Solomon’s Last Discourse

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Short Summary
The discourse reflects on Solomon’s life, highlighting his initial wisdom and devotion to God, contrasted with his later cynicism and turning away from God due to worldly influences. It emphasizes the importance of seeking true spiritual wisdom—marked by humility, mercy, and love—rooted in a relationship with God and guided by the Holy Spirit, rather than mere knowledge or self-centered pursuits. The message encourages believers to maintain and renew their faith throughout life, serving others and embracing God’s plan to attain lasting fulfillment and wisdom.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on Solomon’s Life, Wisdom, and Lessons for Believers

Context and Father’s Day Reflection:
– The discourse begins with a reflection on Father’s Day, linking the role of fathers to the example of King David advising his son Solomon.
– David’s parting counsel to Solomon emphasized strength, manliness, and faithful obedience to God’s commandments for prosperity (1 Kings 2:1-3).
– This advice reflects the heart of a believing father wanting his children to succeed spiritually and materially by following God.

Solomon’s Early Reign and Gift of Wisdom:
– Solomon initially heeded David’s advice and loved the Lord (1 Kings 3:3).
– God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered to grant him anything he desired.
– Solomon requested “an understanding heart to judge thy people” rather than riches or long life (1 Kings 3:9).
– Pleased by this request, God granted Solomon unparalleled wisdom, along with riches and honor (1 Kings 3:10-13).
– Solomon’s initial purity and sincere heart pleased God.

Solomon’s Later Life and Ecclesiastes Reflections:
– Despite his promising start, Solomon’s later writings in Ecclesiastes reveal a deeply cynical and pessimistic outlook.
– He describes life as “vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2), meaning emptiness, futility, and meaningless effort.
– Solomon reflects on his quest for wisdom and pleasure, concluding both lead to sorrow and grief (Ecclesiastes 1:18).
– He admits to exploring madness, folly, laughter, wine, wealth, and pleasures—all ultimately unsatisfying because they were selfishly motivated (Ecclesiastes 2).
– The phrase “vanity and vexation of spirit” is translated as “striving after wind,” symbolizing futile efforts.

What Went Wrong with Solomon?
– Solomon’s heart was turned away from God in his old age because of his many foreign wives who led him to idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-4, 14).
– His heart was “not perfect with the Lord” as David’s was (1 Kings 11:4).
– This gradual spiritual decline illustrates how time and worldly influences can wear down faith.
– The discourse warns believers to maintain spiritual fervor throughout life, not just in youth.

Maintaining Spiritual Freshness and Service:
– To keep faith alive, believers should find active spiritual outlets: study, service, encouraging others, and sharing the truth.
– Romans 8:11 is cited to show the quickening power of the Holy Spirit sustaining physical and spiritual vitality.
– Older believers, despite physical limitations, have valuable roles in encouraging brethren, financial support, and fellowship.
– The importance of heart intent and ongoing consecration is emphasized.
– Brother Russell’s counsel to daily renew resolve is referenced as a practical tool.

True Wisdom vs. Solomon’s Wisdom:
– Solomon’s wisdom was largely intellectual and practical (e.g., settling disputes like the two women claiming a baby).
– True spiritual wisdom, however, involves the Holy Spirit’s influence, experience, and application of God’s righteous principles.
– Colossians 2:3 states all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus.
– James 3:13-18 contrasts worldly wisdom (jealousy, rivalry) with wisdom from above (pure, peaceable, gentle, merciful, impartial, sincere).
– Genuine wisdom results in humility and peacemaking, characterized by kindness and mercy.
– James 2:13 emphasizes mercy triumphs over judgment, highlighting love as core to wisdom.

The Role of the Permission of Evil and Human Experience:
– Solomon’s acknowledgment of “travail” or burdens given by God reflects the divine permission of evil.
– This “exercise” through trials like jealousy and pride is necessary for developing godly wisdom.
– The apostle Paul encourages letting Christ’s word dwell richly in us for wisdom and admonition (Colossians 3:16).
– God’s plan uses human folly and sin to teach trust and reliance on His just principles.

Consecration and Its Importance:
– Consecration is vital; it led Christ to provide ransom and sin offering.
– Preparing the “bride” (the Church) for Christ involves a life devoted to God’s service.
– Solomon’s advice in Ecclesiastes 9:10 urges doing whatever work is at hand with all might, as there’s no work or wisdom in the grave.
– Consecration gives purpose and meaning to life and learning.

Solomon’s Final Conclusion and Earlier Wisdom:
– Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 summarizes Solomon’s ultimate advice: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
– God will judge every secret work, whether good or evil.
– Earlier Proverbs 3:3-18 extols mercy, truth, trust in the Lord, humility, and the priceless value of wisdom.
– Wisdom is more precious than rubies and brings life, honor, and peace.

Hope for Solomon and All Believers:
– Despite Solomon’s failures, there is hope that in the kingdom he will gain true spiritual wisdom and praise God.
– The divine plan assures learning from mistakes and that knowledge gains meaning through purpose.
– Believers are encouraged to cultivate spiritual wisdom daily and honor God through their lives.
– The discourse closes with a hopeful vision that all Christians will grow in wisdom and faith, glorifying the Heavenly Father and the Lord.

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Bible Verses Cited or Referenced:

– 1 Kings 2:1-3: David’s charge to Solomon.
– 1 Kings 3:3-14: Solomon’s request for wisdom.
– Ecclesiastes 1:2, 9, 16-18; 2:1-11; 3:10; 9:10; 12:13-14: Solomon’s reflections on vanity, wisdom, and life’s meaning.
– 1 Kings 11:1-4, 14: Solomon’s turning to idolatry.
– Romans 8:11: Spirit quickening mortal bodies.
– James 2:13; 3:13-18: Contrast of worldly and godly wisdom.
– Colossians 2:3; 3:16: Treasures of wisdom in Christ and letting His word dwell richly.
– Proverbs 3:3-18: Wisdom, mercy, trust, and honoring the Lord.

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Key Themes and Lessons:

– The importance of spiritual wisdom rooted in humility, mercy, and love, not just intellectual knowledge.
– The danger of allowing worldly influences and selfish pursuits to turn one’s heart from God.
– The need for lifelong faithfulness and renewal of spiritual zeal.
– Consecration as the foundation for meaningful service and the divine plan.
– Hope for repentance, learning, and ultimate restoration in God’s kingdom.
– The practical application of wisdom in daily life through God’s guidance and the Holy Spirit.

Transcript

Good afternoon, brethren. You know, after I wrote this discourse, I was reminded that today is Father’s Day. I hadn’t focused on that whatsoever in this study, but there certainly is a related lesson about the role of fathers in the story of Solomon. You remember that as David neared the end of his life, he gave Solomon some very precious advice. This is part of what he said.

This is from First Kings 2. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth. Be thou strong, therefore, and show thyself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes and his commandments and his judgments and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses that thou mayst prosper in all that thou doest, and, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.

I think every believing father would want that for his children. That same advice. We know that David was a man after God’s own heart. He wanted to pass that on to his children as well, and I would have loved to be in that room when David said this to Solomon, to feel the passion with which David said those words.

A similar sentiment, as I said, should be conveyed by every believing father to his children, knowing that when they do follow that course, they will be richly blessed. But, you know, after our children are grown, it’s up to them, just as it was with Solomon, and I found his story both fascinating and sad. He reigned during one of the most prosperous periods in Israel’s history, and he was privileged to complete his father’s dream of building the glorious temple for the worship of God. He possessed great wealth, and really, in many ways, he had the world at his fingertips.

He could have anything a man could want. In First Kings 3, we read that he initially took David’s advice to heart. It says, and Solomon loved the Lord. Walking in the statutes of David his father, the Lord appeared to Solomon a dream by night, and God said, ask what I shall give thee.

And Solomon said, thou has showed unto thy servant David, my father, great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee, and thou has kept for him this great kindness that thou hast given him, a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.

Then God said unto him, because thou hast asked this thing and has not asked for thyself long life, neither has asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but has asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment. Behold, I have done according to thy words. I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee, and I have also given thee that which thou has not asked, both riches and honor.

So there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. I love Solomon’s purity, the sincerity of heart that he expressed, an attitude that clearly was pleasing to God. He didn’t ask for riches or prosperity. He asked for an understanding heart and the ability to make wise judgments. He could not have started his kingship any better than he did.

Yet when we read his words near the end of his life, you have to wonder, what went wrong. Well, to see what went wrong, we’re going to look at some of the things he wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes, which appear to be his final reflections on life. His reflections are generally pessimistic and disappointing. He writes about some of the things he did wrong, recognizes that there was an emptiness in almost everything that he pursued. He speaks of futility and failure and has become cynical in life.

You can read the cynicism in his attitude. He had seen and done so much in search of happiness and fulfillment, and the sad thing about Solomon’s life is that the answer was right there before him. The word Ecclesiastes, you know, means the preacher. It also means one who gathers people to a lecture.

And so in Ecclesiastes we do have Solomon’s last discourse. Now, here he wanted to convey one last piece of advice for future generations. In essence, he says this. Do not repeat the mistakes I made. My life was full of vanity and emptiness.

And in my quest for wisdom, I became a foolish man. Live for the Lord and do not be distracted by foolish temptations, because in the end, they are only empty promises that cannot make you truly happy. Well, brethren, for me, one of the great comforts of knowing God’s plan is knowing that even though men like Solomon made many mistakes and had many regrets as they look back on life, the opportunities for sound wisdom still lie ahead for them in the kingdom. There is little doubt that Solomon and all the others will make wise choices and never be tempted to stray again from God because they will have learned the consequences for doing that, and they will come to realize that knowledge alone isn’t enough.

There must be a beneficial purpose in the things that we learn. But for now, let’s listen to a few of Solomon’s thoughts presented in his last discourse. In chapter one, he writes, vanity of vanities, said the preacher, vanities of vanities, all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun? Well, that word vanities is interesting.

It means emptiness. It means unsatisfying, something transitory and meaningless. So you see Solomon’s cynical attitude here. He sees no value in anything in this life, and then skipping to verse nine and further, it says, all things continue the way they have been since the beginning.

The same things will be done that have always been done. There is nothing new in this life. Someone might say, look, this is new. But that thing has always been. It was here before we were.

I, the preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I gave my heart to seek and to search out thy wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven. This sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I communed with mine own heart, saying, lo, I am come to great estate and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem. Yea, my heart had great experience in wisdom and knowledge, and I gave my heart to no wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceive that this also is vexation of spirit.

For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

When I read that last part where he says, for much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge increases sorrow, my first thought was, no, Wisdom and knowledge are not related to grief and sorrow. He’s just being very cynical again. But when we know about the divine plan, the answer is yes, There is grief and sorrow in the process of attaining true wisdom. I’m not sure Solomon understood that, but maybe he finally saw that principle. Now, when I read that passage, I skipped verse 14.

But the last phrase of that verse said, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. The new American standard translates vexation of spirit as striving after wind. You can imagine that trying to catch the wind is an exercise in futility. That’s how Solomon eventually came to see everything in life. It’s like trying to catch the wind.

Now notice what Solomon says in his search for meaning. In verses 16 and 17, he said, I communed with my own heart. I gave my own heart to know wisdom, madness, and folly notice. Never does he say he communed with God, that he meditated on things, trying to understand them from a divine perspective. In First Kings, chapter 11, we see what turned Solomon away from God.

We’re told that he loved many heathen women, Egyptians, Moabites, Amorites and others, and God warned him. God said, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods, and they did. In verse 14, it says it came to pass when Solomon was old that his wives turned away his heart after other gods.

And his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. Now, perhaps Solomon thought that he could have it both ways, that he could have these beautiful wives from foreign lands and still appreciate Jehovah, that he could have a sense of respect for this worship of idols and still have Jehovah in his heart, and I was little surprised that it was in his old age that his heart was turned towards these other gods, and there’s a lesson in that, a powerful lesson in that for all of us brethren, the adversary often uses time to wear us down. Solomon was worn down gradually over time.

Now, just an observation, and this isn’t meant to be judgmental, but have you ever noticed how some brethren are just on fire for the Lord in their early years, but as time passes, they just stop seeming to serve gradually? We can’t judge those brethren, but we can learn a lesson and we can observe the fire that some once possessed seems to diminish quietly over time. So it’s important that we start out good and faithful, but it’s even more important that we end that way. Time and challenging experiences are going to test the mettle of our convictions. We should expect that, and we should have a plan in mind to deal with that.

As our flame tries to diminish, so we don’t let it go out. In fact, it should be just the opposite. Our commitment to the Lord should become stronger as we grow older. Now, that doesn’t mean that our bodies will have the same energy that they had when we were young. But one lesson from Solomon is that our faith and conviction should be renewed regularly.

That’s the lesson, I believe, that Brother Russell wrote in the morning. Resolve, my earliest thought I desire shall be. That was to be said daily. Now, water that doesn’t move but is restricted can become stagnant and accumulate bacteria. But a fresh, living faith is just the opposite.

So how do we do that? How do we keep our lives spiritually fresh and alive? I think that one way is to find a profitable outlet. Our Spiritual energy, to be involved in some service for the Lord, to be active in the studies, to seek practical application in the things we learn, to talk to others about the truth and what motivates and moves them. Romans 8:11 says this.

If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. There’s a fresh flowing water of consecration pictured there, that quickening of the Holy Spirit, and there’s a phrase in Psalm 312a that asks the Lord to give us work that keeps faith sweet and strong. Serving and sacrificing for the Lord and the brethren affects our faith because they provide us with a sense that we’re contributing to something great. We’re contributing to the work of God and His cause.

It gives our lives value and makes us more aware that we are called to help in the regeneration of mankind. So brethren, when your feet or hands are tired because of some sacrifice you’ve given, remember that you’re working for the kingdom. You’re working for something that will soon bless all the families of the earth. You’re working for the noblest cause that has ever existed, and your tired feet are honoring the Lord who is so worthy of your efforts. But again, as we age, the strength and vigor we once had isn’t there anymore.

So how can we deal with that when even our physical opportunities to serve are rare? And I think that rather than being discouraged by that, that we can’t do what we once did, we should recognize that even this transition presents an opportunity to explore other services. Keeping in touch with the brethren, talking with them, encouraging them, may do more for a fellow saint than any physical activities that we can do. Financial support for the brethren who may be struggling tells them that there’s someone who cares for them. The Lord often answers prayers through the hand of older brothers or sisters, so we should be looking for those opportunities.

Attending service meetings where we sit together with brethren can be profitable. A less formal setting to get to know each other. Sending out a truth message is good, but encouraging a saint may be the most important thing that we can do in our lives. It all points to heart intent. That’s what the Lord’s looking for.

If we love the Lord and the cause he stands for, we should find a way to help build the body of Christ. Our younger brethren should understand the value of an older brother or sister and try to learn from their experiences. I think it’s a blessing to watch younger Brethren tap into that resource and sit quietly with some of the older ones. There’s no question that our roles change as we age, and that’s okay.

That’s intentional. It shouldn’t discourage us. But helping to prepare the bride, even in small ways, is too good not to try. In Hebrews chapter 12, the apostle Paul encouraged the brethren to keep the fire burning, and one powerful mechanism for all of us is memory.

He writes, look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross. Brethren, you and I have the same joy just before us. That hope that lays before us should inspire us to persevere and recognize the value of our current life’s experiences. There is a wealth of understanding in the aging process that the Lord values. Believing that helps us see every experience in a new and purposeful light.

Well, let’s get back to Solomon’s discourse in Ecclesiastes. We read in chapter one that he said, in wisdom there is grief. Knowledge increases sorrow. Although we see that this statement is true when viewed through the permission of evil, I think Solomon was commenting on his own experience in the context of his own life. His pursuit for wisdom failed.

And besides the worldly influence he allowed in his life, the reason is what I said earlier, that wisdom without a purpose is meaningless. Knowledge without a deeper understanding of God’s real intent simply informs us of what a sorry condition we’re in. That knowledge alone does bring sorrow and grief, and I think that’s as far as Solomon ever got, and when I think of mankind someday living for eternity, they will have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge, and it sometimes crosses my mind that perhaps some people will become tired of learning just as Solomon did, or even get bored with life.

Now remember, we’re talking about eternity here for mankind. But again, the answer for an eternity of learning is an eternity of purpose, and God will provide that purpose for the Church, the great company for the world. There will be a purpose designed in God’s plan for continued growth. But again, the answer for an eternity of purpose.

Eternity of learning is an eternity of purpose. There will be a reason for learning. They will ask, what can we use this knowledge for? How can we help others with what we’ve learned? How can we use what we know to praise God?

I think these will be some of the questions that will give real meaning to man’s quest for knowledge. It’s knowledge without application that breeds boredom. But knowledge with a practical purpose brings fulfillment, and fulfillment brings a certain satisfaction of heart. That’s what Solomon was lacking and that he never had a higher goal for his knowledge. He said that his search for knowledge led him to try every conceivable avenue of life.

And in chapter two, he gives us a long list of some of the things that he sought after. When he sought pleasure and enjoyment, he realized it was futile. He spoke of laughter, concluded it was madness. He even explored what wine could do to his body, and he found that it was folly. He built houses for himself and planted vineyards.

He made gardens and parks. He bought slaves for himself and large flocks and herds, and in verse eight, he said, I gathered for myself silver and gold, and he finally said, all that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor.

And this was my reward for all my labor. Now, did you notice the common theme in all of this? He did all these things for himself. It was all selfishly motivated. In verse 10, Solomon said that at first he felt rewarded by all his great works.

His heart rejoiced. But he came to the inevitable conclusion that these things are, in the end, totally unsatisfying, and he summarizes it in verses 17 and 18. So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me because everything is futility and striving after wind.

Can you imagine Jesus ever saying anything like that? The principle that Solomon was missing is that fulfillment will never come to those who seek only for themselves. Doing good for others and working with others is part of God’s law of love.

When we read about Solomon being given the gift of wisdom, I think we have to understand what that meant. I don’t believe Solomon ever really had it or sought true spiritual wisdom. His wisdom lay in his ability to make decisions, to settle disputes. His wisdom was knowledge and cleverness and cunning, the accumulation of knowledge. Remember how he handled the dispute between the two women who claimed to have the same baby?

That that baby belonged to her? Solomon’s amazing answer was to order that the baby divided in half so that each woman could have her share. He knew that the real mother would never let that happen.

Now that’s intelligent. That’s understanding how a loving mother would feel in her heart. It shows a level of human understanding that really, really was outstanding. But, brethren, the type of wisdom that you and I should be seeking cannot be gifted to us. It comes as a result of the Holy Spirit affecting our lives.

It comes through experience and the constant application of spiritual principles of making Decisions based on principles that God has given us of righteousness and truth and mercy and love. We often say that experience is the best teacher. But experience alone is only half the formula. The other half, of course, is the Holy Spirit’s effect on us. Having experience and the Holy Spirit results in true heart understanding and having that results in good spiritual decision making in our lives.

In Colossians 2, 3, the apostle Paul said in Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Jesus not only set the example of how to attain wisdom, but for you and me he also provided the robe of righteousness which has now allowed the release of God’s Spirit into our lives. So if anyone searches for wisdom without Jesus being a part of that search, they too will be trying to catch the wind.

In James the third chapter, this matter of spiritual wisdom is expanded upon. Now, as we read this passage together, I want you to compare it, what it says to the type of wisdom that Solomon possessed. In fact, let’s imagine that Solomon’s sitting here with us. He’s asking us where we thought he had gone wrong. So think about how you would answer him.

This is James 3, 1318 from the Phillips translation. Is there some wise and understanding man among you? Then let his life be a shining example of the humility that is born of true wisdom. But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and rivalry, then do not boast and do not deny the truth. You may acquire a certain wisdom, but it does not come from above.

It comes from this world, from your own lower nature, even from the devil. For wherever you find jealousy and rivalry, you also find disharmony and all the other kinds of evil. The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peace, loving, gentle, approachable, full of merciful thoughts and kindly actions, straightforward, with no hint of hypocrisy, and the peacemakers go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness. Now, after reading that, we turn to Solomon is asked, is that the kind of wisdom that you sought in your life?

Was this the perspective through which you were looking for answers? Was your life a shining example of the humility that is born of true wisdom? And I think we know how he would answer. True wisdom understands that our natural wisdom is flawed and that taking counsel only with ourselves, as Solomon often did, is foolishness. True wisdom knows that to make good decisions one must seek the Lord’s advice.

And I’ll say that’s sometimes easier said than done. It’s easy for me to say that we should seek the Lord’s will in everything, and then I go home and ask myself, so what is it? What is his will for me? We know the Lord doesn’t usually speak to us in dreams as he did in that case for Solomon. He doesn’t often send a direct answer to every question we have.

The answers are often quietly spoken. There’s sometimes a refinement in the way the Lord directs us that may require some patience and thinking on our part. His answers sometimes go unperceived because we still have our personal preferences and our flesh likes to tell us what it wants, and I have found that oftentimes my fleshly desires are so strong that they blind me to what the Lord really wants me to be doing. I think that’s one struggle we probably all face at one time or another in looking for the Lord’s will.

The answer often comes by taking the Scriptures and applying what we’ve learned and asking what Jesus would do in this case or what the apostles advice would be. The principles that James described are at the foundation of spiritual wisdom. I love the way Phillips translates verse 18. It says peacemakers go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness. Isn’t it interesting that peacemakers do a lot of quiet sowing?

That doesn’t mean they don’t speak up in studies, I hope not, or express opinions in business meetings. But it does mean that their words are usually thought out, that they’re tempered with gentleness and a sincere desire to bless others.

James also said that wisdom is gentle, approachable, full of merciful thoughts and kindly actions. I love that. Isn’t that beautiful? You wouldn’t normally think of wisdom in those terms. We usually incorrectly think of wisdom as something that tells us the right thing to do in any given circumstance.

It helps us make good decisions because it applies godly principles and determines conduct and even thought in harmony with those principles. Well, here are some of the qualities to add to the list Guiding Principles Someone who is gentle, approachable, merciful, and does kind things for others is usually like that because they understand that everyone struggles with something. They realize that life is not always black and white. They know that a brother or sister who sinned rarely wanted to sin. They understand that kindness can reap a great harvest in someone, whereas judgmentalism usually reaps very little.

Kind thoughts are like a medicine even to our own souls, while bitter and angry thoughts can be like poison. Every one of these seeds brings a harvest either of good fruit or of bad, and of course the principle of what you sow, you shall also reap is very true in our Personal lives Back in James, the second chapter, there’s a phrase that I fell in love with when I heard it. From the New American Standard. Let me read verse 13 from the New American Standard.

It says, for judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. That last phrase is the one that caught me. God is observing how we judge and treat others, and he knows that mercy is better and ultimately prevails. Mercy, of course, is an expression of love.

It gives kindness when justice would require punishment. It triumphs because of the effect mercy has on both the one receiving it and the one giving it. That’s where the victory is and the effect it has on both the giver and the receiver. Judgmentalism breeds strife. Mercy breeds love.

True spiritual wisdom will not dictate a course that violates merciful thoughts and kindly actions. It will never direct us to be rough and cruel. It will never tell us to act superior. Because, as James says, wisdom is approachable. It’s down to earth.

It’s compassionate and understanding of the failures of others.

Let’s go back to something Solomon wrote earlier that will relate to planting wisdom in the heart of man. This is one we quote often. Ecclesiastes 3:10 says, I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. The Good News Bible says, I know the heavy burdens that God has laid on us. Now, probably without knowing it, Solomon provided a profound description of the permission of evil.

God is showing us that the road to godly wisdom often goes through the little towns of jealousy, pride and selfishness. But the road to true wisdom can’t stop in those places, even if the temptation to dwell there seems powerful. When Solomon himself traveled through those roads, he experienced their effect, and he felt the emptiness that they brought. But the permission of evil, the exercise, as Solomon put it, would make no sense if we didn’t know about this. I keep coming back to this because it’s so powerful.

The human experience with evil will ultimately bring true wisdom to this crazy world. Here’s some advice from the Apostle Paul. See that the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord, and whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. God’s word dwelling in us will often give us the answers that we need.

Life. Now we can follow Paul’s advice more effectively if we see the heart of God and the things that he does. God’s plan makes sense out of this world’s experience with foolishness, because through this experience with sin, mankind is learning someday to trust God, and the fair and reasonable principles that he provides will be guiding principles for mankind which lead to health and happy lives. We know that the motivation behind the divine plan is a fatherly love, a love that is fundamental part of wisdom, not only because it helps us treat others better, but also because of what it does for us.

There’s a sense of peace when our minds are filled with the desire to bless others. These are some basic elements woven into the divine plan that can make us wise if we make them part of who we are. There are many principles of wisdom conveyed in the plan. I’m going to touch on one more because without the principle of consecration, God’s plan simply wouldn’t work. Consecration led Jesus to provide the sin offering and the ransom.

Consecration is preparing a bride for Christ who will share in the work of bringing the entire world to consecration. Think about that for a moment. Think of a world fully consecrated to God. Try to imagine what that world is going to be like now. Even Solomon saw the importance of complete devotion when he wrote this later in Ecclesiastes says, whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.

By understanding God’s plan, we see wisdom applied to decision making on a much larger scale than we usually think of it. Then Solomon shares his final Conclusion in chapter 12, verses 13 and 14 says, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. 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. Finally came to some good wholesome advice from Solomon.

Honor God. Keep the principles conveyed in his word. Now at a much earlier time in his life, before this cynicism set in, and when he was closer to the path of wisdom, he wrote Proverbs chapter three. He said this Let not mercy and truth forsake thee. Bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart.

So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes. Fear the Lord and Depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction. For whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth even as a father, the Son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding.

The merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She that is wisdom is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto. Her length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor, her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is everyone that retaineth her well.

Brethren, we have great hope for Solomon. When he is brought back in the kingdom, his cynicism will be turned to praise and thanksgiving, knowing that the hard lessons of his own life will finally bear great spiritual fruitage. He will finally gain true wisdom. As time goes on for you and me, brethren, my hope for all of us is that true spiritual wisdom will blossom in all our hearts, and our daily lives will honor our Heavenly Father and our Lord for who they are, for what they have done, and what they will yet do.

The Divine plan helps us have a better insight into that.

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