Solomon, whose name means "peace," kept the peace in his early kingship by giving his heart to the Lord in obedience. Later, Solomon decided to make peace in the worldly way. He made alliances with many kingdoms and tried to cement these alliances by taking wives from these kingdoms. Solomon tried to save the Israelites from war by his works and not by obedient dependence on the Lord.

Solomon's lack of faith indicated that his heart "was not entirely with the Lord" (1 Kgs 11:4). This led to idolatry, civil war, the breakup of the nation, and worse idolatry. Solomon committed the fundamental sin of living a life of relying on himself rather than on God. "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust your strength lies" (Is 30:15). "Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth" (Is 26:18). "In no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God; too high is the price to redeem one's life; he would never have enough" (Ps 49:8-9). Of ourselves, we are doomed. Without Jesus, we "can do nothing" (Jn 15:5), while in Jesus we "have strength for everything" (Phil 4:13).

"Trust in Him at all times, O my people" (Ps 62:9).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Richard Walling, July 18, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 24, 2003