Was Solomon Qualified to be an Example of a Godly Husband?

I’m sure you are very busy but I would like to tell you about what my co-worker said to me after I told him about the marriage seminar that I attended on Saturday. I was told by the co-worker that Solomon should not be the example since he had 700 wives. I don’t know why they used him as an example since he had multiple wives and concubines. I understand in Hebrew times they could do this, but it was not a requirement. The Bible teaches that we are to only have one wife. After talking to my co-worker (friend), I feel he makes a good point. Why would Solomon be praised as a good husband? I can’t understand this example given to us as a married couple since its a contradiction.

Answer:

First let me say that this is a very good question and one that is often asked. Let me briefly share a few reasons that Solomon can be and should be used as an example.

1. Solomon wrote this book when he was a very young man before he had additional wives and had not yet digressed into lustful polygamy. Later in his life he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes in which he often states that “all is vain” referring to the mistaken paths that he took in his life (including the additional wives who turned his heart from God).

2. God uses men in the Bible who have failed. David is a prime example as he committed adultery and murder, yet he repented and wrote the psalms. The apostle Paul killed Jews but was converted on the Damascus road and became a great apostle of Jesus Christ.

3. God is the one who put this book in his word for our admonition. To question the authority or legitimacy of God putting this book in the Bible for us to learn from about marriage is to question God.

These are but a few explanations that I could give to you. I hope these are helpful.