Topical Bible: Murmuring: Solomon

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Murmuring, often understood as a form of complaining or grumbling, is a recurring theme in the Bible, reflecting a lack of faith or dissatisfaction with God's provision and leadership. In the context of Solomon, murmuring is not directly attributed to him personally, but rather to the people and circumstances surrounding his reign.

Solomon's Reign and the People's Murmuring

Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, was known for his wisdom, wealth, and extensive building projects, including the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. His reign is often seen as a period of prosperity and peace for Israel. However, the burdens imposed on the people during his rule led to murmuring and discontent.

1. Heavy Taxation and Forced Labor: Solomon's ambitious building projects required significant resources and manpower. To support these endeavors, he imposed heavy taxes and conscripted labor from the Israelites. This led to murmuring among the people, as they felt the weight of these demands. In 1 Kings 12:4, the people approached Solomon's son, Rehoboam, saying, "Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you."

2. Idolatry and Spiritual Decline: Solomon's later years were marked by a spiritual decline, as he turned away from God and allowed idolatry to flourish in Israel. This was due in part to his many foreign wives, who led him to worship other gods. The murmuring against Solomon's spiritual leadership is implied in the narrative, as God raised adversaries against him (1 Kings 11:14-25) and ultimately divided the kingdom after his death as a consequence of his unfaithfulness (1 Kings 11:11-13).

3. The Division of the Kingdom: The murmuring and discontent that began during Solomon's reign culminated in the division of the kingdom after his death. The northern tribes, led by Jeroboam, rebelled against Rehoboam, Solomon's successor, leading to the establishment of the separate kingdom of Israel. This division was a direct result of the people's grievances and murmuring against the heavy burdens imposed by Solomon (1 Kings 12:16-20).

Biblical Perspective on Murmuring

The Bible consistently portrays murmuring as a negative response to God's provision and leadership. It reflects a lack of trust and gratitude, often leading to further disobedience and judgment. In the case of Solomon, the murmuring of the people highlights the consequences of leadership that strays from God's commandments and the importance of maintaining faithfulness to God's covenant.

While Solomon himself is not directly accused of murmuring, the dissatisfaction and complaints of the people during and after his reign serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of neglecting God's ways and the impact of leadership on the spiritual and social well-being of a nation.

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Ecclesiastes 2:17,18
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is worked under the sun is grievous to me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
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Library

The Psalter of Solomon.
... Lactantius [47] more than once quotes passages from Solomon which do not occur in
the ... i.11: "Beware of unprofitable murmuring." In Psalm 8:11 and in Wisd. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the psalter of solomon.htm

The Unmistakable Honesty of the Writers of the Bible Attests to ...
... calf, Solomon and the later kings being notable examples""Then did Solomon build
a ... to eat, which ought for ever to have closed their murmuring mouths, they ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter three the unmistakable honesty.htm

The Seven Deacons
... of finding fault with their spiritual leaders, and so "there arose a murmuring of
the ... as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." Song of Solomon 6:10. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 9 the seven deacons.htm

All the Day Long
... The words of Solomon to his own son are not only wise, but full of tender ... within
us is disturbed with envious thoughts"which will lead on to murmuring and to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/all the day long.htm

St. Ambrose Shows by Instances that the Places in which those ...
... John in Solomon's porch, by which is signified the mind of a wise man, for he ... for
each mystically; and having in the same manner expounded the murmuring of the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvii st ambrose shows.htm

At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple
... Him - and they did speak of Him, though there was only a murmuring - a low ... know that,
on a later occasion, [3960] He walked and taught in Solomon's Porch,' and ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi at the feast.htm

The Sluggard's Farm
... Solomon's slothful man was too idle to attempt tasks which were quite ... sadly morbid
forebodings; they are discontented, fretful, selfish, murmuring, and all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the sluggards farm.htm

Acts VI
... now existed within the Church, by the cessation of recent murmuring, and the ... occurred
upon the surprising success of Peter and John in Solomon's Portico; the ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts vi.htm

Christ's Estimate of his People
... a price, that the Holy Spirit when he dictated this Song of Solomon, could not ...
delightful joy that made him bear all these pains without a murmuring, and this ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/christs estimate of his people.htm

The Sinner Arraigned and Convicted.
... it seriously, "Have you never in your life sinned against God?" Solomon declared,
that in ... of murmuring, or at least of secretly repining against God, under the ...
/.../chapter iv the sinner arraigned.htm