Solomon was diplomatic perhaps because he was not as good a warrior as his father David. The first thing he did after he had secured the throne was to tie the knot with Pharaoh's daughter. It was a marriage alliance (1 Kings 3:1). In the future, he would marry more foreign princesses to ensure Israel's thriving in a peaceful international environment.
Solomon was also a good administrator. In the future, he would divide up the Kingdom into twelve regions to be run by his handpicked men. With a strong government, he was able to build big projects and raise the prosperity of the country. Building a Temple to centralize the religious life of the Kingdom had been David's dream. It was Solomon who made this dream come true.
Solomon was also a good administrator. In the future, he would divide up the Kingdom into twelve regions to be run by his handpicked men. With a strong government, he was able to build big projects and raise the prosperity of the country. Building a Temple to centralize the religious life of the Kingdom had been David's dream. It was Solomon who made this dream come true.
While psalm and music were ascribed to David, wisdom literature was ascribed to Solomon. His wisdom was legendary. Solomon embodied Hebrew wisdom. Today, we read of his famous dream of praying for wisdom.
Since there was not yet a Temple to centralize sacrifices, all sacrificial offerings were carried out in high places. Solomon went to Gibeon to offer a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord (1 Kings 3:4). God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted. Solomon answered wisely.
Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people? (1 Kings 3:9)
It pleased the Lord because it was God's will to make Solomon wise to rule the Kingdom. While the first kings expanded the territory and secured relative peace, latter kings needed wisdom to maintain and govern a vast piece of land.
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,
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 (1 Kings 3:11-12).
In our prayers, we should seek God's will, not ours. God knows best. He knows what we don't know. He understands more than we understand ourselves. Therefore, empty our hearts and seek God's will.
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 (1 Kings 3:13).
This reminds us of what Jesus taught in Matthew.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus teaches us to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness. Then God shall take care of the rest.
God gives us what we have not asked. What have we not asked for? Sufferings. Nobody would ask for sufferings. But God will give us sufferings. Can we embrace them cheerfully, knowing that they are given us for our good? We need to take a longer view in order to discern the good God intends us. Job offers us a wisdom of sufferings. When calamities befell Job for no reasons, Job maintained his integrity.
Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die."
But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:9-10).
Naturally, we are happy to receive good at the hand of God. How hard it is to receive patiently evil! Notice that Job stopped short of ascribing evil to God. He refused to make God responsible for evils. Modern men do otherwise. Here lies the wisdom of Job.
While Job's wisdom is personal, Solomon's is not for himself. He exercises God's given talents for the service of the Kingdom. Whatever our talents, let us make good use of them for the needs of our neighbour.
Since there was not yet a Temple to centralize sacrifices, all sacrificial offerings were carried out in high places. Solomon went to Gibeon to offer a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord (1 Kings 3:4). God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted. Solomon answered wisely.
Give thy servant therefore an understanding mind to govern thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this thy great people? (1 Kings 3:9)
It pleased the Lord because it was God's will to make Solomon wise to rule the Kingdom. While the first kings expanded the territory and secured relative peace, latter kings needed wisdom to maintain and govern a vast piece of land.
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,
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 (1 Kings 3:11-12).
In our prayers, we should seek God's will, not ours. God knows best. He knows what we don't know. He understands more than we understand ourselves. Therefore, empty our hearts and seek God's will.
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 (1 Kings 3:13).
This reminds us of what Jesus taught in Matthew.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus teaches us to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness. Then God shall take care of the rest.
God gives us what we have not asked. What have we not asked for? Sufferings. Nobody would ask for sufferings. But God will give us sufferings. Can we embrace them cheerfully, knowing that they are given us for our good? We need to take a longer view in order to discern the good God intends us. Job offers us a wisdom of sufferings. When calamities befell Job for no reasons, Job maintained his integrity.
Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die."
But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:9-10).
Naturally, we are happy to receive good at the hand of God. How hard it is to receive patiently evil! Notice that Job stopped short of ascribing evil to God. He refused to make God responsible for evils. Modern men do otherwise. Here lies the wisdom of Job.
While Job's wisdom is personal, Solomon's is not for himself. He exercises God's given talents for the service of the Kingdom. Whatever our talents, let us make good use of them for the needs of our neighbour.
Dear Lord, I pray that we are able to discern Your will clearly. I pray that Your will be done. Amen.
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