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Solomon was a great king and accomplished much during his life. Why is it that he's not mentioned in the great hall of faith in Hebrews?
Hebrews 11:1 - 40
NASB - 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
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I think the answer to this question is found in Nehemiah 13:26,27. "Was it not because of women like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Although among many nations there was no king like him and he was loved by his God, and God made him king of all Israel, even then foreign women led him into sinning! Were you obedient when you committed this very grave crime: breaking FAITH with our God by marrying foreign wives?" I think this is the reason Solomon is not listed in the Great faith chapter in the book of the Hebrews. He broke faith with God. May we always keep our faithful walk.
I believe the reason Solomon is not listed in the hall of faith is this. He was not faithful. Really it is simple as that. He was given more wisdom than any man who ever lived before him, or would live after him; and God blessed him with impossible wealth to do more than any man had ever done... but he was also told to not marry women who served other gods because they would draw him away from the one true God. Solomon did marry the women he was forbidden to marry and they did turn his heart away from the one true God. He simply was not faithful in the one area that mattered most. I think we need to learn from this that in spite of what God has or has not blessed us with, we need to remember what God has told us to do, and do it, and be found faithful!
Although there is great interest and speculation about Solomon’s faith, or lack thereof, the book of Ecclesiastes makes a very compelling case in favor of Solomon deep and sincere remorse for his sinful early life. David and Samson both had women issues and God accepted their sincere repentance, looked favorable upon their life and are mentioned in Hebrews 11 as examples of awesome faith. However, there are many other Bible heroes who Paul omitted in Hebrews 11. Job, according to God was a "blameless and upright man" (Job 1:8) and is not included in the great hall of faith. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are also omitted and no one can question their faith. The lack of time was probably the main reason why Solomon, as well as many others, were not mentioned, and Hebrews 11:32 supports this idea.
David was a man after God's own heart as we read in Acts13:22 (read with 1Samuel13:14). And through David The Lord had warned Solomon to follow HIM like his father as we read in 1Chronicles28:5-9. God personally appeared to Solomon twice once in Gibeon (1Kings3:4&5, 1Chronicles 1:7) and secondly after the temple was dedicated as we read in 2Chroncles 7:11-22. Here Solomon was personally warned by The Lord to follow Him (please read verses 19to22 carefully). But we read in 1Kings 11:9-11 how Solomon rejected The Lord's commandments and went after forbidden wives and strange gods to burn incense unto them. Therefore God divided his kingdom after him. God in spite of all these events showed grace to Solomon because of David his father as we read in 1Kings11:12. Thus Solomon did not walk by faith in spite of clear revelations from The Lord and his father David. As such, in my opinion the Holy Spirit has dropped his name from the list of the faithful saints recorded in Hebrews chapter 11. Above all is Divine prerogative. Now we understand partially as we read in 1 Corinthians13:12.
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