ARE YOU READY?
King Solomon, the third and last king to reigned over the 12 united tribes of Israel, reigned from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. He is inspired the author of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.
The Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 1:6-12 and 1 Kings 3:4-15 about how King Solomon dreamed that God offered him a gift and he asked for "a discerning heart to govern God's people and to distinguish between right and wrong."
God was pleased with his request and said, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
King Solomon's fame spread far and wide. I Kings 10 1-9 tells us that, "When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions."
"Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan — with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones — she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her."
"When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed. She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."
In contrast to Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes reveals the depression and frustration that inevitably result from seeking happiness in worldly things. Through King Solomon's experience Christians can see that though we may be very wise, we might still allow ourselves to be distracted by temporary, human things. Solomon explored most every form of worldly pleasure found all of it to be "meaningless".
In Ecclesiastes 3:1-17, King Solomon lists experiences we are likely to have in our lifetime. He says:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil — this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.
And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment — wickedness was there,
in the place of justice — wickedness was there.
I thought in my heart,
"God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed."
Our question for you is, looking at King Solomon's list in chapter 3, ARE YOU READY for each experience that you will have in your life?
After all that King Solomon reviewed his experiences, he finishes with the following conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole [duty] of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil."
In the following pages, we will focus on key areas where we need to be ready. Are YOU ready?