We cannot put confidence in any man, however learned, however elevated he may be, unless he holds the beginning of his confidence in God firm unto the end. What must have been the power of the enemy upon Solomon, a man whom Inspiration has thrice called the beloved of God, and to whom was committed the great work of building the temple! In that very work Solomon made an alliance with idolatrous nations, and through his marriages he bound himself up with heathen women through whose influence he in his later years forsook the temple of God to worship in the groves he had prepared for their idols. {6T 250.1}

Vi kan ikke have tillid til noget menneske, uanset hvor lært, hvor ophøjet det end er, medmindre det fra begyndelsen fastholder sin tillid til Gud helt frem til enden. Hvad kunne have været fjendens kraft over for Salomon, mennesket som Inspirationen tre gange kaldte for den Guds-elskede og som fik betroet det store arbejde at bygge templet! I det arbejde gjorde Salomon en alliance med hedenske nationer og han bandt sig selv til hedenske kvinder i ægteskaber med dem og gennem hvis indflydelse han i de sidste år overlod Guds tempel til gudsdyrkelse i småskove, han havde lavet for deres afguder.