Golden Text: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13.
NOTE.—This review of the quarter's lessons is a general view of the life of Solomon as a whole. It is a view of a life the influence of which has had its effects upon the ages. The great facts of his life should be kept in mind, and the lessons connected with them be taken to heart. The following is a summary of the
Facts of His Life and Their Lessons.
1. He was born at Jerusalem, son of David and13Bathsheba, about B.C. 1035. He had a noble and Godfearing father.
2. He was made king at the age of 20, B.C. 1015. As he was young and inexperienced, he sought God earnestly. In answer to the Lord's instruction to ask what he should give him, Solomon humbly and wisely asked for wisdom and knowledge, that he might lead the people. This God gave him. This was about three years after his reign began.
3. During the next seven and one-half years Solomon subdued his enemies, organized his kingdom, built and dedicated the temple of the Lord. During this period God greatly blessed his single-hearted devotedness.
4. From B.C. 1004 to 995 he built great palaces, fortresses, aqueducts, gardens, and established commerce.
5. From B.C. 995 to 985 Solomon was visited by "the queen of Sheba," wrote the Proverbs, poems, natural history. He lived in great and expensive luxury, compelled labor, levied oppressive taxes, and was warned of God in it all.
6. From B.C. 985 to 975 is the period of the decline of his wonderful career. He committed the evil of multiplying wives, many of whom were idolatrous, and who still desired to worship their idols. This worship of his favorite wives Solomon favored, so far as to build them shrines or altars. Among the false gods thus honored were "Chemosh, Molech, and Ashtaroth." An idol shrine was built on Olivet. Syria and Edom revolted. Jeroboam rebelled.
7. Solomon died (B.C. 975) repentant, if we ascribe to his authorship the Ecclesiastes, of which we have no doubt.
8. The lesson, the sum of all of the lessons of his life, is summed up in Eccl. 12:13, 14: "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Here is the lesson of his life—of all lives. God's moral law embraces all duty. By that law he will judge every soul. If we keep it with all the heart, we shall "have boldness in the day of judgment." By the grace of God through Jesus Christ we may keep his every commandment.
Another lesson we may learn from Solomon is that great riches, great honor, great power, even great worldly knowledge, will never save a man from sin or sinning. It is only the mystery of God, the grace of God through Christ, that can redeem, regenerate, save, keep. Obedience to God is worth more than all earth besides.
