Solomon's first and last words...

Reading the Bible through at least once a year takes a lot of discipline...it's more than reading a chapter or 2 or 3. It's about "sticking with the programme" and ensuring that it is not a "tick the box" exercise because it can start feeling like that especially when you get to Leviticus. God helped me and opened my eyes to so many things - I'd known before and now I was seeing them in another light. I was intrigued when I noticed what I've called:

 "Solomon's first and last words"

Starting from Proverbs 1: 1-7:

"These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 

Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. 

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,

 but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (NLT)

All through Proverbs and Eccclesiastes, he shared, in a very down-to-earth manner, various proverbs on how we should live well and wisely . Everyone can relate to his wise words.

Wrapping up his words of wisdom, Ecclesiastes 12:10-13 says:

The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly. The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. 

But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out. That’s the whole story.

Here now is my final conclusion:

Fear God and obey his commands,  for this is everyone’s duty." (NLT)

One thing was clear and sadly so...
...although Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived and he knew what our main duty in life was, his life was one of head knowledge, rather than heart-felt obedience, of God's word . To live and have a fulfilling life, let's learn from all Solomon's words because God has promised that: "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." (Isa 1:19)

Be wise - learn from the wisest man that ever lived...

...don't live like he did and you will have a good life.