This sermon will explore lessons from the Book of Chronicles on restarting life after a crisis, focusing on the wisdom of ancient scribe Ezra and the teachings from the lives of kings.
Good morning everybody! We are learning lessons these days about how to restart our lives after being shut down by a national crisis. Our teacher during this series is an ancient scribe named Ezra. Ezra described himself as “a scribe skilled in the law of Moses.” After 70 years of exile in Babylon, and being set free to restart their nation, Ezra compiled a selective account of the history of his people. We call his account, “The Book of Chronicles.” In it, Ezra teaches scores of lessons from the lives of kings on what to do and what not to do when you get a change to do things over.
Last week, we learned another lesson from David, this one was about faith. We learned that God relents when we repent. And that repentance involves remorse for our wrongs and turning towards what’s right, and giving something costly to God. Today, we are going to learn a lesson from Solomon about wisdom.
We are learning lessons these days about how to restart our lives after being shut down by a national crisis.
The Bible says that, apart from Jesus Christ, Solomon was the wisest man in history. You’ve turned to 2 Chronicles 1, but I’m going to start in 1 Kings 4. Listen as it describes Solomon’s wisdom: 29 God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol. His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations.
32 Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs numbered 1,005. 33 He spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34 Emissaries of all peoples, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. 1 Kings 4:29-34
Solomon was 14 years old when he did this. He wasn’t the youngest king to rule Israel, but whether you’re 7, 8, 14, or 40, becoming king is a daunting assignment.
If you’ve ever felt small and helpless, if you’ve ever wondered if you could do the thing you were being asked to do, if you’ve ever wished your dad or somebody else was there to help you with the task you’ve been given, you know what Solomon was feeling that day. Solomon found himself responsible and caring for 2 million people who all needed leadership, care, and protection.
This was the biggest assignment of his life, so he makes the biggest sacrifice he can imagine. One after another, 1,000 herd animals are slaughtered and hoisted onto the altar. One after another, their ashes rise upward to God.
In the Old Testament, there were several types of offerings. One of them was called “The Fellowship Offering.” With a Fellowship Offering, you roasted a part the animal to the Lord and you roasted the other part for yourself. When your portion was cooked just the way you liked it, you sat down and ate it “in fellowship” with the Lord – like a meal eaten between two friends.
Another type of offering was a Burnt Offering. With a Burnt Offering, you ate nothing. You burned it all up. God got it all. The offering was totally consumed, symbolizing that you were giving everything to God. Solomon’s offering was a Burnt Offering. Solomon was saying, “God, all I have is yours, and all I am is yours.” 1,000 times he said that. “All I am is yours. All I have is yours. All I am is yours. All I have is yours.”
That evening, God came to him and asked, “Solomon, ‘What should I give you?’” You can’t outgive God ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
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