Introduction
Whilst disposed to seemingly harmless little meanderings of the mind, these deeply grieve the Spirit of our Father. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians chapter 4 verse 30). Amidst life’s trials and pains, who has never thought: “If only I was…more intelligent…had a better family of origin…had a spouse that respected me/ gave me more sex…. had more money…life would be better.” This leads us to reflect on the man in the Bible inwardly most like us, but for all his stature, almost completely ignored in the New Testament, Solomon. The biblical portrayal of Solomon is not only complex and paradoxical, it is contradictory.
What Sort of a Man?
The Solomon of 1 Kings chapter 10-chapter11 verse 42 does not equate with the glowing account in 2 Chronicles chapter 3-9. Despite the earlier injunctions from Moses that an Israelite king must never not acquire horses, wives, silver and gold for himself (Deuteronomy chapter 17 verses 1-17), Solomonamasses chariots, vast wealth and 1000 women (1 Kings 10 chapter verse 14- chapter 11 verse 8). Can this sex-addict really be the same man who is the ideal lover of the Song in his name? I think it best to accept the view of Hebrew scholars that the first verse be translated, “The Song for/about Solomon”. Likewise, whereas the writer of Ecclesiastes describes himself as the son of David in a way that can only apply to Solomon, other references indicate a book written at a much later period of time (Ecclesiastes chapters 1verse 1; 2 verses 7 -9). Ecclesiastes is a reflection on the time of Solomon, teaching that the pursuit of knowledge and wealth is in the end a “vanity and a striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 14 etc.). Jesus himself had two things to say about this famous predecessor on the throne of David. First, that the prodigious care of the Father for his children far exceeds “the glory of Solomon” and, pointing to himself, “something greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew chapter 6 verses 28-33; chapter 12, verse 42).
He Had It All
Ecclesiastes is the most depressing book in the Bible, because it accurately represents an inspired estimation of what totally fulfilled human desires might be like. (We must have become accustomed to the sad accounts of bored billionaire’s extra-marital affairs?) When fabulously wealthy John D. Rockefeller, a devout Baptist, was asked by a reporter, “How much money is enough?” He responded, “Just a little bit more.” Jesus alone has mastered the arch deceiver’s temptation to receive “the kingdoms of the world…all their glory” (Luke chapter 4 verses 5-6). He awaited a far greater brand “new” creation (Revelation chapter 21 verse 1.) Given his vast differences from us, what then is Solomon’s relevance today? One way we minimise our sin is through end-times speculation.
A Beast of a Man
In Revelation 13:18 however we read, “Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is humanity’s number. That number is 666.” Given scripture is its own best interpreter, and Revelation has countless allusions to the Old Testament, the fact that 666 as a number of royal power and dominion appears only in the account of the exploits of Solomon (1 Kings chapter 10 verse 140, fixes our gaze on him as a likeness of the beast. He who had it all never had enough, he is the person who, without fear of God (Proverbs chapter 1 verse 7), transgressed every boundary set by the Lord in his lust for more. His Adam-like mastery “of good and evil”, vast understanding of living things and his dominion over the nations (1 Kings chapter 3 verse 9; chapter 4 verses 21, 24,33) entices his fall in pride to break all that the Lord’s word laid out as a boundary of life. In his rapacious beastly lusts, Solomon is you and I as fallen people. Only Jesus, who gave up all his glory to descend to our fallen likeness can save us. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans chapter 7 verses 24-25).
Conclusion
“What could be greedier, than a man for whom God was not enough” (Augustine). “he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter chapter 1 verse 4). Do not be beastly (Psalm 73 verse 22), through the Spirit choose against your own desires, choose Jesus.