“Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly” (2 Chronicles 1:1, NKJV).
God’s church today has been strengthened and blessed by him. Provision has been made for achievements of all kinds. Consider the big, beautiful churches being built around the country. Millions are spent on broadcasting, books, tapes, CDs, missions, institutions, colleges and parachurch ministries of all kinds. When all these works began, each one had something of God’s anointing. Indeed, most started out with the same blessings that God poured out upon Solomon.
Solomon was well organized and much more educated than his father, David. He did everything bigger and better than any previous generation ever could have conceived. The driving force behind Solomon was wisdom and knowledge. He asked God, “Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10).
Isn’t this a wonderful prayer? It sounds so good, and God was pleased that Solomon did not ask for selfish gain. Nevertheless, there’s a problem. This prayer is largely man-centered. This talented, self-confident king was saying in essence, “Just give me the tools, God, and I’ll get the job done. Give me wisdom and knowledge, and I’ll set everything in order among this people. I’ll accomplish it all!”
Solomon’s prayer was not the prayer of his father, David, a man who was after God’s own heart. No, Solomon’s prayer was that of a new generation, an educated people with new ideas and skills. His cry was “I need wisdom and knowledge.” I believe Solomon represents the spirit and nature of the last-day Laodicean church. This church is headed for the same ruin Solomon faced.
Solomon had a head full of wisdom and a mouth full of songs. He could preach and teach with incredible skill. He had a well-organized operation and talented leaders. Everything about his church appeared to be decent and in order, but all that Solomon did ended up with the phrase, “All is vanity and grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). The Solomon church believes it has the answers. It looks great on the outside, but it is absolutely lifeless inside, and it ends up in vanity, idolatry, sensuality, emptiness and despair. Beloved, let us not end up there!