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Solomon (Hebrew: שְׁלֹמֹה, Modern Shlomo Tiberian Šəlōmō ISO 259-3 Šlomo; Arabic: سليمان Sulaymān, also colloquially: Silimān; Greek: Σολομών Solomōn), also called Jedidiah (Hebrew יְדִידְיָהּ), was, according to the Book of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, a king of Israel and the son of David. The conventional dates of Solomon’s reign are circa 970 to 931 BC. He is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah split. Following the split, his patrilineal descendants ruled over Judah alone.
According to the Talmud, Solomon is one of the 48 prophets. In the Qur’an, he is considered a major prophet, known as Sulaiman, son of David. Wiki
Solomon was loved by God from his birth:
2 Sam 12:24 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. 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah [meaning "Beloved of YHVH"] , because of the Lord.
Now Solomon had been made heir apparent in his youth; probably because he was the son of Bathsheba David’s favorite, and probably because Solomon was diligent to learn of God and God’s commandments from his father David. The Eternal did not call Solomon his beloved as a young child for nothing; the child must have been faithful and diligent learning of God from David his father, as David educated him to become king over Israel.
1 Kings 1:11 Wherefore Nathan [the prophet] spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
When Solomon became king and had secured the realm he proposed to built a House for God as his father David had wanted [I have no doubt that they discussed this often together, and made plans together; for David laid up a vast sum for Solomon to build.]. Solomon was full of love for God and his commandments; having been zealous for these things from his birth.
At about that time, God who loved Solomon for his love of God’s law from childhood, offered Solomon a blessing, and Solomon being humble before God, as taught by David; asked for wisdom to rule God’s people.
Psalm 111:1 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Solomon had been taught the fear and love of God by his father David.
God granted this request and further blessed Solomon with many other things, for wisdom has her fruits.
Solomon started his rule, very wise in the things and commandments of God, however he began to slowly lose his humility and be ensnared by pride as has happened in the COG today.
Solomon then set out to test God and God’s commandments, and to test also his own wisdom and ways, by considering everything that this world has to offer and judging that for it real value.
The Book of Ecclesiastes is about that testing, and what Solomon learned from his testing and inquiries into all the greatness that this world has to offer.
Ecclesiastes is about humility or pride, worldliness or godliness; and which has true value and has real eternal value.
This book is very very vital to the Groups claiming to be God’s people today. God deeply loved Solomon and therefore allowed Solomon to make his mistakes and learn from them. The same is true today; God deeply loves all his called out, and he is allowing us to do what we think is right and to make our mistakes and learn from them.
Oh how God has loved us, but very many are like rebellious children, preferring our own wisdom to the wisdom of God our Father; preferring our own ways and traditions to the truth and commandments of our loving Father.
God is warning his beloved children of the way that they should go, and we had better heed his warning, before we are destroyed by the wisdom of men and the traditions of men.
Ecclesiastes was written at the end of Solomon’s inquiries, and was inspired by God to teach us the same lesson that Solomon learned; so that we might come to the same conclusion as Solomon; and dedicate ourselves to the ONLY things that really matter and have lasting value; God and his commandments.
Ecclesiastes
The author is identified as the king and son of David, a preacher [teacher] : Strong’s collector (of sentences), preacher, public speaker, speaker in an assembly, Qoheleth
Ecc 1:
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
After deep and lengthy study the Teacher, emphatically proclaims all the actions of man to be inherently hevel, a word meaning “vain”, “futile”, “empty”, “meaningless”, “temporary”, “transitory”, “fleeting,” or “mere breath,” depending on translation, as the lives of both wise and foolish men end in death.
Why do men seek physical fame, power or wealth in this life?
1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. 1:8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 1:10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 1:11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
Solomon seeks out the meaning of life, and seeks out wisdom concerning all things physical.
1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
1:16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Solomon then seeks out wealth and the pleasures of life to see if he will find meaning there.
ECC 2:
1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2:2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 2:7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 2:8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Solomon tests wisdom against foolishness.
2:12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
Wisdom is far greater than foolishness, yet what is its advantage at the end of physical life?
2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 2:14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. 2:16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Solomon learns that at the end of life the age old question remains: “Is that all there is?” If so then life itself is foolishness for it has no lasting value.
2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
2:18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
2:19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
2:20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Solomon learns that all physical pursuits are empty and meaningless and loses all desire to pursue them further.
Solomon despairs as he realizes that the fruits of all his wisdom and labours will ultimate be left to another who probably does not deserve it and will make a big mess of them.
2:21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
What has a man left for himself of all his labours when he dies?
2:22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 2:23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Therefore in physical things, people should enjoy life to the full while they still live. Let men enjoy the fruits of their labours.
2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
2:25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
The wicked build up, so that God will take from them and give to the righteous. Therefore it is vexation [empty foolishness] of spirit to be wicked and break God’s commandments. Those who compromise with God’s commandments or tech tolerance for sin are foolish vain and spiritual empty men.
2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his [God's] sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
ECC 3:
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
The law may allow something, but it is not always expedient to do what the law allows. Wisdom must be exercised in what we do, even regarding lawful things. Carefully choose the right time and place for all your doings, so as to prosper in them.
What profit is there in our labours, except to take pleasure and be satisfied with our work? And to rejoice and enjoy its fruits.
3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
No carnally minded person who’s thoughts are on physical pursuits, can understand the works and Word of God.
3:11 He [God] hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world [worldliness and limited understanding to the carnal man] in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
3:12 I know that there is no good in them [worldliness and physical pursuits] , but for a man to rejoice, and to do good [keep the commandments of God] in his life.
All good things including the fruits of our own labour and wisdom, are gifts of God, for he has made and sustains all things.
3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
Only the godly is eternal and has any real meaning, and no person can change what God has ordained. Men should fear God for only he is eternal and is of any importance in the larger scheme of things.
3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
Solomon saw that there was unequal justice and wickedness in the judgment and ruler-ship of men. And that in the physical priesthood and temple there was sin. Therefore man can only count on God for righteous judgment.
3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
At God’s judgments, God shall demonstrate that physical man is as the brute beasts who cannot understand. Therefore only the spiritual things and commandments of God have any value or really matter.
3:18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
3:21 Who knoweth the spirit [Ruwach, spirit, breath] of man that goeth upward, and the spirit [Ruwach, spirit, breath] of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Serve God in the wisdom of God’s word and enjoy life to the full, for after death all our physical deeds and wealth will go to another.
3:22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Rolf Ungar
December 29th, 2012 at 11:01