Alas, Israel did not live up to the call of its revelation. Rather than destroying the work of the devil by turning men from themselves and their gods, Israel was ensnared by the allure of idolatry. Israel did not engage in the practice of righteousness, denying that to which it was called at Sinai, which was to bring glory to their saving God by living out their covenant markers in thankfulness for their election as God’s chosen people. God desired to show forth His love for the world through His son Israel, but this purpose was denied.
From Israel as son of God, we move to the next explicit revelation of a son of God, which is to be found in Israel’s king, Solomon. After Solomon’s father David had settled into his role as king of Israel, God spoke to him and gave him a promise. That promise was related to David’s dynasty in general, and more specifically to his immediate successor on the throne. God told David: “When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My name, and I will make his dynasty permanent” (2 Samuel 7:12-13). More importantly, at least for our purposes here, to this was added “I will become his father and he will become My son” (7:14a). Now, while we can certainly use this promise as a looking forward to Jesus and the true kingdom and truly permanent dynasty, we can undoubtedly know that this refers to Solomon. We can go on to read, “When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings” (7:14b). Though the second part of this statement can be applied to Jesus, it would be difficult to make the first part do the same, so we assuredly assert divine reference to Solomon, and view him as another revelation of the son of God.
With what has been spoken by God, we can also recognize that this title of the son of God, though it is being applied to Solomon, can also be applied to the kings of Israel. This can be said in the context of the concept of the king of Israel as representative of the people, which will is also of dreadful importance to a proper Christology, if we are to rightly understand what was accomplished by God in Christ. If Israel is the son of God, revealed to destroy the works of the devil, then it is only appropriate that the king, if also called the son, engage in this revealed role as well. Additionally, as God promised to correct Israel if it entered into unrighteousness (failing to live to its covenant), providing a rather detailed list of calamities that would be visited upon His people (which we find in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28), so also does the promise come in connection with the king that is directly referenced by God as being His son. As we have already seen, God speaks of correction to come to Solomon if he violates His covenant responsibilities and falls into unrighteousness, making reference to the rods of men and the infliction of wounds.
As the story of God’s elect people began with such high hopes, so also the commencement of the record of Solomon’s rule. His kingdom was established, and this in much the same way that Israel was able to make an entrance into the land of promise. Solomon, firmly entrenched in the kingship (1 Kings 2:46), threw himself upon the mercy of God, asking for discernment so as to justly rule God’s people. He demonstrates wisdom, he gains wealth and fame, he had peace on all sides, and he built the Temple of the Lord (as God has promised David would happen). Because of his wealth and fame, Solomon drew admirers from many lands who would come to him to seek his wisdom. Like Abraham and the patriarchs before him, Solomon would have been in a position to answer the altogether pressing questions in regards to how he came to have what it was that he possessed---wealth, power, and fame. Solomon would have had many opportunities to share the knowledge of covenant-making Creator God with the world, and in the tradition of the Abrahamic covenant, bring glory to God by means of showing forth God’s blessings and causing previously unknowing men and nations to turn from their various forms of idolatry (works of the devil) to the God who was the maker and Lord of all. It is debatable as to whether or not Israel as a people had been able to do such a thing up to that point, but it is reasonable to suggest that Solomon was able to do as suggested.
Much like God had warned Israel what would happen if they were to fail in righteousness, so too was Solomon warned. Even though both Israel and Solomon were specially elected by God, and looked upon as His chosen sons that were to reveal God’s glory and love for the world, much was expected of them. However, as the first two sons had failed, so too did Solomon. In a fashion very similar to Israel, who allowed idolatrous practices to be continued by the occupants of their promised land, so too did Solomon allow for a continued idolatry. Indeed, he not only allowed it to continue, but like Israel, he would participate in idolatrous practices, denying the revelatory role that God desired for His sons. As this was the source of Adam’s fall and expulsion from the role and place into which he had been set by God, as well as being the source of repeated instances of subjugation and various forms of exile for Israel, so too would this result in dire consequences for Solomon.
Because of this falling short of the glory of God, and engagement in the very works of the devil against which he and Israel were warned, the kingdom that Solomon had established was torn in two. “The Lord said to Solomon, ‘Because you insist on doing these things and have not kept the covenantal rules I gave you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you” (1 Kings 11:11a). Solomon experienced the rod and the wounding, as “The Lord brought against Solomon an enemy, Hadad the Edomite… Rezon son of Eliada… Jeroboam son of Nebat” (11:14,23,26). Even though Solomon had failed, another part of God’s promise still remained, as it had always remained for Israel. Though the Lord’s anger was aroused against Solomon, as it was aroused numerous times against Israel itself, Solomon had a promise from God that “My loyal love will not be removed from him” (2 Samuel 7:15a). As we can see, the Lord loves His son, and desires to reveal Himself and His love through that son.
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