1 Ki 11:4 (NIV) As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. Jesus, take me through the book of Ecclesiastes and help me learn how to resist through truth. Teach me that this is a book in the Bible that lays out what not to do for the most part. Help me learn from the fact that Solomon started out good; but, by the time he wrote Ecclesiastes, he was in horrible shape spiritually. Help me understand that he is telling me what he found out about searching for the truth while leaving God out of the picture.

Eccl 1:1-4 (NIV) The words of the Teacher (Solomon), son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. Jesus, help see that Solomon had more opportunities, resources, and abilities than I will ever have. Show me where Solomon went wrong so his life will help keep me from pursuing truth the wrong way.

1 Ki 11:5-7 (NIV) He (Solomon) followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done. On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. Jesus, it is hard for me to see how a person could have so much wisdom and make this mistake. Use the book of Ecclesiastes to show me how this is even possible.

1 Ki 11:8-10 (NIV) He (Solomon) did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although God had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. Jesus, help me always keep in mind that God’s commands are based on truth. Teach me that the moment Solomon departed from God’s commands, was the moment he departed from truth.

1 Ki 11:11-12 (NIV) So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Jesus, help me see that like with Jacob and Isaac, God is going to do His work in spite of Solomon’s lack of commitment to truth and resistance to evil.

Jesus, why wouldn’t God tear the kingdom away from Solomon? Why would He wait until Solomon was dead and gone? Help me see that Solomon cared more about what happened to his accomplishments after he died than he cared about anything else. The thought of all his work being torn apart was an incredible punishment to Solomon. Plus, help me realize that God tries to give people time to repent. As Solomon worried about what was going to happen to his achievements, it could have helped him repent and turn back to God.

1 Ki 11:1-2 (NIV) King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter--Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. Jesus, help me always obey God’s truth no matter what my body, the world, or the devil offer me.

1 Ki 9:3-5 (NIV) The LORD said to him: “I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

Jesus, give me the assurance that God will always see to it that I have enough TRUTH so I will be able to RESIST the temptations that come my way. Help me listen to His truths and then pray and ASK Him to empower me to live them so I will always be heading in the right direction. As I am going about my day, help me be ready to pray another prayer. Teach me that the first prayer was a general prayer asking for God to help me in an overall way. Teach me that this next prayer will be a specific prayer where I am asking Him to help me with a certain issue or decision during my day.

1 Ki 8:54 (NIV) When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. Jesus, help me understand that reading my Bible, going to church, listening to good Christian music, reading good Christian books, praying everyday, and doing good daily devotions are vital to me. But, help me see that if I start out well but gradually start neglecting them, my life will go on a downward trend.

1 Ki 4:29-34 (NIV) God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man, including Ethan the Ezrahite--wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.

He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He described plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom. Jesus, teach me that with some people like Solomon, God puts the gift inside them and allows them to possess it. Help me understand that with us today, it remains in You and we allow You and Your resources to flow through us.

Jesus, show me that I was born with a lot of potential. Help me see that I can either use it for the glory of God; or, I can use it for my own glory. Help me see that Solomon gradually took the wisdom gift God gave him and started using it for his own goals, plans, purposes, and projects. Once he did that, make it clear to me that he started moving in the direction of the condition he was in as described in the book of Ecclesiastes. His God-given wisdom turned against him and put him in the emotional condition I will find him in there.