The Wisdom Of Solomon Series

Imagine you are walking down a beach and stumble an unusual looking bottle. You pick it up and poof, there is smoke and when it clears there is a Genie before you. You could be granted any wish, you just ask for it. What would you ask for?

Would you ask for riches, fame, to be a king, a long life, revenge on your enemies or something else. God is not a Genie. He is so far beyond that. But every good gift comes from God. He is able to give all things and enjoys giving to those who ask in accordance with his will.

In the context 1 Kings 3 and the Lord asking Solomon to make a request to him the throne of Israel has just come to Solomon. His father King David has died and has recently been buried. Solomon senses the tremendous responsibility.

The burden of the throne of Israel must have weight heavy on Solomon. He was young and needing guidance as the leadership has been passed to him. It was in this context the Lord appeared to Solomon.

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5)

The Lord told Solomon, whatever you want, ask for it! Could you imagine if God gave you a blank check. Write down anything on that check and you can have it. Would some people ask for rubies or silver and gold? Solomon asked for wisdom. It is more precious than rubies or silver or gold.

Solomon approached his new position with humility. “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. (I Kings 3:7)

Solomon must have been tossing and turning all night about how he would handle the throne. It was beyond him. Yes, Solomon was handsome, outstanding among ten thousand. His legs were like pillars of marble. He was charming (Song of Solomon 1:16, 5:10,15). None of this was enough to rule on the throne of Israel. Solomon needed something more.

He knew his looks and charm were not going to carry him long as king. He felt like a little child when it came to ruling the nation. When the Lord came to him and asked for his request, Solomon requested wisdom.

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:9)

Solomon asks for a discerning heart in administering justice. Great request! When I started to work at Quaker Oats, I was young and supervising people who worked there longer than I had been alive. I received advice; “treat everyone equal and be fair”. That man gave me great advice, but I will go with Solomon here, I need the Lord’s wisdom.

Solomon is burdened. Solomon is young and inexperienced. He asks, God give me the wisdom I need to govern this great people of yours. God is pleased by Solomon’s humble request.

I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. (1 Kings 3:12-13)

Not only does Solomon get his humble request, but God will pour out what a more selfish request might have asked for. Solomon woke up realizing that he had a dream. It was more than a dream. Solomon had a vision of God and realized that God was giving him the wisdom needed. To lead God’s people and more.

Solomon’s first challenge came. This would be a test of his wisdom. It was a dispute between two women about whose son was living and whose had died. It was a case of the “switcharoo.” It was a, my word against their word situation. There were no witnesses and one of them was lying.

Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. 19 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. 20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. 21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.” 22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.” But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king. (1 Kings 3:16-22)