August 9 - Wisdom

August 9 - 1 Kings 3:1-15 - Wisdom

Did you ever wonder what the people of Israel did while waiting for the Temple to be built? Huh. I never did. But, it occurs to me that I probably should have. 1 Kings 3:2 tells us that the people were still sacrificing at the high places because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. That's just interesting! This habit actually began during the times of the Judges. The Canaanites felt that the closer they were to heaven, the greater the possibility that the gods would accept their offerings. So ... when in Rome ...

As I read stories about Solomon, the one word that seems to predominate is 'abundance.' Everything Solomon did was in abundance. When he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices (1 Kings 3:4-5), he offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. A thousand! If you read 1 Kings 4:20-28, you see huge numbers for daily provisions. 1 Kings 10:14-29 extols Solomon's splendor and in 1 Kings 11:1-13, we find that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. Abundance.

But, with this burnt offering on this day, God comes to Solomon as he sleeps and offers to give him whatever it is that he would desire.

Solomon's response is beautiful (1 Kings 3:6-9). He acknowledges the kindness of the Lord to his father and acknowledges that he, himself is simply a servant king in place of David. At this point in Solomon's reign, he recognizes his human limitations. He is but a child in the midst of the people that the Lord has chosen. They are a great people, too numerous to count or number.

"Oh Lord, give to 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?"

Solomon could have asked for anything from the Lord: wealth, long life, death of enemies. But, he asked for discernment. And with this request, he identified himself as one of the greatest kings that would ever live. He received wisdom in abundance.

And because he asked for this, the Lord honored him with riches and honor and a long life if Solomon would but walk in the ways of the Lord and obey His statutes and commands.

How do I honor God with my requests? Are they made to further my agenda or to further His kingdom. I love Solomon for this. He had grown up as a privileged young prince, but it meant more to him to honor his Lord, than to expect great things for himself.