Two-year-old Kenneth went missing, but within three minutes of his mom’s 9-1-1 call, an emergency worker found him just two blocks from his home. He was at the county fair. His mom promised he could go later that day with his grandfather, but he had driven his toy tractor there, and parked it at his favourite ride. When the boy was safely home, his dad wisely removed the toy’s battery. Kenneth was actually rather smart to get where he wanted to go, but two-year-olds are missing another key quality: wisdom.

Solomon also lacked wisdom when he became king of Israel. In 1 Kings 2:10-12 and 1 Kings 3:3-14, we see the “passing of the torch”. King David died, and the throne passed to his son Solomon. King David’s death marked the end of a momentous 40-year reign in Israel’s history. The line of David would continue on Israel’s throne, eventually culminating in the birth of the Messiah.

Solomon was known for his wisdom and wealth, and 1 Kings 3:3-14 tells how he got these gifts. Solomon’s rise to power was not easy. He had to wrestle the kingdom from his brother in a deadly campaign against popular military leaders and a high priest. The writer of 1 Kings thought it was important to show the other, more benevolent side of Solomon. He was not only a shrewd politician but also a mild and pious ruler (at least in the early part of his reign) whom God blessed with great abilities.

Before his coronation, Solomon married an Egyptian princess so that a political alliance would be formed between Egypt and Israel. This was at least his second marriage. Multiple marriages that were made for political alliances were common among kings in Old Testament times, but in Solomon’s case he went against God’s rule prohibiting multiple marriages. He also worshipped in forbidden places. These seeds of disobedience would eventually bring down Solomon’s kingdom and cause the kingdom to be divided.

In his book entitled Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the author Robert Louis Stevenson shows how sin can encroach in a person’s life. The magic potion that turned the respected Dr. Jekyll into the wicked Mr. Hyde provided the noble doctor with a convenient way to enjoy sinful pleasure without losing his reputation. When he had his fill of wickedness, all he had to do was take one sip of the antidote to become Dr. Jekyll again, all without a hint of scandal. One day, however, Dr. Jekyll woke to discover that in his sleep, without the help of the potion, he had become Mr. Hyde again. He took the antidote, but nothing happened. No formula he concocted would restore him to the genial, gracious, gentle man he had been. The evil he had voluntarily unleashed in his life had become dominant, supreme, and uncontrollable. Solomon became another example of the same situation, but that would not happen until later in life-long after the events in this passage happened.

Solomon went to the temple in Gibeon to make sacrifices. Gibeon was also the last resting place for the tabernacle and had become the centre of worship before the temple was built in Jerusalem. Here the God of heaven bent down to meet Solomon. God granted the supplication of Solomon and gave the key to all His treasures to the young man. God knew Solomon well enough to know that he could be trusted with the wide open offer to grant him anything he wished. God knows our needs better than we know them ourselves, and He often grants them without our asking. He still wants us to ask, and some of His gifts come only when we ask. God is like a wise parent who knows what a child needs but who also knows how important it is that the child be encouraged to talk to the parent.

Solomon’s dream was a means of direct revelation from God, not a symbolic vision needing interpretation. Scholars estimate that Solomon was about 20 years old at this time. His answer to God’s question marks his maturity as well as his love for the Lord. He was young and inexperienced. He stood in the shadow of his father David’s glorious reign, and that could be intimidating to a young man. He knew that the Israelites were great in number and difficult to lead. He knew that the people were looking to him to lead, to guide, and to judge.  He recognized that his burden was heavy, and he had the wisdom to tell God that he was inadequate.

Solomon encountered what is known as imposter syndrome. He felt that he was underqualified. He lacked skills compared to his father. He was learning the ropes of his new role. This could have been debilitating or paralyzing. It could have derailed him from entering this new venture. It was a steep learning curve that could have revealed his weaknesses-if he had not relied on the Lord.

In asking for wisdom, Solomon asked for the highest gift. In the Old Testament, wisdom was considered to be the greatest gift. It can put itself in the place of others because it includes sensitivity and imagination. Great leaders must know more than facts about others. They must also be able to feel for them and get inside their situation. Worthy leaders must be able to love the unlovable and see them as God sees them. A hearing heart is an indispensable quality of leadership. He who seeks this kind of wisdom first is already wise.

God is pleased when, in our hearts, we put others before ourselves. He delights in prospering us when prosperity is not our chief aim. When we get it right, and in our hearts we do place others before ourselves, God can bless us beyond our wildest dreams.

When we put God first, when we put God’s will before personal gain, He will bless us. The more we pour out to God, the more He pours out to us. The blessings we receive will not always be material, but living for the Lord will always result in a deeper and stronger relationship with Him. Solomon’s example reminds us of the truth found in Matthew 6:33- “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

The humility of an understanding heart births a spirit that is sensitive to what God says through His Word and His people. The word “discern” derives from the same root as the word “between” and refers to the ability to choose between two options. The additional gifts of riches and honour, along with the conditional offer of a long life, signaled God’s pleasure at Solomon’s request.

If we want to summarize the meaning of this passage, we will find some very clear and concise principles related to our asking:

1. God wants us to ask Him to meet all of our needs.
2. God loves to reveal to us His desires and His ways of doing things.
3. We can ask God for all things, including those that relate to the natural world.
4. We are wise to ask in agreement with others.
5. We must always ask in faith and in the name of Jesus.
6. God will respond to our needs not in a way that opposes His commandments, but in a way that pleases Him and brings Him glory.
7. We can be assured that whenever we ask God for something, He hears and answers us, giving us precisely what we need-which may not be what we think we need, but which always benefits us most.

An audio version of this message can be found at https://www.spreaker.com/episode/1-kings-2-verses-10-12-and-1-kings-3-verses-3-14-solomon-and-wisdom–61053280

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 443,445)
2. Dilday, R., & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 9: 1,2 Kings (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp. 58-65)
3. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
4. MacArthur, J.F., Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Berni Dymet, “Wisdom and Wealth.” Retrieved from www.christianityworks.com
6. Ashley Moore, “How to Lead Well When Underqualified.” Retrieved from www.crosswalk.cim/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/
7. Anne Cetas, “Missing: Wisdom.” Retrieved from donotreply@email.rbc.org
8. Ed Young, “The Gift of Wisdom.” Retrieved from info@edyoung.com
9. Crystal B., “God Gives More Than Requested.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
10. Bayless Conley, “A Prosperous Attitude.” Retrieved from Bayless@AnswersBC.org