Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places

I have favorite verses in the Bible, but I also have least favorites.  I really dislike these verses.

Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things…while I was still searching, but not finding…I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.  Ecclesiastes 7: 27-28

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, who supposedly was an exceedingly wise man.  However, I have been observing since I was a teenager that really smart men can be really stupid when it comes to women.  I am pretty sure that Solomon’s wisdom betrayed him in this area.

In I Kings 11: 1-3 We find some evidence of the problem. 

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women…they were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.  Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.  He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.

I have read commentary that Solomon had all these wives because it was common for a lesser king to give a greater king one of his daughters to cement the relationship between their kingdoms, so these ladies were sort of forced on poor Solomon.   I understand the concept, but it does say “Solomon held fast to them in love.”  So, it sounds to me like he was a willing participant.

Now let’s do the math.  700 wives + 300 concubines =1000 women.

Hmmm…doesn’t that verse in Ecclesiastes say he couldn’t find one upright woman among 1000?

Clearly, he was “looking for love in all the wrong places.”

Solomon's Discerning Question

But will God really dwell on earth with men?  The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you.  How much less this temple I have built!  II Chronicles 6:18


Solomon, renowned for both his knowledge and wisdom, asks a very discerning question.  Will God really dwell on earth with men?


I understand that many people do not believe in God.  But....if there is an all powerful being who created all matter and is the source of all energy, would He choose to even communicate with insignificant man?  Would He choose to "dwell" with us?


Solomon's father David grappled with the same question in Psalm 8: 3-4  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?


After Solomon completes his prayer in II Chronicles 6, the first verse in chapter 7 says:  ...fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  The answer was YES!


Centuries later Christ was born.  Isaiah's prophecy (Is. 7:14) is quoted in Matthew 1:23.  And they will call him Immanuel..which means, "God with us."  God again chose to dwell with man.  This time in the person of Jesus Christ.  The answer to Solomon's question was YES!


When Christ returned to heaven, He left behind the Holy Spirit, as an indwelling presence for the church and the individual believer.  In John chapter 16, Christ explains that when He leaves the earth, His followers will not be abandoned.  He will send the Spirit to comfort, counsel and guide into truth.  He again makes provision for God to dwell among men.  The answer to the question is again YES!


Now as to 'why' God would choose to dwell with man...that is a mystery.  The only explanation I know is that He chose to love us. He decided to create us 'in his image' and decided to allow us to have a relationship with Him.  It is in His very nature to do so, whether or not we deserve it....and by the way, we don't.


I am grateful that He is there, and that He cares.  He didn't have to do that!  It's not like the creator and sustaining force of the universe needs us.


What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?