How did Solomon end up despite starting as a godly king?
Despite beginning as a godly king, Solomon ended up with 900 pagan wives and set up altars throughout Israel, thereby setting the stage for the fall and demise of God's covenant people. He died and was succeeded by his son Rehoboam, the heir apparent to the throne.
Les explains that even though Solomon started out as a godly king, he finally ended up with 900 pagan wives and set up altars all over Israel, setting the stage again for the fall and demise of God's covenant people. Under David and Solomon, Israel reached a pinnacle of greatness; the Queen of Sheba said the half had not been told of the glory of Solomon's kingdom. He had great copper mines, chariots, horsemen by the thousands, and a great world trade. Then Solomon died, and his son Rehoboam was heir apparent. The elders told Rehoboam that his father built a great and glorious kingdom, but it was at the expense of the ordinary taxpayer. Les sees a parallel to today: for every dollar taxes were raised, government spent a dollar and 83 cents.