The Example of Solomon

All throughout the Scriptures we have examples of men and women that give us the opportunity to learn from their experiences and grow in our faith for the Most High. For as the Apostle Paul tells us:

All Scripture is given by the Ruach Elohiym, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of Elohiym may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. TIMOTHEUS SHENIY (2 TIMOTHY) 3:16-17 את CEPHER

One such instance that provides us with both an example of righteousness, as well as a cautionary tale, is the story of King Solomon, the son of King David, who sat upon the throne of ancient Yashar'el, or Israel. There are so many lessons we can glean from the life of Solomon - not just what to do or not to do for ourselves, but also as parents and spouses. I will attempt to summarize the lessons in this post, but if you haven't read 1 Kings in a bit, there is not a better teacher than the Word.

I was inspired to write this article after potent insight made by a brother in my recent Sabbath gathering. He mentioned how it was necessary for Solomon to fall from grace so that the salvation of mankind can be brought forth in Yahusha the Messiah. Meaning after Solomon's great sins, the Father promised to take the Kingdom from Solomon's sons, bringing about the separation of the northern 10 tribes from Judah and Benjamin in the south (1 Kings 11:31). This begins the downward spiral of both Israel (northern 10 tribes) and Judah (+ Benjamin), culminating in the divorce of all the tribes of Jacob from the Father (Jeremiah 3:8). Each were lead into captivity and removed from the land they were given because they had forsaken the Way of Yahuah and had lived liked the nations around them, worshiping other gods. This leads to humanity entirely lacking in the favor of Elohiym, none were saved from the final judgment, as the 12 tribes of Jacob, or Yashar'el / Israel, were supposed to be a light to the nations, leading them to the Father (Deuteronomy 4:6). Instead, the opposite happened, and the nations lead the Israelites to their doom. Hundreds of years go by without hope until Messiah Yahusha, the Word, was made flesh and tabernacled among us, and brought Truth and Grace back to this world (John 1:1, John 1:17). By believing and abiding in the Messiah we are all apart of the Father's chosen people and saved from the second death by his Grace (John 3:16-18).

Now Solomon was not always a wicked King, in fact in his early life he was quite righteous, a true warrior for Yahuah. Which is a bit to be expected considering his father David was called a man after Yah's own heart (1 Samuel 3:4, 1 Samuel 16:7-13), a man so zealous for the Father that Elohiym promised him his seed would sit on the throne forever (1 Kings 2:4). We know that this is fulfilled in Yahusha Ha'Mashiach, who reigns as King of Kings forever, however, what did Solomon do to begin the demise of the earthly reign of the Davidic kings? What is it that we can learn from him and his life?

The Wisdom of Solomon

Once David passes and the kingdom is given to Solomon, we have one of the more beautiful and sincere moments in Scripture. Yahuah appears to Solomon in a dream and asks him what he wants, testing Solomon to see if he would indulge the lusts of the flesh or remain righteous like his father. Solomon then asks Yahuah for an understanding heart, that he may judge his people rightly. And it is written that this pleased the Father so much that he blessed Solomon with such wisdom as had never before existed, nor afterwards has any man been as wise as Solomon.

In Giv'on Yahuah appeared to El-Shalomah in a dream by night: and Elohiym said, Ask what I shall give you. And Shalomah said, You have showed unto your servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you; and you have kept for him this great kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Yahuah Elohai, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this your so great a people?

And the speech pleased Adonai, that Shalomah had asked this thing. And Elohiym said unto him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life; neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies; but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to your words: lo, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like unto you. And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto you all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, to guard my statutes and my commandments, as your father Daviyd did walk, then I will lengthen your days. MELEKIYM RI'SHON (1 KINGS) 3:5-14 את CEPHER

This is our first, and potentially greatest, lesson we can learn from Solomon. Though we walk in the flesh, we must not give in to the carnal nature of the flesh (2 Corinthians 10:3), for we know the flesh wars against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). In our prayers of supplication to the Father we should be asking him for the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as well as wisdom and knowledge so that, like Solomon, we may judge rightly. Yahuah has made us a nation of kings and priests (Revelation 1:6), and as such we much endeavor to be righteous judges full of mercy. How much would we all be tempted to ask the Father for riches, or abundance, or other worldly blessings? We need to take head of the example set by Solomon here and seek first the Kingdom, and our worldly needs he will provide for us (Matthew 6:33).

The Fall of Solomon

Solomon then rules his Kingdom with the wisdom he's been given from Yahuah, and walks in all the Ways of the Father. People from all over the world come to hear his advice, and he builds the first temple in Jerusalem, all things that glorify the Father. Scripture notes he exceeds all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom (1 Kings 10:23). Unfortunately, this does not last, and Solomon falls into iniquity and turns from the righteous path of Yahuah that he swore to walk in.

Of the nations concerning which Yahuah said unto the children of Yashar'el, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their elohiym: Shalomah clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred women, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his women turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Shalomah was old, that his women turned away his heart after other elohiym: and his heart was not perfect with Yahuah Elohayu, as was the heart of Daviyd his father. MELEKIYM RI'SHON (1 KINGS) 11:2-4 את CEPHER

This immense fall from grace is our next lesson we can learn from Solomon. It is not enough to be righteous right now, or righteous when it is easy. We must always seek His face, we must always guard His Ways and not stray either to the left or right. The prophet Ezekiel is quite clear about what happens when a righetous man turns from the Way and commits sin

But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: in his transgression that he has transgressed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die. YECHEZQ'EL (EZEKIEL) 18:24 את CEPHER

We must endure and not turn from the right way and allow our flesh to win the war against our spirit. We also see this in the life of Moses when, after leading Israel through the wilderness for 40 years, he is denied entry to the promise land when he disobeys Yahuah's command concerning providing the people water from the rock.

And Mosheh and Aharon gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Mosheh lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the assembly drank, and their beasts also. And Yahuah spoke unto El-Mosheh and El-Aharon, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Yashar'el, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. BEMIDBAR (NUMBERS) 20:10-12 את CEPHER

And Yahuah said unto him, This is the land which I swore unto Avraham, unto Yitschaq, and unto Ya`aqov, saying, I will give it unto your seed: I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over thither. So Mosheh the servant of Yahuah died there in the land of Mo'av, according to the Word of Yahuah. DEVARIYM (DEUTERONOMY) 34:4-5 את CEPHER

If the great men of Scripture receive the wrath of Elohiym in the flesh for disobedience, why would we expect any lesser treatment? We are saved by the blood of the Lamb, just as ancient Israel was, and we are expected to obey the Father - both in spirit and truth - just like ancient Israel was. We can see the prophecy of Ezekiel in full force in the lives of Solomon and Moses - with one very distinct difference. Moses repented of what he had done, and did not further transgress against Yahuah, while Solomon continued in his iniquity unto death. Final judgement is in the hands of Yahuah in the name of Yahusha, so only Elohiym knows whether these men will be allowed entry into the Kingdom, but we can see their physical punishment plainly. Moses was denied entry into the promised land, and Solomon had the Kingdom ripped from his direct lineage and his people eventually captured and enslaved in bondage.

It's also interesting to note that Solomon was given not only wisdom from the father, but riches and abundance, too, becoming the richest man on earth. Perhaps this is a prime example of what Yahusha speaks of when he says:

Then said Yahusha unto his Talmidiym, Amein I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Elohiym. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 19:23-24 את CEPHER

When we have abundance in the flesh, it is very easy for us to turn away from the right path in our comfort. Riches and physical wealth in and of itself is not sinful - many of the righteous patriarchs were wealthy, from Abraham to Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, King David, etc. But it is the love of riches and wealth and comfort that can steal our hearts from the Father, as Yahusha enumerates in the parable of the sower.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 13:22 את CEPHER

Perhaps the Father is withholding abundance and comfort from us so that we do not stray from the righteous Ways, as Solomon did. Remember, His ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). The trials and testings you are going through are always for your benefit, working patience that allows us to endure until the end. And always remember, seek first the Kingdom and all things you need will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

From David to Solomon, the Pain of the Parent

The third lesson I felt led to illustrate is that of righteous parent, David, and an unrighteous son, Solomon. This is a very sad reality of our walks here, which is disobedient and worldly children. This is of course a testing of our hearts, are we able to in everything give him thanks, even when the ones we love stray away from the right path. The only love greater than that of a parent for their child is the love that Yahuah has for his creation. And our heavenly Father knows what it's like to have a child turn from Him, turn from the Way of Life, unto a way that leads to death, as humans have done time and time again since Yah breathed the breath of life into our nostrils. For David, he passed before he could see his son forsake the righteous Ways of Yahuah and follow after strange gods and strange women. But for many of us, we will be alive to witness this, and while we should pray for our children that they return to the Father, we must not let it break us. We must endure all things in order to be saved (Matthew 10:22, 24:13), including disobedient children.

All of us will be judged by our own actions, which the prophet Ezekiel again shows us.

The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. YECHEZQ'EL (EZEKIEL) 18:20 את CEPHER

Not that this is in anyway consolation for a sinful child, but we must not let the sin of others deter us from the righteous path. For us parents, we need to be lights for our children, living examples of the love of Yahusha and Yahuah. We need to take the advice of the Scripture, to talk with our children constantly about the Father and his Ways (Deuteronomy 6:7), and to instruct them from an early age (Proverbs 22:6), so that when they are grown and making their own decisions they at least have the foundation and knowledge of the Word to guide them to hopefully make the right ones.

In Everything Give Thanks

We must always remain humble, meek, patient, seeking the Father with all our hearts and keeping the testimony of His Son Yahusha. In our time of winter and struggle, and in our times of summer and abundance, we must not let the troubles or riches of this world lead us away from His Ways and to the path of death (Proverbs 14:12). Let us take the examples from His Word that he has preserved for us and learn from them, both the good and the bad, that we may be found approved unto Elohiym. For as it is written, the things that happened to ancient Israel were written down for our instruction, that we may learn and grow from them.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 15:4 את CEPHER

Yahuah bless you, and guard you: Yahuah make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: Yahuah lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.