King David was a man who loved the Lord. He sinned but was truly repentant, and he never stopped loving the Lord. God forgave David and blessed him greatly. His greatest sin was a one-night stand with a married woman, which led to deeper sin. Bathsheba became pregnant, and David tried to cover up that sin by bringing Bathsheba’s soldier husband home. The plan was that when Uriah got home, he and his wife, Bathsheba, would have a lovely reunion and Uriah would think the baby was his own.
Uriah was very loyal to King David, and he opted to stand guard over David rather than join his wife. Such loyalty is seldom seen, but David couldn’t let his sin be known. The sad ending to Uriah’s life was when David sent him back to war with orders that he be placed in a position that would guarantee he would be killed.
When we cover up our sin, we usually just heap more sin upon our original transgression. So, it was with David. King David did care for Bathsheba, but the child that was born from this great sin died. David mourned, but life went on. Eventually, Bathsheba became pregnant again. This time she gave birth to a healthy son, and he was named Solomon.
“And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him” (2 Samuel 12:24).
The name Solomon means “peace,” but there was much turmoil surrounding him. Most of the turmoil was caused by his own poor choices.
God specifically told the people of Israel not to marry foreigners, but Solomon married many.
“But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharoah, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the children of Israel, ‘Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 11:1-4).
David committed a great sin, but his repentance before the Lord was heartfelt. On the other hand, Solomon had no repentance. God specifically set rules for the man who would be king over Israel.
“But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses; forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold” (Deuteronomy 17:16-17).
Solomon ignored all of God’s rules for the king. These pagan wives did turn Solomon’s heart from God.
“Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon, and likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods” (1 Kings 11:7-8).
Solomon built places for his pagan wives to worship their demon gods. Don’t be fooled; if a Christian man or woman marries someone outside of the Christian faith, there’s a good chance that the unbeliever will have much influence over the Christian.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
This doesn’t just pertain to marriage but to friendships and business partnerships as well. Sadly, many people today are just like Solomon and ignore God’s words.
King Solomon is a good example of a man who had it all. He had all the worldly pleasures a man could desire. The thing he didn’t have was fellowship with God. Without that, there can be no real pleasure. Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, and if you read it, you see a very unhappy man.
“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3).
The Hebrew word “hebel” is translated vanity and means a vapor or a breath. It’s something that’s fleeting with no real substance. That’s what Solomon’s life had come to. Even with all the wisdom and riches he had, his life was empty and meaningless. He had been granted wisdom from God and could have had a very meaningful life. He may have had wisdom, but he wasn’t very smart. It’s easy to see what Solomon did wrong because his history is written in Scripture, but he isn’t the only man (or woman) ever to be out of fellowship with God and find life meaningless.
Adam was the first to experience the effects of sin and the despair that comes from a lack of fellowship with God. Christians should be the most joy-filled people on earth. Yet, many Christians make poor decisions, just as Solomon did, and find no joy in life. They walk around as if all is vanity because fellowship with God has been broken.
Do we even think about what Jesus did for us? Our sins are forgiven, which means we can experience fellowship with God. Our eternity is settled the moment we repent and believe. We may not have riches in this world, but Jesus has gone to build us our own mansion!
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).
Jesus will come for His bride and take us Home in the Rapture. Our choices make a difference in our outlook on life. First, we need to choose Christ. When we do that, if we continue to hold tightly to our sin, there can be no fellowship with Christ because sin ruins that fellowship. Without fellowship, life can be discouraging.
If you are feeling the same despairing thoughts as Solomon, look at your life and see what you’re doing that comes between the fellowship you could have with God. There were many things in Solomon’s life that ruined his fellowship with God. God ordains a one man/one woman marriage, not a one man/700 women marriage plus concubines. That isn’t marriage. Is there anything in your life that you put higher than God? What do you watch on television? What do you do with your spare time? Do your friends help you in your walk with Christ? Do you help them?
Salvation isn’t something we can work for, but it comes from faith in Jesus. We have to remember that there aren’t many paths to Heaven. Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me” (John 14:6).
In spite of his failures, Solomon did good things for God, but works won’t save. Nor will they bring true joy. He built the first Temple, and at the dedication, he showed great hope and wisdom. It’s too bad he didn’t listen to his own words.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
In order to find fellowship with God, we must turn from our wicked ways. Solomon only compounded his wicked ways by accumulating foreign wives and allowing them to bring pagan worship to Israel. He built high places specifically for them to practice their pagan ways. Christians must turn from our wicked ways. We are called by the name of Christ and should honor Him with our lives.
“Strive to enter through the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).
Jesus is that narrow gate and the only way to salvation.
Brothers and sisters, King Solomon had all that he desired but chose to follow the way of the world. Don’t follow Solomon’s example, but follow Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Time on earth is very short, and the Rapture will happen soon. Turn from your wicked ways, and live fully for Christ. Don’t miss out on the fellowship.
God bless you all
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).