2 Chronicles 9

Most people remember King Solomon as the man who built the temple of God in Jerusalem, but during his reign, he was occupied with many different activities. These chapters record a series of vignettes depicting some of the things Solomon did to advance his kingdom and enhance his life. But these activities also reveal Solomon’s character and expose some of the areas of weakness that later produced a bitter harvest. Gradually, Solomon became more interested in prices than in values, and in reputation rather than character, and in the splendor of the kingdom rather than the good of the people and the glory of the Lord.

Scripture never blinks the defects of its heroes,”

wrote the gifted British expositor Alexander Maclaren. “Its portraits do not smooth out wrinkles, but, with absolute fidelity, give all faults.” This inspired biblical honesty is seen in the record of the life of King Solomon. God gave Solomon unusual wisdom, incredible wealth, and great opportunities, but in his older years, he turned from the Lord, made foolish decisions, and didn’t end well. “A man’s own folly ruins his life” (Prov. 19: niv). Solomon wrote those words and probably believed them, but he didn’t heed them.

It isn’t difficult to trace the steps in Solomon’s downward path.