Why Study Solomon (More)
If for some reason your remain unconvinced about this let me give you four further reasons for studying the life of Solomon from Scripture, reasons of a more specialised type.
If for some reason your remain unconvinced about this let me give you four further reasons for studying the life of Solomon from Scripture, reasons of a more specialised type.
1. He is spoken of in God’s Word. We must always remember that what we read of Solomon in Scripture is given to us by God himself. The legends and myths may not be true but what is in the Bible certainly is. Scripture comes to us through men
, of course, anonymous men in Solomon’s case, but God had his hand on the ones who wrote these things down in a special way so that we may have inspired, God-breathed words of life, words that that are able to ‘make wise to salvation’. The writers were like great sailing ships catching the Wind of God in their sails so that although they plotted a course and tacked this way and that, it was God who sent his Spirit to direct them exactly where he intended. Solomon’s story is therefore useful, profitable; it is here to teach us, rebuke us, correct us and train us. We do well to pay close attention to it like a light in the darkness and to learn from it.
2. He is for the most part a great man of God. As we have said, Solomon eventually fell into idolatry and some wonder whether he ever came back, nevertheless, he was a godly man for the most part and an example to us. In 1 Kings 3:3 we read that he ‘showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.’ That sums up most of his life. That is the official record from heaven. He is a man to take note of. He is not named specifically in Hebrews 11 but he is among the great cloud of witnesses whose example points us to a life of faith and devotion to God.
3. He is spoken about in order to benefit Christians. This must be our approach to the Old Testament Scriptures. In 1 Corinthians 10:11 Paul refers to the Old Testament characters saying ‘These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come.’ Everything has been leading up to this present age in which we now live, the age following Christ’s first coming and so all that we find in the Old Testament is there for our instruction. That includes what we read of King Solomon. We must make good use of his story. This book is designed to help us to do just that.
4. He was an ancestor of Christ and one who points to him. He is not only the Son of David but an ancestor of great David’s greater son. In Luke 11:31 Jesus says The Queen of the South (ie Sheba) will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
Solomon points us forward to Christ in several ways.
For example, in his name, which means peace. Christ is the King of Peace, the great Reconciler of God and man. We learn something of that through the life of Solomon.
Also in his kingship and glorious kingdom, for Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords who rules over a vast and growing kingdom that Solomon’s anticipates.
Obviously, in his wisdom. Again this points to Christ who is the all wise God and our wisdom if we are believers.
In his Temple. As we have said the Temple points us to Heaven and indeed to Christ too. Solomon was its builder and a study of his life entails a consideration of his great Temple.
In Chronicles 22:10 a prophecy is made of Solomon He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
It is not difficult for those with eyes to see it to realise that such a verse points beyond Solomon to Christ himself. We ought to take careful note of such lessons. Any glory we see in Solomon is designed to point to the glory of Jesus Christ, to whom all glory must be given.
Be in no doubt then regarding the importance of this study. Solomon has been too long neglected by too many. His life is crying out for examination and by the grace of God that is what we intend to do here.
, of course, anonymous men in Solomon’s case, but God had his hand on the ones who wrote these things down in a special way so that we may have inspired, God-breathed words of life, words that that are able to ‘make wise to salvation’. The writers were like great sailing ships catching the Wind of God in their sails so that although they plotted a course and tacked this way and that, it was God who sent his Spirit to direct them exactly where he intended. Solomon’s story is therefore useful, profitable; it is here to teach us, rebuke us, correct us and train us. We do well to pay close attention to it like a light in the darkness and to learn from it.2. He is for the most part a great man of God. As we have said, Solomon eventually fell into idolatry and some wonder whether he ever came back, nevertheless, he was a godly man for the most part and an example to us. In 1 Kings 3:3 we read that he ‘showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.’ That sums up most of his life. That is the official record from heaven. He is a man to take note of. He is not named specifically in Hebrews 11 but he is among the great cloud of witnesses whose example points us to a life of faith and devotion to God.
3. He is spoken about in order to benefit Christians. This must be our approach to the Old Testament Scriptures. In 1 Corinthians 10:11 Paul refers to the Old Testament characters saying ‘These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come.’ Everything has been leading up to this present age in which we now live, the age following Christ’s first coming and so all that we find in the Old Testament is there for our instruction. That includes what we read of King Solomon. We must make good use of his story. This book is designed to help us to do just that.
4. He was an ancestor of Christ and one who points to him. He is not only the Son of David but an ancestor of great David’s greater son. In Luke 11:31 Jesus says The Queen of the South (ie Sheba) will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
Solomon points us forward to Christ in several ways.
For example, in his name, which means peace. Christ is the King of Peace, the great Reconciler of God and man. We learn something of that through the life of Solomon.
Also in his kingship and glorious kingdom, for Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords who rules over a vast and growing kingdom that Solomon’s anticipates.
Obviously, in his wisdom. Again this points to Christ who is the all wise God and our wisdom if we are believers.
In his Temple. As we have said the Temple points us to Heaven and indeed to Christ too. Solomon was its builder and a study of his life entails a consideration of his great Temple.
In Chronicles 22:10 a prophecy is made of Solomon He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
It is not difficult for those with eyes to see it to realise that such a verse points beyond Solomon to Christ himself. We ought to take careful note of such lessons. Any glory we see in Solomon is designed to point to the glory of Jesus Christ, to whom all glory must be given.
Be in no doubt then regarding the importance of this study. Solomon has been too long neglected by too many. His life is crying out for examination and by the grace of God that is what we intend to do here.
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