Golden Age
"The whole world sought audience with Solomon
to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart" 1 Kings 10:24.

King Solomon's reign became known as the Golden Age of Israel. His reign was also a mission drama in three acts.

Act 1
During the centuries prior to Solomon, the Lord had promised that:

• "all the peoples on earth will be blessed" through Abraham and his descendants, Gen. 12:3.
• Israel "will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," Ex. 19:6.

Clearly, God would bless and establish Israel for the benefit of all peoples. As a result, the Jews anticipated the future with great optimism.

Act 2
When Solomon became their king, optimism soared for several reasons.

• Politically, Israel was the most powerful nation in the Middle East.
• Solomon built a magnificent temple, attracting worshipers from many lands, 1 Kings 8:41-43.
• "The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart" 1 Kings 10:24. The visit of the Queen of Sheba reported in 1 Kings 10:1-13 was one such episode.

The Lord's mission promises were being fulfilled before their very eyes. As a magnet attracts iron particles, so Israel's wise king and glorious temple were attracting many nations to the knowledge of the true God. Soon the fame of Jehovah would spread to the farthest ends of the earth.

Act 3
Gold can't tarnish, but Solomon's reign did.

• "As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God," 1 Kings 11:4.
• On the hill across the Kidron Valley from the temple, Solomon built high places for Chemosh, Molech and many other detestable gods, 1 Kings 11:7-8. For generations to come, these temples would lead the people of Israel into idolatry.

Imagine how this turn of events broke God's heart. Everything had been in place for Israel's temple and anointed king to draw the nations to the Creator. And then Solomon threw it all away. Rather than calling his 700 wives to follow the Lord, he let them lead him astray. Except for the fall into sin in Gen. 3, there may be no greater tragedy in the Bible than this. Had Solomon and his descendants remained faithful, world history and mission history might have been radically different.

But the drama was not over yet. God's plan for the nations would not be thwarted by Solomon's short-lived glory. The Lord still would send an Anointed One greater than Solomon and raise up a Temple greater than his.

You and I live during the reign of that Anointed King and His Temple. Indeed, we live and serve in the Golden Age of mission history!

1. What mission tragedies have you experienced? When have things turned sour after a promising start?
2. Ponder Matt. 12:1-6, 42 and John 2:18-22 in light of Solomon's story.
3. Debate the validity of this statement, "We live and serve in the Golden Age of mission history."