By the spirit of inspiration the king recorded for after generations the history of his wasted years with their les- sons of warning. And thus, although the seed of his sow- ing was reaped by his people in harvests of evil, his life- work was not wholly lost. With meekness and lowliness Solomon in his later years “taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.” He “sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.” “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be ad- monished.” Ecclesiastes 12:9-12. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter,” he wrote: “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.” Verses 13, 14. Solomon’s later writings reveal that as he realized more and still more the wickedness of his course, he gave spe- cial attention to warning the youth against falling into the errors that had led him to squander for nought Heaven’s choicest gifts. With sorrow and shame he confessed that in the prime of manhood, when he should have found God his comfort, his support, his life, he turned from the light of Heaven and the wisdom of God, and put idolatry in the place of the worship of Jehovah. And now, having learned through sad experience the folly of such a life, his yearn- ing desire was to save others from entering into the bitter experience through which he had passed. With touching pathos he wrote concerning the privi- Solomon’s Repentance [77-80] 70 Prophets and Kings leges and responsibilities before the youth in God’s service: “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: but if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is van- ity. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judg- ment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are van- ity.” Ecclesiastes 11:7-10.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 05:31:08 +0000
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