knowledge, he indulged in every kind of pleasure, he built great buildings and gardens and parks, he amassed more and more wealth, and he reveled in the greatest music, art and literature of his day. He took for himself everything that his eyes desired, and when he reached the end of his life, he left me this conclusion: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!” The word in Hebrew is hebel, and it expresses more than the English word “vanity” can convey. Its nuances are “futile,” “meaningless,” “empty,” “transient,” and “useless.” How could Solomon come to such a conclusion? Solomon discovered that nothing apart from you can give lasting happiness and fulfillment. This teaches me that if I try to find meaning in my accomplishments rather than in you, I will never be satisfied. Everything I achieve or possess will only leave me craving something more. Solomon’s reflections on life remind me of how important it is to put you first and to enjoy the work that you have given me to do. Reflection Will I accept and believe the reflections of a man who was able to experience more of the world than I ever will, or will I insist on making my own mistakes and learning the hard way? The choice is up to me. Request Father, help me to live a life that is filled with the enjoyment of your blessings and the desire to please you in all things. May I always find contentment in the service of your kingdom! Thanksgiving Thank you for using Solomon to address my tendency to seek fulfillment in this fleeting life “under the sun.” How grateful I am for the reminder that true satisfaction is only found in a relationship with you! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Satisfied” — Clara T. Williams. Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 3:17. |