Solomon, according to scripture, was the wisest individual that ever lived; unparallel by anyone be­ fore or after him (I Kings 3:12). After Solomon was anointed king over Israel and assumed the throne of his father David, God in a dream spoke to him “ask what I shall give thee” (I Kings 3:5). Overwhelmed by the countless number of God’s people and his inadequacy to judge them, Solomon requested an understanding heart to “discern between good and bad” (I Kings 3:9). With his selfish desires ignored and touching the heart of God, he was granted wisdom beyond compare.

The newly acquired gift was so fascinating to him, by his own admission, he began “to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 1:13). King Solomon enjoyed the pleasures of the world known to mankind. He surrounded himself with every kind of materialistic amenity and trinket desirable. He even contracted singers to help him celebrate the spectacle of it all (I Kings 2:1­10). After satisfying his whims and fancies, Solomon concluded, “I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow” (I Kings 1:17,18). Just imagine, after Solomon came full circle in his experiences, there was still an emptiness in his spirit.