SOLOMON-UNFAILING WISDOM
When we think about wisdom, much of the time we think about academia-either high school or college. These are places where students go to be prepared for life. Some students temporarily are able to store a lot of knowledge in their heads, but after an exam, they quickly forget what they have studied. So, they don’t know how to apply it in life. More knowledge is available at the click of a mouse today than has ever been available in the history of the world. We may even feel overwhelmed with all the knowledge available to us. However, what many people lack is understanding of the best way to use that knowledge, and that calls for wisdom. This session focuses on King Solomon and the Wisdom God gave him when he asked for it. Solomon knew he needed more than knowledge to lead Israel; he needed wisdom. Likewise, we need God’s wisdom, not simply knowledge, to live the life God has called us to live. Christ-centered living seeks wisdom from God, not merely knowledge.
Read 1 Kings 3:3-9
1 Kings 1-2 records the account of King David’s death and his son Solomon’s accession to Israel’s throne. The whole city celebrated as David’s leaders carried out the order and crowned Solomon king (1:40). The account sifted to David’s last moments on earth. Before he died, Israel’s great king issued Solomon his son a sober warning. Solomon must be careful to walk in the ways of the Lord all his days, so that God would fulfill the promise He had made to David to establish David’s throne forever (2:1-4; 2 Sam. 7). 1 Kings 2:13-46 records Solomon’s further establishment of himself as king by getting rid of key enemies. At the end of 1 Kings 2, the kingdom of Israel lay firmly in Solomon’s hands. Yet, the king knew he lacked what he needed to lead Israel as he should. The king knew he needed God’s help to lead the people effectively. Which he did effectively unless he married 700 women and the pagan influence from these women lead to his downfall. He also seemed to have lost much of his wisdom when he also had 700 mother’s-in-law.
In verse 3, it states that “Solomon loved the Lord” which affirmed his commitment to God. Solomon demonstrated his commitment to the Lord “by walking in the statues of his father David”. The Hebrew word translated “statutes” comes from a verb that means “to inscribe”. The law of Moses originally was inscribed on tablets of stone (Ex. 32:15-16). God had inscribed His statues for His people for their good and for their blessing. The text’s statement that Solomon “also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places” highlights one of the king’s shortcomings. Deuteronomy had forbidden such practices; rather, it pointed the people to the place God would designate (Deut. 12:2-5). During the period after Solomon, the people continued to worship God on high places throughout Israel instead of at the temple in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:3; 14:4). Gibeon was “the most famous high place” and Solomon had planned to sacrifice there. 2 Chronicles 1:3 mentions that the tabernacle was also there at that time and it became the focus of worship until Solomon built the temple later. Solomon “offered a thousand burnt offerings at Gibeon as a sign of dedication to the Lord.
It was at Gibeon that “the Lord appeared to Solomon”. He would appear “in a dream at night”. In the dream, the Lord asked Solomon an important question: “What should I you?”. Solomon replied in a way that encompassed his past, his present, and his future. He affirmed that God had “shown great and faithful love to his father David”. Solomon said his father’s life had been characterized by three important attributes: 1) David lived a life with faithfulness; 2) David’s life displayed righteousness; and 3) David’s life displayed integrity “uprightness of heart”. David’s walk with God demonstrated itself not merely in words, but also in action. Today as well, people of character typically demonstrate that character by how they live their lives. So, this is a symbol from the past that we are to follow.
Solomon affirmed that God had “continued this great and faithful love for David by giving him a son to sit on his throne”. In other words, Solomon’s reign was a continuation of the love that God has shown to David through a special covenant. The words “Lord my God” describe Solomon’s personal relationship with God. The words “you have now made your servant king” stress God’s active involvement in the process of Solomon’s being crowned king. Verse 9 records how Solomon asked God for a “receptive heart” (literally “a listening heart”). 2 Chronicles 1:10 provides more of the conversation, including wisdom and knowledge in Solomon’s request. The king wanted to listen carefully to God, and he wanted to listen carefully to the citizens who came before him for a decision. He wanted to judge fairly the people God had given him, to render decisions and verdicts that were based on the truth of the cases at hand. Solomon’s question “who is able to judge this great people of yours?” was rhetorical in nature. Solomon was not looking for an answer; rather he was affirming his own understanding that he did not have in himself what if took to be a great king over Israel. He would need God’s gracious assistance every step of the way. Solomon’s prayer for wisdom and discernment provides a model for leaders today. So, this is a second symbol from the past (in this lesson) that we are to follow. God’s grace, however, is sufficient to enable us to accomplish His purpose.
Read 1 Kings 3:10-14
God indicates that the king’s request for discernment pleased Him. Solomon had requested this because his heart was in the right place. Kingship would certainly bring him many benefits and blessings, but his desire to be a good king prompted him to ask what he did. Verse 11 focuses on all the things Solomon might have requested but did not in view of the greater good of possessing a wise heart. Long life could have been a blessing to both the king and his people. According to Deuteronomy 17:17, kings were not to multiply riches for themselves. Too much wealth could steer their heart away from God and lead them to trust in themselves. Sadly, Solomon’s great wealth and power did contribute to his straying from God later in life (1 King 11:3). Rather he knew that discernment would prove much more valuable in the long run. He also wanted to administer justice (literally “to hear justice”. “Justice” could also mean “judge” as indicated in verse 9. Solomon wanted to listen to the facts of each case carefully so that he could discern the proper verdict to render in each situation.
God assured Solomon “I will therefore do what you have asked”. The Hebrew verb actually occurs in the past tense; the wording suggests God had already placed the wisdom and (NASB). “Wise” can be translated “wisdom” and “understanding” can be rendered “discernment”. God also told Solomon He would provide him both riches and honor- items Solomon did not ask for. Solomon’s influence would extend mightily, so that no king would prove Solomon’s equal during his entire life. 1 Kings 6-10 describes the great kingdom Solomon ruled.
God expected something in return from His new king. He expected
Solomon to walk according to the ways He had laid down in the Law of Moses (Deut. 17:14-20). The word “keep” in verse 14 also means “guard” or “watch over”. God decrees were timeless, spanning all generations, and as Solomon’s “father David” had walked in them, so God expected the same of David’s son. Long life would be a further blessing for Solomon. This is then the third symbol in this lesson: if we walk in God’s way, we will experience God’s blessing. This is not necessarily long life- but His blessing.
Read 1 Kings 4:29-34
God gave Solomon wisdom, insight, and understanding in very amount- “as vast as the sand on the seashore”. This is a phrase used several times in the Bible. It conveys the sense of Solomon’s brilliance. Solomon’s God-given discernment enabled him to choose not only between right and wrong, but between a good plan and a better plan. At the same time, the text emphasizes how Solomon’s gifts came from God. Verses 30-31 compare Solomon’s wisdom to his contemporaries Solomon’s reputation (“name”) “extended to all surrounding nations”, especially to Egypt. The Queen of the South had to come to see for herself.
Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, but only 915 were recorded in the Book of Proverbs. The others may have been in put into other writings that probably have been lost. His songs numbered 1,005, but only two have been preserved for sure- Psalms 72 and 127. Some anonymous psalms may have come from Solomon. It is said that Solomon’s wisdom extended not merely to the arts and literature, but also to science and nature. Whether the king “spoke about trees or spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, his knowledge and insights were nothing short of amazing. In today’s world, it is rare to find someone who is an expert in so many areas.
Solomon was an educated man, but his wisdom and insights ultimately came from God. People (“Emissaries”) “came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom”. These people had been “sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom”. Learning from a great leader might make them better leaders. Perhaps these who came from faraway land went back wiser and were able to lead their people with greater effectiveness. While some of these leaders may have had less than honorable intentions, it is clear that most were far better off for knowing and learning from Solomon. We strengthen relationships when we walk alongside others and help them make wise decisions. The final symbol from this lesson is that other people may be drawn to God as they see God’s gifts in us.
