Throughout history, how many heroic figures, who once dominated the stage, met tragic ends? Xiang Yu, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yunchang... they all had reasons to be proud, but Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Their endings were marked by severe downfall. When man is proud, he forsakes God, a sobering thought indeed! In this chapter, the teacher will guide us to examine the telltale signs of man turning away from God!
Questions for Reflection:
Suppose you have two friends. One consistently points out your flaws, while the other showers you with compliments. Which friend do you consider more reliable? Why?
Did Solomon's wealth and chariots stem solely from God's blessings? Why?
Can you discern between human wisdom and God's wisdom? How can you safeguard yourself from being ensnared by your own intellect?
The Downfall of Man Begins with Praise
This chapter delves into Solomon's transgressions and his subsequent decline. It is critical to understand that forsaking God is a perilous act. It was from this chapter onward that Solomon began to turn away from God. The chapter is divided into two parts. The first part recounts the Queen of Sheba's visit and how kings came to hear Solomon’s wisdom. When the Queen of Sheba met Solomon, she lavished him with flattering words, which greatly pleased him. However, it was this very comfort that led to Solomon's pride. After Solomon forsook God and descended into decline in his old age, he reflected on his life and penned the book of Proverbs. In it, he wrote: As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold, so is a man to his praise. (Proverbs 27:21) Being praised may very well be the onset of downfall; one must therefore exercise extreme caution when faced with compliments. If you only enjoy hearing pleasantries, then you are in danger.
The latter part details Solomon's wealth: his annual income, the palaces he built, the utensils he used, and the chariots and cavalry he amassed. We observe Solomon beginning to accumulate wealth for himself. Thus, this chapter illuminates two key points. First: Do not assume that constant praise is necessarily a good thing; it may well be the commencement of decline. Second: When a man begins to amass worldly treasures for himself, such as gold, silver, and horses, it is also the start of his downfall.
That Which is Highly Valued by Men is Detestable in the Sight of God
That which is highly valued among men is detestable in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15). When people begin to value gold and silver, fancy cars, and beautiful houses, considering these as things they highly esteem, that is the beginning of turning away from God! These things that people value cannot bring life; and what God detests are those things that corrupt human life. King Solomon of Israel, although he gained wisdom, it was still human wisdom, merely wisdom to solve human problems. What then is God's wisdom? It is to not let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth, to meditate on it day and night, and to carefully observe and do according to God's commandments.
But he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. (Deuteronomy 17:16-17)
The Book of the Law requires: First, the king must not acquire many horses for himself; second, he must not cause the people to return to Egypt for this purpose; third, he must not acquire many wives; fourth, he must not accumulate excessive silver and gold. But Solomon did all these things. That is to say, human wisdom is still human wisdom. Deuteronomy goes on to say: When the king sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and keep all the words of this law and these statutes, and do them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his sons, in Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)
Human Wisdom Brings Corruption
We must know what true wisdom is. If you do not constantly read the Word of God, the human wisdom within you will bring corruption, utter corruption. Never rely on human wisdom! Solomon represents the highest human wisdom, yet it brought nothing but corruption. Therefore, after understanding such things, we should no longer admire human wisdom, for human wisdom is the elementary principles of the world. We must rely on God's wisdom, not on the elementary principles of the world. Do not be taken captive by the elementary principles of the world, or you will enter into corruption.
Brothers and sisters, if you are lazy in reading the Bible, not constantly letting the words of this book enter your eyes, enter your ears, and then speak them with your mouth, it is very dangerous! There is no wisdom in this world that can overcome the wisdom of the cross. The wisdom of the cross can allow us to obtain life. Therefore, brothers and sisters, never have a merchant's mindset. You see Solomon's corruption, which began with a merchant's way of thinking. What is the use of sending ships out to collect gold and spices? These things cannot deliver people from death. But the power of the cross will save us from death. When we begin to carefully observe all the words of this Book of the Law, these blessings will surely follow us.
Therefore, after writing down these words, we know that all that Solomon did: accumulating horses and silver and gold for himself, and marrying many concubines, were all foretold in the Book of the Law, that doing so would inevitably lead to corruption. So we must often ask ourselves, how much in us is corrupting our lives? How much needs to be renewed and replaced with the words of the Bible? Solomon possessed the highest wisdom of all mankind. But the things he pursued with human wisdom, in his old age, he said in Ecclesiastes, were all vanity of vanities. We must take this as a warning and not walk this vain path again!