How wise was Solomon, anyway?

S: Ecclesiastes 1

O: How wise was the Preacher, actually? He failed in the most important wisdom of all -

The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

And if the Preacher is the same person as Solomon, the same person who compiled the book of Proverbs, how even more ironic!

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and didn’t go fully after Yahweh, as David his father did. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon. So he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he didn’t keep that which Yahweh commanded. 1 Kings 11:5‭-‬10 WEB

How did such a wise man fall into such an "obvious" sin?

It probably didn't start full-blown. A little bit at a time, slippery slope.

Solomon was powerful, confident, and Yahweh had blessed him.

So when it seemed expedient to marry yet another pagan wife in spite of the law against it - He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away. He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. Deuteronomy 17:17 WEB - he started sliding down that slippery slope. Well, David also violated that law, but he didn't slide down it, so maybe Solomon thought he could also get away with it.

But then one wife after another started persuading him to worship her god, and slowly, slowly, he gave in and gave in.

A: There's the warning for me. Sin creeps up. I will not just jump into a big sin from my current state as a follower of Jesus. But a little bit here, a little bit there... I have to beware the slippery slope!

P: Father, let me not start down the slippery slope. Let me be alert when temptation beckons, and flee. In Jesus' name, amen.