Today I want to discuss 1 Kings 3:6-13, Solomon's prayer for wisdom.

Scripture tells us God came before Solomon in a dream and offered a blessing to Solomon, and in that Solomon pleased the Lord by asking for a what God calls "...a wise and discerning mind..." (1 Kings 3:12). Then God did bless Solomon with wisdom, wealth and long life also, and Solomon was said to be "wiser than all other men" (1 Kings 4:31)... yet something goes wrong.

Solomon the Wise & Discerning King

Source

I want to discuss this prayer because I believe it is an example of mankind following God's own heart. That like Solomon we are well served to pray for God's blessing over our "understanding" and "discernment", more than all other blessings. In fact, I believe our pursuit of God's wisdom in all circumstances is God's desire for his people, both then and now.

Ultimately, Solomon did not use his gifts to God's greatest glory, instead choosing to serve false gods, so let's read and discuss so that we might learn from his story.

1 Kings 3:1-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom

3 Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.

3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.

King Solomon: Wise but Foolish

After reading this scripture three key points struck me, and they are as follows:

1. Solomon's prayer was right and good according to God.
2. Solomon was equipped by God with wisdom BUT failed to use it well.
3. Even the wise are foolish before God.

Solomon asked for the right thing, he said "give me understanding". This prayer was right and good in that it honors God by acknowledging He is the source of wisdom and truth. Then by God's good grace Solomon was thereby equipped to rule well in wisdom. Unfortunately, wisdom like any virtue is only as good its application, simply knowing the wise course of action does not mean you follow it.

According to 1 Kings 3:12, there was never another man, before or after, that was more wise than king Solomon, yet even Solomon fails and falls. Even Solomon worships at the idol of false gods and so walks in foolishness. This is what is meant when I write, "wise but foolish".

For whatever reason, Solomon ceases to acknowledge the one true Lord and Creator. And in so doing Solomon shelved his wisdom and operated out of foolishness.

Despite having spoken to God twice, and having seen God's hand in his own life, Solomon comes to sacrifice to false gods, and permits his citizens do so also. Solomon is either fearing man more than God, or is beginning to believe in himself as god, believing he no longer needs the God of his father David. Either way, the wisdom granted by God is going to waste, because Solomon does not fear the Lord.

In conclusion, it appears Solomon would have done well to remember his own advice, Proverbs 9:10. And it seems to me that this is the entire point, you can be wise, rich, beautiful, powerful, but if you do not fear the Lord God, you will not walk in life, but rather death.

Proverbs 9:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

My Prayer:

Lord help me walk in reverence and honest humility before you God. You are the source of all wisdom and no accomplishment or acknowledgement that I can earn is worth anything to you. The only good work I can do is humbly surrender to your sovereign Lordship, and under your Son's gracious and merciful salvation. Lord help me make that choice, and stand by it all the days of my life.

For your glory, your kingdom, and my own greatest good, in Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen.

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