In the event, foreseen by God, of Israel's having a king, he was forbidden to multiply wives or riches, and to go down into Egypt to multiply horses (Deut. 17:16,17). Now with whatever blessings we may be surrounded, we can never forsake the law of God with impunity, nor the walk appointed in the Word for His children. God had promised an abundance of riches and honor to Solomon, who had only asked for wisdom; but the study of the law, which was prescribed to the king (Deut.l7:19,20), should have prevented his using the means he did in acquiring his riches. These chapters teach us that he did precisely that which the law forbade his doing. He multiplied silver and gold, he multiplied the number of his wives, and had a great number of horses brought from Egypt.

God's promise was indeed fulfilled-Solomon was rich and glorious above all the kings of his day; but the means he used to enrich himself showed a heart at a distance from God, and led to his ruin according to the just judgment and sure word of God. How perfect are His ways, how sure His testimony! Holiness becometh His house. His judgments are unchangeable.

Solomon enjoys the sure promises of God, but sins in the means by which he seeks to satisfy his own lusts; and although the result was the accomplishment of the promise, yet he bears the consequences of his ways. Outwardly, only the fulfilment of the promise was seen; in fact there was something else. Without sending for horses from Egypt, and gold from Ophir, Solomon would have been rich and glorious, for God had promised it. By doing this he enriched himself, but he departs from God and from His Word. Having given himself up to his desires after riches and glory, he had multiplied the number of his wives, and in his old age they turned away his heart. This neglect of the Word, which at first appeared to have no bad effect (for he grew rich, as though it had been but the fulfilment of God's promise), soon led to a departure more serious in its nature and in its consequences, to influence more powerful and more immediately opposed to the commands of God's Word, and at last to flagrant disobedience of its most positive and essential requirements. The slippery path of sin is always trodden with accelerated steps, because the first sin tends to weaken in the soul the authority and power of that which alone can prevent our committing still greater sins-that is, the Word of God, as well as the consciousness of His presence, which imparts to the Word all its practical power over us. From J. N. D.’s Synopsis, Vol. I.