What would you ask for if the Lord appeared to you in a dream and said, hey, you name it, you can have anything you want. and I’ll give it to you? That’s what fairy tales are made out of. The genie appears. You get three wishes. You can have anything you want. What would you ask for?
God does this for Solomon:
7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”
Verses 8=10: “Solomon said to God, you have shown great mercy to David, my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O Lord, let your promise to David, my father, be established for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the Earth in multitude. Now, give me wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people for who can judge this great people of yours.”
Solomon is thinking of what is best for the kingdom, for the people and the kingdom for me to serve the people of this kingdom. I need wisdom. I need understanding. So he is concerned, first and foremost, for the kingdom, and he asks God for wisdom.
A favorite verse of mine in the New Testament, James 1:5 says, 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
So it’s a good thing for us if we lack wisdom. Any of you ever lack wisdom?
I need wisdom daily. And so Solomon asked. That was his request. Lord, give me wisdom. And he is concerned for the kingdom.
“And God said to Solomon, because this was in your heart and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I made you king.”
Wisdom is the ability to make good decisions based on proper discernment and judgment. Knowledge, in this verse, refers to the practical know-how necessary for handling everyday matters. Wisdom applies knowledge. Solomon used his wisdom and knowledge not only to build the Temple from his father’s plans but also to put the nation on firm economic footing.
Solomon prayed for wisdom; and he was a wise young man asking for wisdom. Where did he get the idea to ask God for wisdom?
From his father. 1 Chronicles 28. David says in verse 9, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart, with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, he will be found by you. If you forsake Him, he will cast you off forever.”
He encourages his son to trust the Lord, to seek the Lord wisely. It was wise counsel. Now, something else. Who wrote the book of Proverbs? Solomon. So listen to what he writes in chapter 4:1-7
“Here, my children, the instruction of a father, give attention to understanding for I give you good doctrine. Do not forsake my law. Now, listen, when I was my father’s son–” his father is David– “tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, let your heart retain my words, keep my commands and live. Get wisdom.
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.
And the whole chapter is David telling Solomon seek wisdom, seek wisdom. So, yes, we usually say Solomon is such a great kid. He asks for wisdom. He got the idea from his dad.
“And God said, because that was in your heart, you didn’t ask selfishly, but you asked that you might judge my people whom I have made you king.” Verse 12, “Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. And–“ very important word, and.
In other words, I’m going to do that, but I’m going to toss something else in as well. I’m going to do not only what you ask for– but we know this about God. He does exceedingly, abundantly, above all, we ask or think according to his riches in Christ. So I’m going to give you wisdom and knowledge. “And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”
To me, this verse is the equivalent of Matthew 6: 33. “But seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.” Solomon was concerned about the kingdom. He wanted to rule the kingdom well. He was really, truly seeking first the kingdom. As you and I are told, to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And these things will be added unto us.
God says, I’m going to give you all this, wealth honor, such as none of the Kings who have been before you or nor any after you.
King Solomon is probably most familiar for his wisdom; wisdom that was imparted to him by God. Solomon achieved much in business and government, but most important, he was the man God used to build the glorious Temple. This beautiful building was the religious center of the nation. It symbolized the unity of all the tribes, the presence of God among them, and the nation’s high calling. We may achieve great things in life, but we must not neglect any effort that will help nurture God’s people or bring others into God’s Kingdom.
| The Temple was the symbol of God’s presence and the place set aside for worship and prayer. Built by Solomon from the plans God gave to David, the Temple was the spiritual center of the nation.
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As Christians meet together to worship God, they experience the presence of God in away that no individual believer can, for the dwelling place of God is the people of God. The body of Christ is God’s temple.
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Solomon was renowned for great wealth yet Jesus told his listeners that Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like the lilies of the field.
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [a]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
| As Solomon and his people were faithful to God, they experienced victory in battle, success in government, and peace with other nations. Peace was the result of the people being unified and loyal to God and his law.
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Only God can bring true peace. God is greater than any enemy, army, or nation. Just as Israel’s faithful response was key to her peace and survival as a nation, so our obedience to God as individuals and nations is vital to peace today.
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Sources:
[1] Life Application Bible Notes (Tyndale, 2007), 664–676.
2 Chronicles – Connect Ministries, Skip Hietzig
Upwards Church 