God freely gives wisdom to those who ask.

Meaning of wisdom

wis·dom:

1. the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.

2. the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

3. the body of knowledge and principles that develops within a specified society or period.

Golden Text: Proverbs 2:6  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

The difference between the wisdom that the Lord gives compared to the wisdom life gives is this, with the Lord you don’t have to have experience or age, it’s is simply gifted.

Early in Solomons reign as king of Israel, God appeared to him in a dream and offered to grant whatever he might ask in prayer. Solomon asked for wisdom. God granted his request, and within a few years afterward, Solomon was known as the wisest man on earth. Sadly, in later years, Solomon forsook his God-given wisdom and became very foolish and sinful. Nevertheless, Solomon‘s example of praying for wisdom, and receiving it in abundance from God encourages us to act on this exhortation: 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 (James 1:5).

1. GOD’S OFFER TO SOLOMON

A. Solomon Worships at Gibeon

1Ki 3:1  And Solomon made affinity (agreement of marriage) with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

1Ki 3:2  Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.

1Ki 3:3  And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.

1Ki 3:4  And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

…….From the specifics in scripture, it shows that Solomon worshipped in places (high places) that false gods were worshiped. Verse 4 indicates the place known as “the great high place” where the great altar of sacrifice and the tabernacle tent had been moved to. This is the place where the priests offered sacrifices to God and ministered to the people of Israel. Though Solomons father King David loved the Lord and worshipped wholeheartedly, not much scripture shows his spiritual influence “or lack thereof” on any of his children. Solomon’s lack of indoctrination was evident all throughout his life, which eventually ended up in spiritual failure. No matter how far we come or how much spiritual success is made in our life, it will always be most vital for our children to know, experience and understand the God we worship.

B. God Appears to Solomon

1Ki 3:4  And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

…….There is really no telling what it was that sparked the intuition for Solomon to strive at the great high place, other than knowing for a fact that after trying other places of worship, nothing else was working. In understanding the method that was used for sacrificing unto the Lord and the preparation of the sacrifice, “a thousand burnt offerings” could have taken several days and possibly weeks.

1Ki 3:5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

…….Solomon had God’s attention and was granted the ability to ask for anything he wanted within the keeping of God’s will. While God had raised up the profits of Israel and his messengers to the rulers and people of Israel, and king David had the benefit of having the profits Nathan and Gad as his counselors, God also communicated directly with David on numerous occasions, because he was also a prophet (2 Samuel 23:1-2). No doubt, Solomon had access to prophets and priests who could give him counsel, but like David his father, he sought for himself a direct revelation of God to obtain God‘s direction, and God granted it to him.

2. SOLOMON PRAYS FOR WISDOM

A. Solomon’s Prayer to God

1Ki 3:6  And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

…….The first correct acknowledgment that Solomon came to in his prayer was Gods great mercy. Solomon knew that his kingdom was given by the Lord and he was humbled by it.

1Ki 3:7  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

…….The second acknowledgement is his lack of ability. This scripture shows that Solomon hadn’t yet reached adulthood and needed God’s guidance.

1Ki 3:8  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

1Ki 3:9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

…….Though Solomon didn’t specifically ask for wisdom, it is exactly what he needed and God would provide. If we ever want anything from the Lord we must first acknowledge our lacking and inabilities. God will not grant His great attributes to a heart full of pride. We must be humble.

B. God’s Answer to Solomon

1Ki 3:10  And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

1Ki 3:11  And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

1Ki 3:12  Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

1Ki 3:13  And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

…….God was so pleased with the prayers of Solomon that He applied to his life more than what was asked.

1Ki 3:14  And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

…….This was the last grant from the Lord, but it came with stipulation. This last blessing Solomon did not receive because of his defection from God. It is generally believed that Solomon died in his late 50’s.

1Ki 3:15  And 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 up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

……. after receiving this dream from God, Solomon returned to Jerusalem and worshipped before the tent housing the ark of the covenant, where David his father had worship. Thus, Solomon confirmed to his commitment to the God and faith of Isreal, and celebrated God‘s goodness to him by making a feast for all his servants.

3. SOLOMON SHOWS SUPERNATURAL WISDOM

A. Problem Presented

1Ki 3:16  Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

…….Solomon’s allowing of prostitutes in his presence shows already that an understanding heart was in use. Solomon, like his father David, showed the importance of every citizen of Israel was to him.

1Ki 3:17  And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

1Ki 3:18  And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

1Ki 3:19  And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

1Ki 3:20  And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

1Ki 3:21  And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.

1Ki 3:22  And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

B. Wisdom From God

1Ki 3:23  Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

1Ki 3:24  And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

1Ki 3:25  And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

……. The lack of delay by King Solomon shows an immediate wisdom that doesn’t come from experience, but only by provision of the Lord.

1Ki 3:26  Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

1Ki 3:27  Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

1Ki 3:28  And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

……. Solomon had salt from God and understanding hard to judge his people, and this was exactly what God had given him.

Solomons calling from God was to be the king of Israel, with all the responsibilities that implied. He was gifted with wisdom from God, and was given opportunities to use his gift to fulfill his calling. God works with us in the same way. As believers in Christ, our calling consists of two parts: first, a personal calling, and then, a “prevenient calling”, which comes within the timeline of walking right with the Lord. Our personal calling is just that, and our prevenient it calling consist of the opportunities God gives us to fulfill our calling by using the gifts He has given us. When God gives us a gift or an ability, we can expect God to give us opportunities to utilize that gift or ability. Let us not fail to use the opportunities we have to fulfill our calling and use our God-given gifts and abilities.