First Kings

Chapter Three: Solomon’s Wisdom (part 2)

by

Jim Bordwine, ThD

Introduction

When we were children, and Christmas season rolled around, our parents would sometimes ask us, “what would you like this year?” Immediately our thoughts began to swirl and we had all manner of images coming to mind as we contemplated that open ended question—as if we really could have whatever we asked for. Eventually, of course, we learn that there are limits to such a question and we are expected to respond within those parameters. Even then, however, having someone ask us what we would like to receive from them is a satisfying and often exciting occasion.

I want you to imagine what it would be like to hear this statement spoken to you by God: “Ask what you wish Me to give you.” Would that not be the most incredible declaration you ever heard? And assuming God is sincere, we would quickly realize that He is capable of giving us everything and anything. Ideally, if we were to ponder this offer for a few moments, our request would be more functional than some tangible asset, like a new car or a new home. With sincere desires, we might ask for something that would enable us to better serve the Lord.

What I just described actually happened to king Solomon shortly after he took the throne of his father. In the last sermon, we learned about serious challenges facing Solomon as he began to rule. He faced challenges of a political nature and sought to improve his circumstance by marrying the daughter of Pharaoh. Solomon also had to contend with the spiritual state of the people. The worship practices of the nation were in desperate need of reformation. And the king faced the challenge of disciplining himself so that his walk before God would be honorable and serve as an example to his subjects.

After giving us a brief description of this context in which Solomon assumed his position of leadership, the writer tells us of that remarkable encounter between Solomon and the Lord during which the king was asked what he wished to receive from God. Solomon’s request is recorded in verses 5-15 of the third chapter of First Kings. This is the passage we will examine this morning.

02. Solomon’s Request (vv. 5-15)

I want to read only verse five at this time:

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”

The Lord’s Appearance

You will recall that in our last passage the writer told us that Solomon frequently offered sacrifices in Gibeon. As I explained last week, Solomon himself was not following God’s direction regarding the location for worship. This was one of the issues that Solomon would have to address in his behavior.

One night, the Lord came to Solomon in a dream and gave him the opportunity I described earlier. Without qualifications, God put before Solomon this seemingly open ended statement: “Ask what you wish Me to give you.” Let’s not fail to appreciate what is happening on this night. Solomon is in a place where he should not have been, and he is doing what he should not have been doing, namely, bringing burnt offerings to the Lord in a location not sanctioned by God. Nevertheless, this is the time and place God chose to speak to Solomon regarding the most significant decision he would ever make.

The Response From Solomon

6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

Before Solomon responds directly to the Lord’s inquiry, he has a few things to say. He quickly rehearses the experience of his father, David. Solomon knew very well the nature of the relationship between his father and the Lord. He witnessed the favor of God shown repeatedly and richly to David. There was no question in Solomon’s mind regarding God’s abundant goodness to his father. He says, in fact: You have shown great lovingkindness to my father; as he walked before you.

At some point in the past, I assume I’ve explained the significance of the word “lovingkindness.” It is a wonderfully particular term used in reference to God’s covenant activities. The Hebrew word is: checed. This word describes a relationship in which God demonstrates unique regard for someone. The root of the term means “a faithful goodness” or “faithful kindness.” It implies mercy and favor mixed with faithfulness on God’s part. God shows goodness to all His creatures, but only the elect know the goodness of God grounded in His eternal faithfulness. “Lovingkindness,” therefore, is a word used exclusively in the contexts of covenant relationships. Solomon declares that his father knew this particular and reserved kind of love from the Lord.

Solomon is not recalling just any relationship between God and one who worshiped Him. Solomon had the advantage of having seeing a lively and encouraging relationship between God and a man of God grounded in God’s decree of election. The son observed the blessings of God so very evident in his father’s life—in personal, as well as public ways. David became great because God made him great; David enjoyed victory in battles because God appointed his triumph over his enemies; David knew God as his heavenly Father because the Lord drew him near.

Solomon beheld this relationship and could testify, therefore, that his father “walked before the Lord in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart.” (v. 6) God showed favor to David and David, in turn, honored Him by ordering his life according to principles of holiness. This was part of Solomon’s legacy as the son of one who served the Lord and genuinely desired to please Him.

And Solomon reveals unusual insight when he indicates his awareness of his unique place in this relationship between the Lord and his father David: “You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.” In Solomon’s mind, having a son follow you as king of the people of God was a monumental example of God’s favor. And this is what David experienced. The rise of David from a young shepherd to the throne of God’s nation is, without doubt, an incredible story of God’s electing love, power, providence, and trustworthiness. All of these things are elements in the answer Solomon is going to give to the Lord.

What follows is a humble admission on the part of Solomon. We shouldn’t be surprised by this, however. If a man has the perspective and experience of Solomon, much of which he just summarized for us, you would not expect him to boast about himself. He would recognize that, as God’s grace had been abundantly shown to his father, it would also be the key to his present situation and future prosperity. Therefore, Solomon describes himself as “a little child” who does not know “how to go out or come in.” (v. 7) He is not referring to his maturity, but to his worthiness to take the place of David and become the king under God. He means that he will need guidance and that guidance can come only from the One who had guided and protected his father before him.

Solomon also confesses that the people of God constitute a great nation, one chosen by God, too many to be counted. (v. 8) He is emphasizing, once again, the enormity of the responsibility he is inheriting. We cannot help but discern a degree of insight as Solomon speaks. Clearly, he understands his calling is of a distinctive character. This realization simply solidifies Solomon’s humble approach to the Lord’s offer. With such admissions, how could Solomon request anything other than what would help him serve the Lord with utmost effectiveness?

Not long after I was born again, I became convinced that God was directing me toward some kind of full-time vocation in the Church. I decided to quit my job and start attending Bible college in the fall. I was completely convinced this was the right thing to do. Just before I left my job, I was contacted by someone higher up in the company. I was offered a position in the company that would involve a substantial salary, specially for a man my age, and significant responsibility for part of the company’s operation. If I put the job, I would have to move to Memphis, and even that element of the offer was very exciting to me.

One moment, I was absolutely sure of the path I have chosen, but the next moment, I experienced great doubt and began reconsidering my decision to attend Bible college. The only thing that a change in my life was the offer of that new position. If I accepted the job, I knew where I would be living, how much money I would be making, and precisely what I would be doing as an employee. If I continued on to Bible college and preparation for service in the Church, I had no idea where I would end up, no idea what I would be going, and no idea how long it would take to prepare myself for whatever God provided.

This was the choice given to me. I would like to say that I instantly rejected the job offer, but that did not happen. Instead, I was thrown into a period of turmoil as I wrestled with the possibilities before me. Had I misinterpreted God’s will for me? Was my sense of a call to service in the Church something originating in me because of my conversion and enthusiasm for the things of God? Was this job offer actually coming from God, so that I would not make the mistake of thinking He had called me into the ministry?

I then had to reexamine the certainty I felt when I made the decision to begin preparing for ministry. Once I’ve reviewed how sure I was that God was directing me toward theological training, clarity returned, I declined the new position in Memphis, and resumed my original plan.

In one sense, I was facing a situation somewhat like the one we are studying in our passage. Two paths were open to me, one on which I knew what I would encounter, and the other one on which I had little knowledge of what I would encounter. You can understand, I would imagine, why I struggled with my decision. That which settled the matter for me was my heartfelt desire to do something with my life that would contribute to God’s work of redemption; having received the blessing of salvation myself, I was eager to join in the declaration of the gospel.

We are not told about everything that was in the mind of Solomon as he contemplated God’s statement; we do know, however, that he took the time to remind himself of the character of his life up to that point. It appears Solomon realized that he was being given the opportunity to contribute to the work of God to become much more than a recipient, as had been true for most of his life. Consequently, Solomon asks for something intended to enable him to please the Lord. His request, then, is most honorable.

Solomon requests that the Lord give him “an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.” (v. 9) This is a completely unselfish desire; it pertains to the honor of God and blessings for the people of God. This request is such a wonderful example to any believer regarding priorities, desires, hopes, and goals.

The Gifts of God

10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13 “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 “If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.” 15 Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

Solomon’s request pleased the Lord—and that is exactly what we would expect. Of all the gifts Solomon could have asked for, and God names several of them, he chose that which would enable him to make the most of his position as king and the most, therefore, of his life. God gladly granted Solomon’s desire: “I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart . . .” (v. 12) In fact, God goes well beyond what Solomon asked and declares that there has been no one like Solomon before and there shall not be one like Solomon in the days to come. And the Lord added to this the promise of “riches and honor” that would distinguish Solomon among all the rulers of his day. Finally, Solomon is promised length of life if he will walk in the ways of his father, David (v. 14)

Once again, we have testimony concerning David’s piety. Through obedience to God’s Word, just as David had demonstrated, Solomon would know God’s favor. This statement from God reminds us that simple obedience, simple conformity of our lives to His will, is what pleases God most.

One of Solomon’s first acts after experiencing this dream was a symbolic reformation of worship. Rather than go to a high place, Solomon made his way to Jerusalem and there “offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.” In addition, he included his servants in a celebration. Remember that Solomon was in Gibeon when he had his dream. That is the place where he typically worshiped. That fact was stated earlier.

After his contact with God, however, he leaves that place and returns to the one location God had designated, which was Jerusalem. As I noted, this act was indicative of Solomon’s return to a more careful walk before God. This could only do good as the people learned of this conduct as their new king.

Application

There is once again an abundance of application to be made from this passage. For example, consider again Solomon’s dream. Solomon’s contact with the Lord took place in the context of an act of disobedience on the king’s part. He was in Gibeon when he should have been in Jerusalem; he was worshiping in Gibeon even though God stipulated that he should make his offerings in Jerusalem. Is it not typical of the Lord to come to our aid precisely at that moment when we are engaged in some kind of foolishness for disobedience?

God does not turn His back on you when you fall into sin. He does not withhold His help until you deliver yourself from the snare. God comes to you, as it were, when you need Him most. Were that not the case, we would all be lost. You may be in such a situation right now. You may have involved yourself in some transgression and you know you need to escape. Do not wait until you free yourself to call on God; you will be waiting forever. The time to seek God’s help is the moment you realize you need His help. And the wonderful thing about our relationship with the Lord, as I have already suggested, is that He is willing to come to His people’s aid even when they are trapped as a result of their own choices and decisions.

A second application has a do with the topic frequently discussed among believers. Christians routinely talk about discerning the will of God for their lives. At some point, we all consider the question of how to determine what God would have us do; the truth is, most of us go through this process many times in our lives.

This story provides a helpful example. Before Solomon replied to God’s question about what he would want the Lord to give to him, he rehearsed his history. This immediately brought to mind how God conducted Himself in the past, how he—Solomon—related to the house of David, and how the present circumstance was directly traceable to God’s purposes. This made Solomon’s decision much easier. He already knew what God desired of him based up on his life up to that point. God had given many indications concerning His will for the house of David. What Solomon knew about God greatly helped him decide what God would grant to him that would be of true worth.

You should also be able to discern the will of God for your life, at least to a degree. If you rehearse your history, and remind yourself of what God has done for you, where He has led you, how He has provided for you, and what He has allowed you to discover, you should have a good idea of which direction God would have you take the next time you face such a question. Unless your options are almost identical, there should be a discernible difference and that difference will result in one option aligning itself with your history with the Lord and the other option being incompatible with a history you have experienced as God’s redeemed.

Obviously, this pattern requires that you do three things. First, you must pay attention to the work of God in your life so that as time goes on, you will have a solid grasp of how God has conducted Himself. Second, you have to rehearse your history from time to time so that details are not forgotten. You cannot discern what God would have you do today the if you have little conception of what your relationship with God has been like in the past. And third, you have to be prepared to follow God’s direction. This is the hard part. You may have to give up something you want or have in order to respond to God’s will. You may have to choose the path you never intended to choose in order to comply with what God has revealed to you.

We have not been left alone without direction in this world. We have, of course, the Scriptures that provide us with a comprehensive education in the things of God. And we also have providence, which includes your history with Him; and that history, as I’ve been saying, will prove invaluable as you discern God’s will.

A third application comes from Solomon’s recognition of the responsibility he had as king. He was the son of a man greatly favored by the Lord and he had taken the place of his father on the throne. As Solomon thought about this legacy, you can be sure that he was completely serious in his attitude for that state that God made.

Recognizing the enormity of a responsibility naturally produces an increased sense of seriousness and dedication. If you are in a position of some responsibility, consideration of that responsibility and the implications that accompany it, should produce in you a conviction of commitment. Almost every person here this morning there’s some measure of responsibility in one area or another. And, as just noted, responsibility is accompanied by consequences.

To those who bear responsibility, the text of the responsibility for the welfare of others, I pose these questions: Have you discerned the importance of what God has placed in your hands? Have you studied the implications of your responsibility? Do you realize what effect your conduct in regard to this responsibility has on those who are depending on you and those who are observing your life?

If, like Solomon, you recognize the weight of your responsibility, you will have that sense of commitment. Take the time, therefore, to consider what responsibility God has given you at this point in your life. How important is that position you occupy? Who is depending on you? What are the consequences of complacency in regard to your responsibility?

Yet another point of application, a fourth application, in fact, is to be made regarding that wonderful term “lovingkindness.” We should not pass too quickly over that word. It speaks directly of your saving relationship and eternal security. If you are one of the redeemed, then God’s unfailing mercy and consistent care belong to you. You can be assured that you will never know even a moment of separation from your heavenly Father. There will never be even a split second during which you are forgotten by Him or left on your own. You belong to that exclusive body known as God’s elect. This truth should bring you tremendous encouragement, especially during the trying times you face in this world. Knowing that God loves you and will never withhold that love should give you a satisfying sense of peace.

A fifth application is one we frequently encounter as we study the Bible. We frequently encounter this truth because it is of fundamental importance. It is one of those basic teachings that relate to the nature of our walk with God. I’m referring to the fact that obedience is the key to pleasing God. In regard to this subject of obedience, the Bible makes two points abundantly clear. First, our justification is in no way dependent upon our obedience. We are justified by grace through faith and it is a work of God from beginning to end. Second, obedience will be the one consistent characteristic of that man or woman, boy or girl, who has been justified by that grace of God.

The inevitable result of a redeemed soul is the desire to walk in peace with God. Throughout Scripture, obedience is presented as the crucial ingredient in a peaceful relationship with God. Obedience that comes from our love for Him pleases God. I often use the phrase “thankful obedience” to emphasize that our desire to obey the Word of God is grounded in our thankfulness for what we have received from Him.

Neither our justification nor our security depends on our conformity to God’s will. Justification is a free gift of God and our eternal security rests in the fact of God’s unchangeable nature. Obedience will always be a response to what God has done for us and never the cause for what God has done for us. Once again, therefore, if you have been redeemed, obedience to the Word of God should be one of your most obvious and consistent characteristics.

This is why the Bible speaks of this topic so often. And this is why you must be willing to evaluate yourself and answer questions like this: Am I walking in obedience to the Lord? Is my life marked by a sincere desire to please God? These are not difficult questions. You know if you delight in keeping the commandments of God. You know the attitude that rests in your heart toward the requirements God has stipulated. May the Lord cause each of us to rejoice in the Word of God and may He fix in our hearts an unshakable dedication to His pleasure.

Our sixth application, which is our last, comes from the end of the passage we considered this morning. You will remember that after the dream and after Solomon requested wisdom, the first thing he did was return to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. I think Solomon realized his sin in offering sacrifices at the high places. After his encounter with the Lord, therefore, he corrected his transgression and went to that one place sanctioned by God. I would suggest that this amounts to repentance.

Whenever we realize we have sinned, our first step should be one of reformation. That is, we should immediately cease breaking the Word and immediately begin keeping the Word. We are to turn from one thing to another; we are to turn from a course of sin to a course of obedience. All of us have had such an experience. There have been times in our lives when we confessed our sin and sought, from that point forward, to conduct ourselves properly.

Since we covered the topic of obedience as some length previously, I want to emphasize another element that is crucial to our efforts to abandon that which displeases God in favor of pursuing that which pleases Him. I am referring to the fact that the opportunity and ability to repent come from the Savior. If we had not been released from condemnation, there would be no such thing as repentance. We would remain dead in our sins. We would never know the relief of God’s forgiveness or the comfort of His Fatherly love.

We did not deliver ourselves, nor did we make payment for that sin which separated us from God. We did not satisfy the justice of God, nor did we appease His righteous indignation. We were lost and without hope. No act of obedience, no matter how small, would be possible for us if Jesus Christ had not rescued us. This is the one fundamental truth we must embrace because our experience as God’s people is grounded in it.

Have you ever found yourself at that point of repentance for some sin and felt so very grateful for God’s willingness to forgive? Have you ever had occasion to be glad as you recalled the never-failing promises of God? Has a descent into despair ever been stopped by the contemplation of your placed in God’s household? There is only one explanation for all of this and that is the substitutionary life, death, and resurrection of God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. We owe all to Him.

You may repent of sin this very moment because He gave Himself for you and guaranteed your acceptance by God. God will receive your prayer of repentance for Christ’s sake. And you may call upon God for the very first time in your whole life, right now as I speak, because Jesus Christ paid for all of our sin.

Prayer

Hymn for Communion

Conclusion

We will give expression to our relationship with the Savior now as we observe this sacrament. By it, we are instructed that Jesus Christ gave His life for ours, and we are reminded that His blood covered our transgressions. The bread you will receive stands for the body Jesus surrendered on the cross; the wine you will drink stands for the blood He provided to wash away your sin. Receive these elements with thanksgiving and take the truth here portrayed into this coming week so that your eyes will be fixed on the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Matt. 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”