Unchallenged ignorance gradually becomes stupidity. We all are born into ignorance and life either educates us out of it or ignorance becomes a way of life. We depend on others to mentor us into a more positive way of life that works. But, sadly, some of us seem to get stuck on stupid.
Solomon had observed a lot of good and bad growing up in the palace of King David. He seems to have acquired a deep sense of awe of his father because he wrote "When I was a boy at my father's knee, the pride and joy of my mother, he would sit me down and drill me: 'Take this to heart, do what I tell you - live! Sell everything and buy wisdom! Forage for understanding! Never walk away from wisdom - she guards your life; love her - she keeps her eye on you'". Proverbs 4:3-6 MSG
David taught him about God and about listening to His divine counsel as THE crucial aspect of crafting a successful career and personal life. He taught him to worship God with singing and prayer and to recognize the power of music in a spiritual life. He taught him to honor God's word and live daily in His presence. Solomon is said to have written 3000 proverbs and at least 1005 songs. He wrote extensively about botany, animals, birds, reptiles and fish. He was consulted by "all the kings of the world who heard about his wisdom" (1 Kings 4:29-34 NIV
BUT, like all of us, Solomon failed to live up to what he knew. At some point in his 40 year reign as Israel's King, he began to listen to voice other than God's. He started strong but along the way he somehow got stuck on stupid. His personal testimony to the pointless nature of a faithless life is chronicled in his book of Ecclesiastes.
Living wisely is a learned skill that begins with God. But it isn't a 100 yard dash, it's an every day marathon.
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