The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; to give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion … (Proverbs 1:1-4)

The saying “All truth is God’s truth” is true. The Book of Proverbs demonstrates this well. Most of it was written by an unlikely source. Solomon was given extraordinary wisdom, and while his early life was marked by fidelity to God, his later life was not. When he became king over Israel, God invited him to ask for anything, a blank check (2 Chron. 1:7). Solomon sincerely responded by asking for wisdom and knowledge so that he could rule God’s people well (2 Chron. 1:10). The Lord was impressed and said:

“Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor … but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.” (2 Chron. 1:10–12)

As a result, Solomon did become wealthy, but more importantly gained a reputation of being the wisest individual of his day, with three thousand proverbs attributed to him, many of which we find recorded in the biblical book of Proverbs (see 1 Kings 4:29-34). He was also responsible for Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon and two of the Psalms (72, 127).

So it is ironic that this man who began his life with godliness and wisdom, and who wrote significant portions of the Scripture, did not follow his own wise advice. He wrote the book of Proverbs to impart wisdom to young people (Prov. 1:1-4) and taught the key truth that “[t]he fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). Yet we read how his life turned out:

King Solomon loved many foreign women … from the nations concerning which the Lord had said … “You shall not associate with them …  for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.” Solomon held fast to these in love. He had seven hundred wives … and three hundred concubines … when [he] was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods … [he] did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. (2 Kings 11:1-6)

God’s truth still stands, regardless of how it comes to us. Solomon taught the wisdom God gave him, but he taught us, by his own failure, what happens to someone who does not live wisely.

Father, help me to know wisdom and also to live wisely in the fear of the Lord.