Biblical Figures – King Solomon
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III addresses God’s will in the life of King Solomon: a man chosen by the Lord who was granted great wisdom and glory, yet Solomon’s life shows that a blessed beginning does not guarantee an unchanged end, because the human heart is weak before passions that can turn grace into a fall.
A beginning in blessing then decline:
Solomon inherited the throne easily and found everything prepared for him — authority, gold, temple materials, and wisdom from God. But at first he surrendered to luxury and desires and began to drift toward what is forbidden.
God’s gift and divine wisdom:
God praised him and gave him wisdom surpassing human wisdom, and nations came to hear his judgment; however, this wisdom alone was not enough because it needs an attentive heart that preserves the divine gift.
Women and desire as cause of the fall:
What mainly led to the turning point was love for foreign women and many wives; his heart turned after foreign gods and he built high places — the major deviation: not the women alone but the lust for them that ruled his heart.
Divine discipline and continued mercy:
God rebuked and disciplined Solomon by earthly means (later division of the kingdom, upheavals), yet He did not withdraw His mercy; the chastening was to teach vigilance, not to cancel the gift entirely.
Spiritual and practical lessons:
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Grace and divine gifts require inner guarding — external talent alone is insufficient.
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Many blessings can become tests and dangers if not used for God’s glory.
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Submission to God and holy fear are necessary alongside love so the gift does not lead to loss.
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Even the chosen may sin — what matters is confession and prevention.
Spiritual conclusion:
Solomon’s life teaches us to watch our hearts, preserve and use the gift for the Lord, and understand that divine love is accompanied by wise discipline aimed at the soul’s salvation and protection from deception.
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