After spending significant time in 1 and 2 Samuel the past two weeks, we move on this week to several new books: 1 Kings, which covers Solomon’s reign in its early chapters, along with a handful of wisdom writings attributed to him in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Even though Solomon’s authorship of those books has long been in doubt due to how closely the language resembles post-exilic writings from hundreds of years later, their attribution is a clear indication of how widely Solomon was revered as being the wisest ruler in Israel’s history.

Following David’s death and a consolidation of his throne, Solomon’s reign begins with a prayer for wisdom and a famous judgment displaying it in 1 Kings 3. We will spend relatively little time with the remaining aspects of his kingship — with the exception of his completion of the Temple, which was a landmark moment in Israel’s history — but the tradition of Wisdom Literature that he inspired is a significant portion of the Old Testament.

The books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon are not narratives like the majority of biblical books we have encountered to this point. Instead, they serve as both practical and aspirational reflections on life — from life’s ultimate meaning to how we are meant to live day-to-day. Proverbs contains around 800 sayings that provide moral and ethical instruction. Ecclesiastes (also known as Qoheleth, meaning “Teacher”) asks questions beyond the bounds of human knowledge while searching for meaning. Song of Solomon provides a sharp tonal shift into the realm of love songs, yet has been interpreted as an allegory for God’s relationship with Israel and, later, the church.

Our devotions this week will only scrape the surface of these works, but we will soon return to the wider arc of biblical history next week — from the triumphal construction of Solomon’s Temple to the disintegration of the United Monarchy following his death.

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