Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ 1 Kings

[Cell 6]

If Solomon was made the pinnacle of wisdom of the entire human race, how come he ended up worshipping other gods and strayed from the ways of God?

[jimwalton]

In the ancient world, the wisdom of a king referred to his ability to solve judicial cases that came before him. The wisdom that God granted Solomon was this kind of wisdom, and not anything about being a godly person. God doesn't convey godliness on humans.

As you read the texts (1 Kings 4.30-34), you see that it's the wisdom to rule well and therefore to understand life. But there's nothing in the texts about him being given a spirit of godliness, for instance, or a hotline to heaven or anything like that. He had to work through his relationship with God just like everyone else, and he blew it, as many do.

[Cell 6]

I imagine it's hard being the best possible king and not know right from wrong. My point is, if it's judgment was the absolute best, why did he choose not to obey God and to worship other gods? He was certainly not stupid. In fact, he must have been very intelligent and obviously very wise.

[jimwalton]

Yeah, it's a legitimate question. Kings of the ancient Near East were supposed to be wise, and it was not unusual for them to credit the deity for giving it to them. Such wisdom, as I mentioned, was judicial (1 Kings 3.11) and political (the ability to make good decisions for their people and in international situations), not anything pertaining to being a good follower of the deity (though that was presumed to be part of it as well).

True wisdom for life, as we all learn, comes mostly as the result of experience, maturity, and personal growth, more so than as a sudden gift from heaven. But Solomon teaches us that wisdom alone is not sufficient for life. Though he had the "greatest wisdom of all men," in judicial and political things, his godlessness (being seduced by wealth, power, and idolatry) was ruinous. It is the combination of wisdom and godliness that bring forth a life of righteousness. Both are necessary; it is the direction of the wisdom that makes the difference.

[Cell 6]

I understand now, thanks for the answer