The life of Solomon might have been remarkable until its close, if virtue had been preserved. But he surrendered this special grace to lustful passion. In his youth he looked to God for guidance. He trusted in him, and God chose for him, and wisdom was given to him—wisdom that astonished the world. His power and wisdom were extolled throughout the land. His love of women was his sin. This passion he did not control in his manhood. It proved a snare to him. His wives led him into idolatry, and the wisdom God had given him was removed when he began to descend the declivity of life; he lost his firmness of character, and became more like the giddy youth, wavering between right and wrong. He yielded his principles, and placed himself in the current of evil, and thus separated himself from God, the source of his strength. He was a man who had moved from principle. Wisdom had been more precious to him than the gold of Ophir. But alas! lustful passions obtained the victory. He was deceived and ruined through women. What a lesson for watchfulness! What a testimony as to the need of strength from God to the very last! {1SP 396.1}

Salomons liv kunne være bemærkelsesværdigt, indtil sin afslutning, hvis denne dyd ikke var forvansket. Men han overgiv denne særlige nådegave til voldsomme lidenskaber. I hans ungdom har han set hen til Gud for vejledning. Han stolede på ham, og Gud valgte for ham, og han fik visdom – visdom som forbavsede verden. Hans kraft og visdom blev prist til skyerne udover landet. Hans kærlighed til kvinder var hans synd. Denne lidenskab kontrollerede han ikke i sin manddom. Det viste sig at være en snare for ham. Hans hustruer ledte ham til afgudsdyrkelse, og den visdom Gud havde givet ham blev fjernet, da han begyndte at stige ned ad livets skråninger; han mistede sin karakterfasthed, og blev mere som letsindige unge, der svejede mellem rigtig og forkert. Han opgav sine principper og satte sig selv i ondskabens strøm, og adskilte sig selv fra Gud, sin styrkes kilde. Han var en mand som havde bevæget sig fra princippet. Visdom havde været dyrebar for ham end Ofirs Gud. Men ak! liderlige lidenskaber fik sejr. Han blev bedraget og fordærvet ved kvinder. Hvilken lektie i årvågenhed! Hvilket vidnesbyrd for den der behøver styrke fra Gud til aller sidst!