Book of First Kings I Kings 3

Solomon s Wisdom from God Book of First Kings I Kings 3 David was quite different from his son, Solomon. David was a man of war; Solomon was a man of peace (Solomon means peace ). David was interested in battles; Solomon was interested in buildings. David preferred the simple life; Solomon lived in luxury. David is remembered for his psalms; Solomon is remembered for his proverbs. When David died the people mourned. When Solomon died the people begged Rehoboam to lighten the heavy burden his father had put on them. David was long remembered as the ideal leader and the standard by which other kings were judged, but nobody pointed to Solomon as the example of a godly king. Although Solomon s life began with great potential and promise, it ended in tragedy. A good beginning doesn t guarantee a good ending. Even Solomon himself wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. I Kings 3 and 4 describe the first three years of Solomon s reign. Important Facts about Solomon: Mentioned 294 times in the Old Testament, 12 times in the New Testament Son of David and Bathsheba (also called Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord ) Third king of Israel s United Kingdom, reigned from 970-930 B.C. Not a military leader, but a builder and administrator Brought in Israel s Golden Age Had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kgs. 11:3) Was a wise man who did some foolish things 1. Solomon s wife (vs. 1) This was the first of his 700 wives. His marriage to Pharaoh s daughter sealed a political alliance with Egypt. This alliance revealed that Solomon had a high standing in the world and Israel was recognized as a world power. This must have been a significant event because Solomon s marriage to this Egyptian princess is mentioned five times in I Kings (3:1; 7:8; 9:16, 24; 11:1). Solomon later built a special house for his Egyptian bride (7:8). This first marriage to Pharaoh s daughter was the beginning of his eventual downfall (11:1-4). Solomon s political marriages undermined the special purpose God had for His people Israel among the nations. God said to the Jews, I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from other people (Lev. 20:24, 26). The Lord wanted to bless Israel and use Israel as an object lesson and a witness to the nations, but instead Israel wanted to imitate the other nations, worship their gods and lose their special identity as God s separated people. With these marriages Solomon made some political progress, but he paid a very high spiritual price. 2. Solomon s worship (vs. 2-3) At this time Israel had no temple so the people worshiped at the high places. These were open-air, hilltop worship sites that Israel inherited from the people of Canaan. At one time the Canaanites used them as places to worship their false gods, but Israel transformed them into places to worship the true and living God, Jehovah. When the temple was later completed, worship at these high places was forbidden, yet Solomon continued to worship there (vs. 3). The Book of I Kings describes different kings and their attitude toward the high places: good kings destroy them; mediocre kings tolerate them; and evil kings support them. One of Solomon s greatest achievements was building the temple as a magnificent place of worship. It was the place built and dedicated for the name of God, which represents His attributes and His

presence. Beginning in vs. 3, Solomon is compared to his father, David. Throughout I and II Kings, David is presented as the model and the standard by which all other kings are measured. This wasn t because David was a perfect king, but because he truly loved the Lord and proved it by his repentance and his overall practice of loving and obeying God. David sinned, but he did not continue in sin as the common practice of his life. He was truly a man after God s own heart, but Solomon eventually proved to have a divided heart. 3. Solomon s wisdom (vs. 4-28) This was a defining moment for Solomon and the kingdom of Israel. This was the first of four occasions when Solomon encountered the Lord in a personal way (3:10-15; 6:11-13; 9:3-9; 11:9-13. We all have defining moments, although we may not realize them at the time. We can see that they were truly defining moments as we look back on them. Solomon s defining moment came in the place of worship. Solomon went to Gibeon (about 7 miles NW of Jerusalem), where the tabernacle of Moses was located, to offer sacrifice to the Lord. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on the altar. The burnt offering signified total dedication to the Lord. Many of our defining moments come during a time of worship. God speaks to us in a definite way, we respond to Him, and we are never the same again. A. Solomon requested wisdom Solomon had a dream in which God asked him to name whatever he wanted. God revealed Himself and His will through dreams, but this dream was unique because it involved a two-way conversation between God and Solomon. God gave him a blank check. What did he ask for? He asked God for an understanding heart (literally, a listening or hearing heart ), or wisdom (see 2 Chron. 1:7-12). Solomon understood the importance of having a wise heart. He wrote in Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. To the Jew a hearing heart was an obedient heart. True wisdom comes from hearing what God has to say and then obeying Him. Solomon was grateful for God s mercy and kindness to David and for allowing him to be Israel s next king. He appreciated God s faithfulness for all He had provided in fulfilling His promises. He understood the incredible demands of being king, and as a young man, he felt so inexperienced and inadequate for the job. Based on the census in 2 Samuel 24:9 (800,000 men of fighting age in Israel and 500,000 in Judah), Israel s total population was about 4 million people. That is twice the population when Israel entered the Promised Land in the days of Joshua. At this point Solomon was a humble man with a servant heart. He was also a young man about 20 years old. He knew that he needed God s help. He wanted wisdom to serve the Lord faithfully as king. B. Solomon received wisdom God was very pleased with his request and not only gave him wisdom, but added riches and honor and also promised long life if Solomon would live by His Word. Sadly because of his disobedience to God s Word, Solomon died before he was 70 years old. When Solomon awoke from his dream, he went to Jerusalem and worshiped the Lord to show his gratitude. The ark represented the presence of the Lord and the rule of God over His people. Solomon acknowledged the rule of God over his life and his kingdom. At this point he realized that he was second in command under God. If he had only remembered this throughout his reign. Solomon was wiser than anyone else in terms of his ability to judge and discern. C. Solomon revealed wisdom This well-known story became an example of Solomon s legendary wisdom. Two prostitutes were living in the same house

and they both gave birth to sons. One of the sons died in bed but the mother switched children with the other woman and claimed the living child was hers. There were no witnesses and no medical tests to determine who was the actual mother. You can imagine the high drama and emotion in this situation. In those days the king heard civil cases such as this and Solomon heard their testimony. Using great wisdom (discernment), Solomon threatened to cut the baby in half. He knew the liar would not object, but the real mother would object out of genuine love and concern for the child. His hearing heart heard the cry of the true mother. The verdict was rendered, case closed, and Solomon s reputation as a wise man was known far and wide. It s no wonder that Solomon wrote so much about the nature and value of godly wisdom. He understood it better than anyone. Lasting Lessons: 1) God is pleased when we put our needs ahead of our wants. There is a charity called the Make a Wish Foundation that provides hope for ailing children. If God gave you the chance, what would your wish be? Solomon was most concerned about his responsibility as king. When you ask God for things, consider your responsibilities as a husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, or worker. When our priorities line up with God s priorities for our life, it brings Him great pleasure. We need to pray for things that please God. Solomon didn t know Matthew 6:33, but he practiced it. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 2) God is able to provide far more than we ask or think. Ephesians 3:20-21 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 3) The most valuable thing in the world is godly wisdom. Proverbs 3:13-15 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. We need to claim the promise of James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. God gives us rich blessings so we can put them to use for Him. 4) Godly wisdom is best seen in making wise decisions. We first make our choices and then our choices make us. The Biblical word for wisdom means skill for living. Wisdom is not just having the correct information, but making the best use of that information. The world is increasing in knowledge, but not in wisdom. We speak of modern science and ancient wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. The foundation of all wisdom is the fear of God and the understanding of His holy character. Some people are smart enough to make a good living, but they aren t wise enough to make a good life.

Solomon s Wisdom from God Book of First Kings I Kings 3 David was quite different from his son, Solomon. David was a man of war; Solomon was a man of peace (Solomon means peace ). David was interested in battles; Solomon was interested in buildings. David preferred the simple life; Solomon lived in luxury. David is remembered for his psalms; Solomon is remembered for his proverbs. When David died the people mourned. When Solomon died the people begged Rehoboam to lighten the heavy burden his father had put on them. David was long remembered as the ideal leader and the standard by which other kings were judged, but nobody pointed to Solomon as the example of a godly king. Although Solomon s life began with great potential and promise, it ended in tragedy. A good beginning doesn t guarantee a good ending. Even Solomon himself wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. I Kings 3 and 4 describe the first three years of Solomon s reign. Important Facts about Solomon: Mentioned in the Old Testament, in the New Testament Son of (called Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord ) of Israel s United Kingdom, reigned from 970-930 B.C. Not a military leader, but a Brought in Israel s Had and (1 Kgs. 11:3) Was a wise man who 1. Solomon s (vs. 1) 2. Solomon s (vs. 2-3) 3. Solomon s (vs. 4-28) This was a defining moment for Solomon and the kingdom of Israel. This was the first of four occasions when Solomon encountered the Lord in a personal way (3:10-15; 6:11-13; 9:3-9; 11:9-13. We all have defining moments, although we may not realize them at the time. We can see that they were truly defining moments as we look back on them. A. Solomon B. Solomon C. Solomon

Lasting Lessons: 1) God is pleased when Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 2) God is able to provide Ephesians 3:20-21 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 3) The most valuable thing in the world is Proverbs 3:13-15 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 4) Godly wisdom is best seen in Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.