The 3rd Chapter of the First Book of the Kings, in the Bible, says in verse 9: "Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" And this was Solomon asking this, not with an attitude of "give me, give me", but it was after God had asked Solomon what He should give him.

In verses 11-13, God says that since Solomon didn't ask for something for himself, but to have understanding to discern justice for others ...at this moment God says He is giving Solomon what he asked for, yet in addition to that He is giving Solomon both riches and honor besides.

It seems like a done deal, and if you continue to read about Solomon in the Bible ...he did have much wisdom, riches, and honor. So, it was as God said, as it always is ...yet, the very next verse (that would be 14), God says: "So if ...."

And the "so if" adds that Solomon could have a long life too. But, the condition is that Solomon would have to do something else, as God put it: "So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments ..." (and the word is 'statutes' not statues ...as a statute is standing for God, not erecting something that stands for something or someone).

In Chapter 9, after Solomon had finished building the Temple (the House of the Lord), God appeared to Solomon a second time, gave His approval by consecrating the building ...then offered: "Now if you walk before Me ....and if you keep My statutes and My commandments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever ..."

Still in Chapter 9, verse 6-7, "But if you or your sons at all turn from Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My Name, I will cast out of My sight ..."

And as we know, there came to be many high places to please or appease the many wives ...with many statues, and less and less statutes being followed.

And it goes back to just two Kings before Solomon, to the first appointed King of Israel, when God had Samuel speak to King Saul (First Samuel 15:22) ---"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."

Reading Chapter 11 is a very sad factual commentary of what happened, and you can read it for yourself. 

What I'm going to say next is that just because Solomon messed up, does not mean we should not read Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, or the Song of Solomon. Sometimes we can learn much from those who messed up, especially if they admit it. We can see that Solomon learned much from his mistakes, and some of you may say, "too little, too late." But, it is not so much about Solomon ...as it is about what God was choosing to show us.

God wants us to follow His Ways because His Ways are best for us, and gives us more lasting blessings when we follow them. And it is agreed that we seldom do for very long, but that is known by God, and He still wants the best for us ...and that's why He sent His Son. 

Now, that brings up another point ...as I was reading the comments from a person who said he only believes the Hebrew Bible to be true, and he said he uses the Torah to weed out false religions and that ...though the word 'Trinity is not in the Bible, he does not at all believe in any of the New Testament verses that would support any belief in Jesus being the Son of God.

Just like Solomon, many people get things right until they get them wrong, but in my belief, God has guided people and guided certain people to give record and account of what God would have for us. I believe the Torah was given and preserved. But I also believe Jesus has guided people, foremost His apostles and disciples ...and I believe their words to us are also from God, as Jesus clearly said He and the Father are One, and when the disciples were uncertain what they were going to say, Jesus said (Mark 13:11) ---"Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."

Jesus said 'whenever they are arrested or brought to trial' ...is that the only time we are led by the Holy Spirit?? 

No.

Yet, we have a tendency to turn to Him more when we are in trouble, or are troubled.

There were people who copied the text of the Bible, and were very concerned whether they got a jot or tittle wrong. With all the printing done nowadays and the entire history of translations, there were also people who felt it was necessary to add what they felt something meant or should say ...but, with that being said, if that is the dominant view that it was often done that way, well, we would have way more differences between the texts of the different translations than we do ...and likely we would not even recognize the texts are being even close to the same, nor could we likely discern what was being said, and certainly would doubt it was the Word of God. But, that is not the case at all. It seems very clear to me ...the main part anyway (I'm not saying I have full understanding of everything.) Yet, I believe the New Testament has limited authors, and are those who were actively led by God, as they followed Jesus, and were known and respected as such.

Has the different churches fallen from following after God, and developed their own ways? As certainly as the early churches that the Apostle Paul wrote to ---there are errant ways in so many of the churches. I don't want to follow any church which says they don't have any errant ways, because I don't believe that to be true. I follow the Bible ---and yes, so many other say they do also, and we often disagree. But, where we mostly disagree is when they feel their organization is the only one which interprets scripture correctly. The Holy Spirit is where I turn to get guidance in that area ...and I have to continue to seek His guidance because I get things wrong, as my ideas get mixed with what the Holy Spirit is showing me because I get excited and get ahead of Him, thinking I 'got this', when I need to quietly discern more.

That being said, I still do not favor the thought that God continues to choose a select group of people to guide us all in right thinking. I believe God guide us to help one another. I go to a nondenominational 'Bible' church ---and the Bible is presented as the authority, and all of the church leaders agree that we should not solely rely on what they say, or what they see in the scriptures or life itself ---but we turn together to look at what the Bible says, and use the method that Isaiah (1:18) spoke of: "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord."