"ECCLESIASTES"

  "Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh's daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, "You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods." Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD." (1 KINGS 11:1-3 NLT)

 "The Preacher." If you look at the meaning of the word, 'Preacher,' there is something of a plurality to the meaning, meaning that you cannot be a preacher unless you have an audience to preach to! It is my humble opinion that Solomon is preaching to those that are secular humanists, which are those that think we can be capable of morality and self-fulfillment without belief in God. 

 Not all secular humanists live without a belief in God, because in their mind they might believe there is a God; but they just believe that they can govern their own lives and destiny without a dependance upon Him, or without Him being involved in their lives. It might sound a little strange, but the truth be told, there are many people within the churches today that have this mentality and live their lives out as if God has no control over them, living as if they do not need to pay attention to what He might say! 

 Understandably, we are living in a very peculiar time, as it is a time when lawlessness abounds, when children do not respect their parents, when the things that are evil are called good, and good is called evil; a time when churches are being compromised, accepting the things the world desires, making them things which become part of their new doctrine or policies! These are the last days, which Paul spoke to Timothy about, saying, "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound doctrine and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT)

 As for Solomon, yes, he fell away from God, obviously! God judged him for it and the kingdom was torn apart because of it. But that does not remove Solomon from God's love; God still loved him and kept him secure within the Kingdom of God! Do not think for a moment that God did not know how things would go in Solomon's life, because the God we serve knows everything about us! He lives in all times present, and there is no place we can go where He cannot see us: 

 "The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory - for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine." (Psalm 33:13-19 NLT) 

 As it turns out, Psalm 33 is one of those Psalms that does not show who the author was, yet many prescribe it to King David. Regardless of who, it was most likely a king, someone that had a lasting relationship with God, and someone that knew that God never abandons those whom He has called and chosen, no matter how bad they might mess up and hurt Him, His love never fails...

"We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone." (Psalm 33:20-22 NLT)