A key figure in the history of ancient Israel is King David’s successor, his son Solomon. Here was a person so loved by God that He gave him the special name Jedidiah (loved by Yahweh). The website, Universal Bible Fellowship Resources argues that the Lord loved Solomon so much because he was the fruit of David’s repentance.
That might be true, but the Scripture merely affirmed God’s love for him; not the reason why he was the beloved. It is not for us to impute anything beyond what has been revealed in Scripture. Whatever the argument, it is clear that Solomon was highly favoured of God. He was blessed materially and spiritually. He is one of the few people who had audience with Almighty God, albeit in a vision. Today, we have the honour to interview the wisest and richest king in ancient Israel.
Shepherd Heart: Thank you for honouring our invitation King Solomon.
King Solomon: The pleasure is mine. Thank you for having me.
Shepherd Heart: Kindly tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
King Solomon: As you already noted, I succeeded my father David as the third in the line of kings in ancient Israel. My mother, Bathsheba was formerly married to an Israeli soldier, Uriah the Hittite until he was killed in a war, at the instance of my father David. My father later repented of his devious ways, thus receiving God’s mercy. As you also observed in your introduction, I was the fruit of my father’s repentance. I built the first temple in Jerusalem, and was the last king before the nation split in two. My son Rehoboam ruled the Southern Kingdom of Judah, while my former adviser, Jeroboam ruled the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Shepherd Heart: Some of us who are familiar with the history of ancient Israel often wonder why a man like you who knew God so intimately fell from grace, which ultimately contributed to the sad state of affairs in Israel after your death. What did the world offer you that was greater than everything you received from God on a platter of gold?
King Solomon: If you read Ecclesiastes, you will realise how much I regretted not giving God my all in my later years as king. Of course, my marriage to strange women was the catalyst to my fall from grace. I also did not take advantage of wise counsel from elders in my cabinet. Pride, they say, goes before a fall. I am not proud of the person I later became. Writing the book of Ecclesiastes was therapeutic because it allowed me to open up to, the entire cosmos about my foolish choices and to caution others against putting their trust in what the world has to offer.
Shepherd Heart: I see what you mean. In fact, I once told a Christian sister that you were the only human qualified to write that book; reaching the zenith of wisdom and material wealth only to discover that all is vanity. That is poignant and those with functional brains should learn from your experience. From Biblical records, you never returned to God with your whole heart despite the regrets you expressed in Ecclesiastes. What prevented you from repenting of your sins like your father David did?
King Solomon: I was caught up in the affairs of state and in pleasing my many wives. I did not reject God totally. I just was not as committed to His cause as I was in the early days of my kingship.
Shepherd Heart: We try not to make the interviews about the past, because there is nothing we can do to redeem it. In your opinion, is it possible for humans to please God?
King Solomon: Pleasing God means doing His will. Yes. It is possible for us to please the Father if we choose His will above ours. That is the difference between the Messiah and other men. He lived to please the Father. He said in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.” The problem with most humans is their self-centredness. That was the first weakness that led to the rebellion in the Garden of Eden. The moment we focus on ourselves, and what we can benefit from a given situation, we cannot do the will of God.
Shepherd Heart: How do we deal with the flesh to make it obey God?
King Solomon: Scripture clearly says that the flesh is at enmity with God, hence it cannot be subject to His laws or obey Him. You can find that in Romans 8 verses seven to nine. That is why God sent Yeshua to die on the cross for the entire humanity, so that through Him, the Holy Spirit can be poured out on humans. It is only through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit that a man can please God. It is also through His empowerment that humans can love themselves genuinely.
Shepherd Heart: If that is the case, why did God command the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:5 to love Him with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their mind, and with all their strength? They had not received the Holy Spirit as at then. How could He (God) expect them to love Him in their own strength?
King Solomon: If you recall, Israel was not an ordinary nation. God Himself said that they were a nation of priests. They had encounters with God that no other people group on earth could boast of. Yes, they had not received the Holy Spirit in the Pentecost format, but God Himself was present with them. His Shekinah glory was visible in the temple. He related with them in a form that they could feel for Him and love Him if they chose. Did God give the Ten Commandments to any other nation except Israel? He could not because these other nations, which we identified as Gentiles or Barbarians, were not part of the Covenant. That is why Paul said in Acts 17:30, “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now He commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to Him.”
Shepherd Heart: Thank you for clearing that up for us. What are your thoughts on the place of Israel in God’s redemption plan through the Messiah?
King Solomon: That is a very important question. We the inhabitants of heaven are appalled by the insidious campaign against Jews by those who know next to nothing about God’s heart for them. Israel is the starting point of salvation and the culmination of it. As Yeshua declared in John 4:22, “Salvation is of the Jews.” Even one of the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah 49:6 talked about God considering Israel first in the scheme of His redemption plan, before extending the offer of salvation to Gentiles. People who write off the Israeli nation or the Jews in particular are simply operating in another spirit. They do not speak for God.
Shepherd Heart: Thank you Sir for the clarification on Israel’s place in God’s calendar. Most of us enjoy reading the book of Ecclesiastes and the Proverbs attributed to you. What advice can you give to people who desire to build and strengthen their relationship with God?
King Solomon: Your time is your greatest treasure. Learn to spend quality time with God. That is the secret of dwelling in His presence. Yeshua never missed an opportunity to converse with the Father. How many of you humans actually converse with God? He desires to be part of your life, every bit of it. Why do you think He visited Adam and Eve in the cool of the day? Learn to talk with Him as you would your earthly father, and you will become His trusted friend, just like Enoch and Abraham.
Shepherd Heart: You have blessed us with your wisdom dear King Solomon. Thank you very much for giving us heaven’s perspectives on many issues of life.
King Solomon: I enjoyed the chat with you immensely. Thanks once again for allowing me to share my life with you.