After David, his son Solomon became king. He also ruled for 40 years in peace. It was Solomon who built the temple for God’s worship in Jerusalem. Solomon ruled with great glory and wealth. He wrote books of wisdom which are in the Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. He wrote songs of praise to the Lord and lived for many years in the way of wisdom and righteousness. His history is told in the Bible in the book called 1
Kings. In this book we read of Solomon’s first message from God:
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart.… So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 1 Kings 3.5-10
Solomon was given great wisdom and understanding. He led the nation of Israel to the richest and most peaceful time it has ever had. However, he married hundreds of women and made agreements with other nations through his marriages. Many of these women came from lands that worshiped false gods. Solomon’s heart was turned away from the true path:
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.… As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.… The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD.… So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” 1 Kings 11.1-13
The people of Israel were later divided because of Solomon, and they turned away from God. The kingdom was cut in two. But do you see how God was saying that he will protect the line of David? God had chosen the people of Israel, and he had a plan for their future. In this difficult time God still keeps his promise to David to bring an eternal king to the world.