June 5th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Kings 11:1-43, 2 Chronicles 9:29-31, Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.

The passage in 1 Kings describes Solomon's downfall. It's sad really to witness this King, the wisest man who has ever lived, succumb to the exact sins God had warned him of and commanded against. He amassed numerous horses, great wealth and multiple wives - all of which seemed to make him proud of his own accomplishments instead of giving glory to God.

Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside, and he must not accumulate much silver and gold. Deut 17:17

This warning from God and the disastrous consequences of disobedience were never more accurate than in the life of Solomon. He married numerous foreign wives (700 plus 300 concubines!), likely for a wide ranges of reasons - from political, to personal. These foreign wives worshipped foreign Gods and Solomon built places of worship for them, and eventually joined them in their idolatry.

It makes me want to shake this guy! God had literally given him everything. He was the wisest man who ever lived, likely the richest that ever lived, was Israel's more prosperous King - and yet he played the fool. He worshiped other gods - a slap in the face to God who had blessed him in every possible way.

As this commentary says
There was one crucial difference between David and Solomon. David had a heart for God. He became the standard by which all subsequent kings were measured. Solomon had a more intellectual relationship with God. He was more detached, more philosophical about his relationship with God. It was an “upper story faith,” rather than an intimate, daily, passionate relationship with God. As I have watched biblical scholars rise and fall, the two major causes have been sexual immorality and intellectualism – an infatuation with one’s own intellectual powers.....

I fear that many of us (including me) are more “Solomonic” in our relationship with God than “Davidic.” It is wonderful for us to pursue truth (biblical or natural), but it is no substitute for a simple childlike faith in God. Let us give serious thought to those things which predisposed both David and Solomon to fall. Let us learn from their experience so that we need not learn from our own.

Today we also begin our readings on Ecclesiastes.

This commentary sums it up very well....
The question of 1:3 is the most important question of the book: “What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?” Solomon’s concern is what do humans have “left over” after life is over. What difference do the activities of this life have in the next life? Does anything last beyond the grave? Can we make certain (beyond the shadow of a doubt…beyond the shadow of death) that what we do in this life has some lasting value? This should be the key question of our lives (and of the lives of all other people). What can we do to guarantee a return on our life-investment? The answer that Solomon gives is to fear God and obey His commandments. When we do this, our fleeting lives begin to count for eternity. The disappointments that we experience in this life are bearable. When everything around us seems meaningless and monotonous, Christ—the Meaning in life, gives us meaning. When we are weary from the wearisome nature of life, Christ says, “Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). When we can’t get no satisfaction under the sun, we can find satisfaction in the Son. When we can’t find anything new, we remember that Christ has created a new covenant, given the new birth, and new life. When we feel like no one will ever remember us, we can take confidence in the truth that God remembers us, and one day we can overcome this world and receive a new name that Christ Himself will give to us. In the meantime, the best way to live under the sun is to live in the Son.

Tomorrow's passage: Ecclesiastes 1:12-6:12