King David wanted to build the temple for the LORD, but because he was a man of much bloodshed, and violence, he was not allowed to build a house for the Lord.

This gift was given to Solomon, a child of David’s old age. There is no mention of Solomon being involved in any wars, and when he took the kingdom, he made peace, not through war, but diplomacy. One of his first acts was to marry the daughter of Pharaoh of Egypt to secure peace with that country. He was not a man of war.

In turn, the LORD ask his servants today to dwell in peace, to work with each other through love and “Hebrews 12:14 follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see God:”. As it is possible, live in peace, the word of God teaches.

The he was a young man when the LORD spoke to Solomon to ask Him what he wanted the LORD to do for Him. Solomon asked for wisdom, and an understanding heart. His desire at that time was to be able to rule God’s people well. He wanted to be a good king.

The LORD commended Solomon saying, that he did not ask for riches, or to triumph over his enemies, but for that that would bless others. Wisdom is one of the attributes that the LORD would have men seek after.

The LORD was pleased with his request for wisdom to rule the people well, He granted his request for Wisdom, but he also gave him wisdom and a peaceful rule. To wit, Solomon was wiser than any other man and very rich.

Though the riches to build the House of the LORD was mostly supplied by King David, his father as the other nobles around saw Solomon’s wisdom, they also brought his great gift. His wise choice of things to seek after brought much more than He expected.

In turn, his request for wisdom, and resulting in a peaceful kingdom, made him also one of the greatest writers of all time. Solomon wrote Proverbs, studying even the wisdom of God’s creatures that would be beneficial to man. He wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, which taught us that it is the whole duty of man to serve God. He also mentioned that in turn, that everything was meaningless, compared to the service to God which last forever. Solomon let us know that there is a time to every purpose under heaven. His writings have lasted even unto this day, and have been written in songs.

Speaking of Songs, He wrote the song of songs, as it is called. This writing was called the Song of Solomon. His peaceful wisdom that was requested from God, proved to be wisdom even unto this day.

Solomon’s Kingdom was peaceful and spent on his writings, buildings and commerce. The temple was as famous and King Solomon was for his wisdom.
The queen of Sheba came to visit to test his wisdom with hard questions. She was amazed at the answers she received and the splendor of his kingdom. She gave him much riches, and gifts. This included enormous gifts of gold, for which Africa is known. It is rumored that she had a child with Solomon, named Menelik. He was the father of the Black, or African Jews.

Though Solomon established peace treaties through marriage to foreign wives, this also became his downfall. They were able to turn his heart away for the God that gave him wisdom and fame. No matter what things seem good in this world, nothing should go against the truths of our God. The Jews being the only ones with the true faith of YHVH at that time were not to intermarry with “heathens”, or those who did not believe in their God and His laws. Solomon did not allow his wisdom to surpass his lust which is a downfall for any man.

The wisdom Solomon had for the Kingdom and for mankind, he did not use for himself,. It was Solomon himself that brought idolatry in the land by yielding to the false religions of his wives. This brought sin into the once Godly land of Israel. For abandoning the worship of God, the prominent and powerful family that Solomon, won through his father Kind David would suffer a great blow. For this his dynasty lost ten tribes of Israel to Jeroboam who was once a servant of his.

Yet and still as the ten tribes departed, they also indulged in and idolatrous religion that Jeroboam created.

With the Loss of the ten, remained one tribe, the tribe of Judah, for the family of David. Yet the remnant remained in the land because the Levite Priest remained in the land.

By the end of his life, Solomon would say in Ecclesiastes 12:13 ( American Standard Version)
This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

Yet the world has gained through this great King Solomon, the wisdom that would last through all ages.