prophets and kings-第13章
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dened his heart in transgression； that his case seemed well…nigh hopeless。
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From the joy of divine communion； Solomon turned to find satisfaction in the pleasures of sense。 Of this experience he says：
〃I made me great works； I builded me houses； I planted me vineyards： I made me gardens and orchards： 。 。 。 I got me servants and maidens： 。 。 。 I gathered me also silver and gold； and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces： I gat me men singers and women singers； and the delights of the sons of men； as musical instruments； and that of all sorts。 So I was great； and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem。 。 。 。
〃And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them； I withheld not my heart from any joy； for my heart rejoiced in all my labor。 。 。 。 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought； and on the labor that I had labored to do： and； behold； all was vanity and vexation of spirit； and there was no profit under the sun。
〃And I turned myself to behold wisdom； and madness； and folly： for what can the man do that cometh after the king？ even that which hath been already done。 。 。 。 I hated life。 。 。 。 Yea； I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun。〃 Ecclesiastes 2：4…18。
By his own bitter experience； Solomon learned the emptiness of a life that seeks in earthly things its highest good。 He erected altars to heathen gods； only to learn how vain is their promise of rest to the spirit。 Gloomy and soul…harassing thoughts troubled him night and day。 For him there was no longer any joy of life or peace of mind； and the future was dark with despair。
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Yet the Lord forsook him not。 By messages of reproof and by severe judgments； He sought to arouse the king to a realization of the sinfulness of his course。 He removed His protecting care and permitted adversaries to harass and weaken the kingdom。 〃The Lord stirred up an adversary unto Solomon； Hadad the Edomite。 。 。 。 And God stirred him up another adversary； Rezon； 。 。 。 captain over a band；〃 who 〃abhorred Israel； and reigned over Syria。 And Jeroboam； 。 。 。 Solomon's servant；〃 〃a mighty man of valor；〃 〃even he lifted up his hand against the king。〃 I Kings 11：14…28。
At last the Lord； through a prophet； delivered to Solomon the startling message： 〃Forasmuch as this is done of thee； and thou hast not kept My covenant and My statutes； which I have commanded thee； I will surely rend the kingdom from thee； and will give it to thy servant。 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake： but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son。〃 Verses 11； 12。
Awakened as from a dream by this sentence of judgment pronounced against him and his house； Solomon with quickened conscience began to see his folly in its true light。 Chastened in spirit； with mind and body enfeebled； he turned wearied and thirsting from earth's broken cisterns； to drink once more at the fountain of life。 For him at last the discipline of suffering had accomplished its work。 Long had he been harassed by the fear of utter ruin because of inability to turn from folly； but now he discerned in the message given him a ray of hope。 God had not utterly cut him off； but stood ready to deliver him from a bondage more cruel
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than the grave； and from which he had had no power to free himself。
In gratitude Solomon acknowledged the power and the loving…kindness of the One who is 〃higher than the highest〃 （Ecclesiastes 5：8）； in penitence he began to retrace his steps toward the exalted plane of purity and holiness from whence he had fallen so far。 He could never hope to escape the blasting results of sin； he could never free his mind from all remembrance of the self…indulgent course he had been pursuing； but he would endeavor earnestly to dissuade others from following after folly。 He would humbly confess the error of his ways and lift his voice in warning lest others be lost irretrievably because of the influences for evil he had been setting in operation。
The true penitent does not put his past sins from his remembrance。 He does not； as soon as he has obtained peace； grow unconcerned in regard to the mistakes he has made。 He thinks of those who have been led into evil by his course； and tries in every possible way to lead them back into the true path。 The clearer the light that he has entered into； the stronger is his desire to set the feet of others in the right way。 He does not gloss over his wayward course； making his wrong a light thing； but lifts the danger signal； that others may take warning。
Solomon acknowledged that 〃the heart of the sons of men is full of evil； and madness is in their heart。〃 Ecclesiastes 9：3。 And again he declared； 〃Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily； therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil。 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times； and his days be prolonged；
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yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God； which fear before Him： but it shall not be well with the wicked； neither shall he prolong his days； which are as a shadow； because he feareth not before God。〃 Ecclesiastes 8：11…13。
By the spirit of inspiration the king recorded for after generations the history of his wasted years with their lessons of warning。 And thus； although the seed of his sowing was reaped by his people in harvests of evil； his life…work was not wholly lost。 With meekness and lowliness Solomon in his later years 〃taught the people knowledge； yea； he gave good heed； and sought out； and set in order
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many proverbs。〃 He 〃sought to find out acceptable words： and that which was written was upright； even words of truth。〃 〃The words of the wise are as goads； and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies； which are given from one shepherd。 And further； by these； my son； be admonished。〃 Ecclesiastes 12：9…12。
〃Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter；〃 he wrote： 〃Fear God； and keep His commandments： for this is the whole duty of man。 For God shall bring every work into judgment； with every secret thing； whether it be good； or whether it be evil。〃 Verses 13； 14。
Solomon's later writings reveal that as he realized more and still more the wickedness of his course； he gave special attention to warning the youth against falling into the errors that had led him to squander for nought Heaven's choicest gifts。 With sorrow and shame he confessed that in the prime of manhood； when he should have found God his comfort； his support； his life； he turned from the light of Heaven and the wisdom of God； and put idolatry in the place of the worship of Jehovah。 And now； having learned through sad experience the folly of such a life； his yearning desire was to save others from entering into the bitter experience through which he had passed。
With touching pathos he wrote concerning the privileges and responsibilities before the youth in God's service：
〃Truly the light is sweet； and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun： but if a man live many years； and rejoice in them all； yet let him remember the days of darkness； for they shall be many。 All that cometh is vanity。 Rejoice； O young man； in thy youth； and let thy heart。
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cheer thee in the days of thy youth； and walk in the ways of thine heart； and in the sight of thine eyes： but know thou； that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment。 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart； and put away evil from thy flesh： for childhood and youth are vanity。〃 Ecclesiastes 11：7…10。
〃Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth； While the evil days come not； Nor the years draw nigh； When thou shalt say； I have no pleasure in them；
〃While the sun； Or the light； Or the moon； Or the stars； Be not darkened； Nor the clouds return after the rain：
〃In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble； And the strong men shall bow themselves；
