Ecclesiastes 1:12

12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. (KJV)

Some translations say "Teacher" for "Preacher" here; both are attempts to understand the meaning of the title koheleth, one who collects, preaches and teaches the wisdom of God.

The word "was" in English reflects the tense of the Hebrew accurately; it has made some people question whether Solomon would talk this way about himself. But drawing toward the end of his reign, it's not surprising at all that Solomon would talk about himself in the past tense. Solomon had walked in number of sins in his lifetime, with the kind of reckless abandon that tragically lies in wait for the very wealthy or very powerful.

In Solomon's life, he had fallen in adultery, marrying many more than the one wife God intended for any one man (Mark 10:8). He had fallen into idolatry, letting his many wives lead him into the worship and veneration of many false gods, including Ashtoreth of the Sidonians, Molech of the Ammonites, Chemosh of the Moabites, and many others (1 Kings 11:4-8). This book will show us some of Solomon's repentance for these sins.

Power and wealth don't make a person's actions right. The ability to hide a sin doesn't atone for that sin. Only in Jesus is there forgiveness; and in Jesus, that forgiveness covers over all of our sins.