I Kings 4:29  " Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore."  

We are told that Solomon's wisdom was greater than any other man.  

His wisdom was displayed in proverbs and songs. 

His wisdom was displayed in his understanding of nature - trees and animals. 

And his wisdom was displayed for all the world to see. 

Yet... tucked into this summary of Solomon's officials and provisions are several red flags warning of what was ahead.. 

Verse 20 "Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing."

And verse 26 "and Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen." 

Why are these concerning?  It goes back to Deuteronomy 8 where God warned Israel that when they settled into the land he was giving them,  to "Beware lest you forget the Lord Your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances.. lest when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your hearts and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiplies, then your heart becomes proud and your forget the Lord your God.. " 

 and  17:14ff where God gives the laws for a king, knowing that the time would come when Israel would desire their own king.  Verse 16 says this, "Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself.."  Verse 17 is significant also.. "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he increase silver or gold for himself."

Just little things.. that will turn out to be big things.. later. 

Solomon had asked for wisdom to discern what was good or bad.. good or evil.  He had the God-given ability to make the right choices. But, even he, the wisest man to ever live.. failed. 

Thinking about this takes me back to Genesis 2-3.  God commanded Adam to eat freely from any tree in the garden except "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.. " But, when the serpent deceived Eve and she ate from the tree... she chose evil over good.   It looked good.  It was desirable.  It delighted her. And it brought death.  The same is true for Solomon. The book of Ecclesiastes reveals the hard lessons that he learned.  He writes, "the conclusion, when all has been heard, is fear God and keep His commandments because this applies to every person. for God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." 

What little things are we choosing? Things that look good, delight us, and are desirable.. but will turn out to be big things that ruin our lives, our testimonies, our families.. our relationship with our Savior? 

Father, open our eyes, please!  May we know Your Word and walk in Your ways.. fully, completely, always.. choosing good, choosing obedience and surrender to Your will!  Holy Spirit, search us and know our hearts and see if there are any hurtful ways in us.. that we might repent.  Lead us in Your ways that lead to life everlasting. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who has conquered death and sin and who leads us to what is good and right and perfect in Your sight. Amen.