Every generation of history has searched for answers that meet the cry of the human spirit. There have been many men and women blessed with the coordination to give an answer to some of these vital questions. A long time ago there lived one such man. His wisdom exceeded all who lived before him and all who have followed him. The reason we know this to be so is that GOD Himself ordained the supremacy of wisdom and understanding to be given to this one man—and him alone, as it is written, “Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.” I Ki.3:12. His name was King Solomon. The wisdom of Confucius could not compare to this man. The wisdom of Buddha or Gandhi were mere vignettes of the Wisdom of Solomon. From Aristotle and Plato to the Caesars and Popes of Rome, their wisdom paled in comparison to this man. From the early forefathers of America to those who live today: none will ever approach the Wisdom of Solomon: Wisdom ordained from on High. Nowhere in history could any of the sages of the ages stand up to the magnitude of the Wisdom given by the GOD of heaven to Solomon. All that is good that has proceeded through history is a reflection of men giving honor to that Wisdom, recorded and made available to you and me, to learn and discern the boundaries, of both peace and danger.

      The Wisdom of Solomon addresses every aspect of GOD’S plan of salvation and how to best live our lives in a sinful world: to be in the world but not of the world (Jn.17:15). Solomon prayed to God and set his heart to find “knowledge,” “understanding,” and “wisdom.” “Knowledge” is factual information. “Understanding” is the combination of knowledge with life's experience. And “wisdom” is the practical and public application of understanding, that, when blessed of GOD, meets the various needs of our lives. Only by this plea to GOD could Solomon properly serve the kingdom entrusted to his care. God answered the cry of his heart with an abundance of each. And coupled with this gift from on High came every comfort that a sinful world can provide to a man. Solomon was lavished with everything both productive and destructive to the human soul. In his life is experienced the summit and the pits of human nature. The sinful side of his life gives us insight into the final result from indulging in the base passions for the insatiable desires of this world. What did Solomon discover at the end of his life’s journey? “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” Eccl.1:14. A sense of insatiable emptiness was all he was left with!

      But although Solomon indulged in sin, degrading the ways of GOD, cowering them to the ways of sinful men, Solomon’s GOD-given Wisdom led to his repentance in later years. In the tone of repentance he wrote: “One sinner destroyeth much good.” Eccl.9:18. He well knew that he had set in motion the seeds of apostasy that would lead to the destruction of Israel, and even to Israel’s rejection of the coming Christ. Solomon understood that his example contributed to evil's reign on the Earth. And to this contribution, he repented. This lay at the heart of his sadness as a wise old man at the end of his life’s journey.

      But among the most profound blessings from His life of indulging his senses in all the power and riches of earth is seen in the knowledge of how it played a vital role to strengthen Jesus Christ to resist temptations to sin. When Satan appeared before Jesus, after fasting for several weeks, while the pangs of hunger and the allure of life’s comforts pressed Him, the devil tempted Him with the promise of the world’s power and riches. What did Jesus have to help bring Him victory? “It is written,” found in the life of Solomon. To paraphrase the Savior’s estimation of Satan’s offer: “You offer to Me everything that was given to GOD’S servant, Solomon, when, at the end of his life, he determined it was of no value to the service of GOD nor of life itself.” Christ then said, “Get thee behind Me, Satan…”

      In the end, what we discover is that the course of Solomon’s life played an important role in the success of Jesus Christ as "the Saviour" of men. This fulfills the great promise of Scripture: “The LORD thy GOD turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy GOD loved thee.” Deut.23:5. In these words GOD speaks that promise to all.