what period of his reign, and under what oircumetanoes, did he sink to such depths of degradation ? Observe- 1. It was not after sudden or special temptation (see Homiletics, p. 216). We may truly say of him," There bath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man." No Delilah, no Bathsheba wrought his ruin. It is instructive to compare eh. iv. 20-24 with the account of our Lord's temptation (Matt. iv. 3-11). Solomon was not tempted by hunger; his "provision for one day was," &c. The enemy could not offer him " the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them:" he had them already (oh. iv. 21, 24; oh. x. passim); he could only use the common weapon of presumption, of spiritual pride, and it was by this that Solomon was slain. 2. It was not after great trials or adversity. His career, how unlike David's! "Rest on every side." "Neither adversary nor evil occurrence" (eh. v. 4). "Eating, drinking, and making merry" (eh. iv. 20). Compare 1 Sam. chs. xviii.-xxx. And yet David stood and Solomon fell. What we call adversity (compare Ja.cob's " all these things are against me,'' Gen. xlii. 86) is often spiritual prosperity. "Tribu- lation" is a significant word. The tribulum was the threshing-sledge which separ- ated the chaff from the grain. It is said by some that war is necessary for nations to preserve them from corruption and decay ; it is certain that peace is not always good for princes. The man of peace and rest, who was "not plagued like other men," has furnished the world with the most terrible example of apostasy. Well may the apostle bid us to "rejoice in tribulation also," to " count it all joy when," &c. (James i. 2). 8. It was " when he was old." St. Paul speaks of" youthful lusts," but old age has its special dangers and temptations. It was in the time of mature experience, when the hot blood of youth should have cooled, when he should have known the world and his wisdom should have been ripest, that his wives turned away his heart. Perhaps he presumed upon his exalted gifts and revelations. With age came eelf- confidence. It is thus that many strong cities have been taken. "Praeruptum eoque neglectum " discloses the secret of their fall. 4. It was when his riches had increased. The greater his store, the leaner his soul. "It is easier for a camel," &e. (Matt. xix. 24). "The deceitfulness of riches'' choked the word (Matt. xiii. 22). The Latin proverb which says that " every rich man is either a knave or the son of a knave" has some truth in it. Happy are those who have "neither poverty nor riches" (Prov. xxx. 8); happiest those who can say, " My riches consist, not in the abundance of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants." 6. It was when his prosperity was at its highest. It was when he " waxed fat" that" Jeshurun kicked." It is when men" have eaten and are full" that they most need to " beware that they forget not the Lord their God" (Deut. viii. 10, 11). Observe, it was not until he bad reached the very pinnacle of greatness and felicity that Solomon fell. "His prosperity, which even wise men find a constant wear and trial to the spirit, did him more harm than even his wisdom did him good'' (A.u- gustine). How appropria.te tha.t prayer, " In all time of our wealth, . . . good Lord, deliver us." "The food convenient which A.gur pra,yed for is safer than the food abundant which even Solomon was surfeited with" (M. Henry). 6. It was after his wives were multiplied. Polygamy has ever been a snare to rulers. It is said that Scripture nowhere condemns it. If the letter does not, the spirit does. Scripture tells of the misery it has occasioned. Witness the families of A.bra.ham, Jacob, Elkanah, and David. It was the immediate cause of Solomon's ruin. There a.re few partnerships which are so lightly entered into as the one which lasts for all life. A.nd yet how completely is a man's hononr, prosperity, and peace in his wife's keeping. " How many he.ve we known whose heads have been broken by their own rib'' (Bp. Hall). It is a quaint but true sa.ying, " If a man would thrive, ne must ask his wife." How strange that he who knew the priceless value of one true woman's love (Prov. xxxi.10-31) should surrender himself to immodest and forbidden attachments. Can there be a reference to his thousand wives and concubines iJl those pessimist words of Eooles. vii. 26-28? " If one woman \llldid 1 KINGS, Q 228 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [ OH. XI. 1-18,
all mankind, what marvel is it if many women undid one l'" (Hall.) "Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body wast thou brought into subjection'' (Ecclus. :tlvii. 19). 7. It wa,s after repeated warnings. He had had (1) the standing warning of Scripture (Deut. x:vii. 16 sqq.), (2) the special warnings of his father David (1 Kings ii. 3, 4, and especially 1 Chron. xxviii. 9), (3) the supernatural warnings of God. '1 Kings iii. 14; vi. 12, 13 ; ix. 6, 7). And to these may surely be added (4) the .t"epeated and emphatic warnings which he had himself addressed to others. But all these went for nothing. And so it is too probable his own words (Prov. xxix. 1) found a fulfilment in his own person. The saddest consideration of n.11 is that this great preacher has unconsciously predicted his own fall, and passed sentence on himself. "Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee," .to. (Luke xix. 22).