Untitled Sermon (4)

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

Solomon’s Request

1 Kings 3:5–9 “In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.” 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. “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. “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. “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?””

God’s Response

1 Kings 3:10–15 “It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 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, 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. “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. “If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.” 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.”

Wise People Desire Wisdom

perspective

As a newly appointed king, it’s easy to be consumed with all the tasks and responsibilities

Many noble kings and leaders, the first matter of business is to clean house the previous administration and introduce new ideas

What did Solomon do?

Solomon remembered the covenantal promise God made with his father, David

- “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father”

Application: Wise people take a step back and assess the situation; especially when they’re given a lot of responsibility

self-awareness

Solomon was self-aware

“yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.”

Many in his position are consumed by the power they now wield

He was likely around 20 years old, ruling over millions of people, on the heels of his father’s successful reign

Application: We need to be self-aware; wise people are self-aware. Although protected and empowered, we must acknowledge our capacity for depravity and weakness

We must ask God every day for wisdom and strength

humility

Many in his position would be consumed by pride and selfishness

Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.”

Application: One of the greatest ways to honor someone is to ask them for advice. It reveals our posture, admitting we need something we don’t have, AND it shows we value the other person’s

Righteous People Desire Wisdom

First established an intellectual connection, now a moral connection

Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.”

God was pleased with what Solomon asked

What kind of wisdom?

James 3:13–16 “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”

We differentiate between the 2 types of wisdom

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

James 3:17–18 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

God distinguishes Solomon

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.

Carnality = foolishness/wickedness

Most kings would request long life, riches, and dominion over enemies

Seeking out the Wisdom of God shows our full surrender, submission, and alignment to God’s Will

God Desires to Give Wisdom

God is the source and provider of wisdom

Isaiah 11:2 “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

1 Kings 3:5 “In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.””

Who initiated the conversation? - God

Was this a random occurrence?

2 Samuel 7:8-9,2 Samuel 7:12–16

God had this planned

God goes ahead and blesses Solomon with more

“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.

God reaffirms the covenant of his forefathers over his life

“If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

Proverbs 22:4 “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life.”

Conclusion

Wisdom is a byproduct of the Holy Spirit; a gift

1 Corinthians 12:7–8 “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;”

Trusting God has a 100% success rate - focus on the important and God will help