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Solomon was now growing an old
man. Did he still love and serve God more and more, like good old
Samuel and David? No; we read very sad things about Solomon's old
age. He turned away from the true God, who had kept and blessed him
all his life, and began to worship the idols which his wicked wives
worshiped. Why was this? How could this good and wise king
become so wicked and so foolish? Because he was, like ourselves,
weak and sinful. All his strength and goodness came from God; and
when Solomon forgot to pray for help, then God's Holy Spirit went away
from him; and Satan, and his own wicked heart, soon taught him to sin. What
made him forget God? Perhaps he grew proud of his riches, and power,
and possessions, and wisdom, and loved them so much, and thought about
them so much, that he could not love and think about God. He loved
the world more and more, and God less and less; and, at last, he forsook
God altogether, and God forsook him. How sad it is to love the
world, and to forget God, and to lose His blessing! Was Solomon
happy now? No; he had no true peace, no comfort from all his worldly
things. He tried them all. He walked about in his beautiful
gardens and vineyards; he gathered and ate the fruit, and smelled the
sweet flowers; but soon he grew tired of them, and threw them all
away. Then he went into his fine houses, and looked at his silver
and gold, and called his servants to play and sing to him. He was
pleased for a little time, but soon he was weary of this too. Then
he remembered his wisdom, and went to his books and studies, and he felt
pleased to think how much he knew. But he could not read long; he
grew tired, and put away his books, and said, "All is vanity, and
sorrow, and vexation of spirit." Solomon ate and drank, but he
did not care for any thing; all was soon gone, and then he was unhappy,
and discontented again. How unhappy he was now with all his riches,
and all his wisdom! He went about from place to place, crying,
"Vanity! vanity! all is vanity and vexation of spirit."
And why was this? Because God's blessing was not upon Solomon now;
he had not God's smile to make him happy in all he did: he was not
trying to serve God, he was trying only to please himself. He had
everything the world could give him, but he found all to be vanity. Only
God can give us true happiness. Worldly things soon pass away; they
cannot give us real joy. But if our hearts are set on heavenly
things, then we shall have true peace, and happiness which will last for
ever. Jesus Christ says to His people, "Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto
you." John 14:27.
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