The whole story.

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”
1 Kings 3:9 NRSV

https://bible.com/bible/2016/1ki.3.9.NRSV

And so the story cycle begins again with Solomon. Just as reading bits of Job would give you totally the wrong end of the stick, reading this portion might make you think Solomon was a good guy. He wasn’t.

The clue is in the phrase, “…discern between good and evil”

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”
Genesis 2:16‭-‬17 NRSV

https://bible.com/bible/2016/gen.2.16-17.NRSV

Arguably, every history in the Bible comes back to Eden; the garden temple at whose heart is the Holy of Holies – the trees. The garden is to be tended around the trees of life and knowledge. These trees are not to be possessed but are at hand, God’s portion. Their presence perfects. Once the fruit is grasped, it is lost.

And so with the Promised Land, the Law of Moses, and here Solomon. Solomon begins the cycle of bad and not so bad kings by causing Israel’s fragmentation. It does not end well. Each is held, grasped, and lost.

And what about Psalm 119. If you read only,

Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name. Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept.
Psalms 119:129‭-‬136 NRSV

https://bible.com/bible/2016/psa.119.129-136.NRSV

You might miss the context of the final verse,

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
Psalms 119:176 NRSV

https://bible.com/bible/2016/psa.119.176.NRSV

There is a reason for the Psalmist’s desire and ire. He is lost. We need the whole story.

Then look at Paul, who writes,

… the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26‭-‬27 NRSV

https://bible.com/bible/2016/rom.8.26-27.NRSV

It is Jesus who breaks this story cycle and in a way we cannot grasp. In him, the story ends, and the accuser is vanquished because if what is in our hearts. We are loved: God is with us in every joy and trouble and for us, so that through his faithfulness and our beloving, our believing, all is made well.

And so Jesus teaches about the Kingdom… Matthew 13:31-52.