Read 1
Kings 3-5 & Luke
23:1-26
To discover:
As you read note how Solomon’s greatness is evident.
To ponder:
Solomon’s kingdom may be securely
established (2v46), but we immediately see he will not be a perfect king.
Rather than trust God alone for his kingdom, he enters a wordly alliance with Egypt
and marries a non-Israelite, Pharoah’s daughter. Moreover, although we read he
“loved” the LORD and walked according to David’s statutes (presumably those of
2v2-3), he disobeyed God’s law by offering sacrifices at the “high places” as
the people did, rather than at the tabernacle. So we are still awaiting the
king Israel
really need, who could finally crush the serpent (Gen 3v15).
Nevertheless,
God was with Solomon. 1 Chronicles 1v1-13 tells us that although the ark was in
a tent in Jerusalem, the tabernacle and altar were at the high place in Gibeon,
which is why Solomon went there to offer his thousand burnt offerings –
displaying how utterly devoted to God he was. In this context, God appeared to
him in a dream, offering “whatever” Solomon might “ask for.” Solomon’s response
displays thankfulness for his kingdom, recognizing it was given him because of
his father’s faithfulness. With a sense of humble recognition that as but “a
little child” he might not be as able to govern such a “great” and “numerous”
people, Solomon prays for “a discerning heart to distinguish between right and
wrong.” This is the very essence of biblical wisdom, for which we should all
seek, especially when daunted by our responsibilities.
God
was “pleased” that Solomon had not asked for what would benefit him, and so
promised Solomon would be wiser than anyone would ever be, receiving riches so
he would be the greatest king of his day. If he obeyed God’s commands, he would
also have a long life. As if displaying this wisdom, he immediately returned to
Jerusalem to offer burnt and
fellowship offerings before “the ark,” as was more proper. Here we are reminded
of God’s pleasure when what we seek from him in prayer is what would benefit
his purposes rather than our pleasures (Jam 4v3).
Solomon’s
wisdom is famously displayed in judging between the two rival prostitutes who
both claimed a baby was theirs. His command to cut the baby in two revealed the
true mother by her concern and the false mother by her callousness. And we read
the people were in awe, seeing the king “had wisdom from God to administer
justice.” This is the greatest need of all with authority to judge (Prov 8v15) –
whether governments, elders in the church, or parents!
The
consequences of Solomon’s wise rule is then displayed in organising his kingdom
so he could rule a nation as numerous “as sand on the seashore” (4v20, see
3v7-9). And here we see God’s promise fulfilled (Gen 22v17) as the people feast
happily, Solomon reigns over the area God said Israel would (4v21, 24, see Gen
15v8), with the people experiencing peace in an almost Eden-like state of
blessing (4v25), and Solomon receiving tribute from other nations. Although the
note on his numerous horses sounds another alarm (Deut 17v16), the stress is on
the summit of Israel’s
experience under Solomon. God gave him unlimited wisdom, greater than all
others, by which he wrote sayings, composed songs, studied nature and was listened
to by delegates from “all the kings of the world,” fulfilling God’s purpose of commending
his relationship with Israel to the nations (Deut 4v6-8). How much more should
we listen to Christ, acknowledging the God whose wisdom he embodies. And how
much greater a kingdom will he establish.
It
is in the context of glorifying God to the nations that Solomon tells the king
of Tyre’s envoys what God had done,
requesting cedars so he could build the temple
God had said he would. The king
then praises the LORD and we read of peace between the two nations as Solomon
even manages to get Tyre’s workmen working on his project (Israel’s labourers
were Canaanites, 9v15-23). In acknowledging the LORD, Jew and Gentile now join together
under Christ in building the church.
Praying it home:
Thank God for the wisdom we find in
his word, and most especially in and through Christ. Pray that he would make us
wise as we study scripture, equipping us to govern our families and other
responsibilities to his glory.
Thinking further:
None today.
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