God's Faithfulness to Solomon

Humble Hearts and Our Faithful God: Lessons from the Life of Solomon

Bible Passage: 1 Kings 3, 1 Kings 4

Introduction:

Last week, Pastor taught us about the true source of all true wisdom. As the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle James to write, If any man lacks wisdom, Let him ask of God. Because He freely gives wisdom to all men without showing favoritism. Solomon was by no means a perfect man. He sinned in many ways just like we all have. But he recognized his need for God and God heard his prayer. When Solomon prayed, he recognized how finite and broken his understanding was and asked for Yahweh’s help. He asked the Lord for wisdom. This afternoon, we will continue our study on Praying with Confidence by looking at Solomon’s conversation with God from a slightly different angle.

1. True Wisdom Comes from God.

1 Kings 3:1–15 KJV 1900

1 And Solomon made affinity 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. 2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days. 3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. 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. 5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. 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. 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. 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. 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? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 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; 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. 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. 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. 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.

In 2009 news surfaced that Mark Ciavarella, a judge in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, had sentenced around 3,000 children to months of detention after they had committed minor infractions. This corrupt judge was later sentenced to 28 years in prison for accepting $2.2 million as a “finder’s fee” for the construction of a for-profit facility—the same facility to which he had been sending these so-called delinquents. When the truth came out, 2,480 of those convictions were reversed and expunged.

Corrupt judges like this one do not fear God or other people. Solomon on the other hand, loved and feared Yahweh. Psalm 111:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: A good understanding have all they that [keep] His commands.” Most scholars believe that this Psalm was written by David. We know from verse 3 that David taught that truth to his son Solomon. I know that there are not many who still have young children in this group. But just as the Holy Spirit tells us in Proverbs 22:6, It is one of our solemn responsibilities as parents to train our children to fear the Lord. If we do this, they will understand the way they should live once they are older. David and Solomon are a good example of this principle.

In Solomon’s prayer, we see Solomon’s humble and reverential tone from the very start of His prayer. He feared the Lord. He recognizes that though he is King over all Israel he is still God’s servant. Then, he humbly admits that he is not worthy to be the judge over God’s people. That is why he asked the Lord to give him the ability to discern right and wrong and judge God’s chosen people. Solomon humbly prioritized his need for divine wisdom over wealth, power, or long life. His request models a heart that values God’s Word more than one’s own intellect. Like Solomon, we have been called to judge (1 Cor 5:9-6:3). Someday up in Glory, believers will judge the angels. However, our current seat of judgement is not the seat of a king, but instead a seat of loving service as brothers and sisters in Christ. When someone who claims to be christian is living in unrepentant sin we must not continue to treat them as if they are our family. We must not accept them into the fellowship but instead, take them back to the gospel. We must not take these matters lightly. Like Solomon, we must prayerfully ask God for His wisdom and look to His written Word for guidance.

I’d like us to take a moment and consider our prayers—are we humbly seeking God's wisdom above all else?

When we have to make moral judgments are we going to His Word as our final authority?

2. God Answers Prayer.

1 Kings 3:16–28 KJV 1900

16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. 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. 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. 19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it. 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. 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. 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. 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. 24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 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. 27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. 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.

I know that I might be starting to seem like a broken record, but a firm reliance on God’s faithfulness is paramount in our lives. Sometimes it can be tempting to think that God does not hear or answer prayer. Thankfully, God always answers our prayers when they align with His will. We know from the book of James that God desires to give His wisdom to all men. We have but to ask, and He will give it. This passage shows us that God really does desire to and will freely give us wisdom.

Shortly after Solomon petitioned our Lord for wisdom Solomon. Solomon's wisdom was immediately put to the test, showcasing God’s trustworthiness and Solomon’s new ability to rightly judge the people of God. Through God’s wisdom, Solomon could justly handle complex cases with clarity and justice.

Two women, prostitutes, presented a case to the King regarding a living child and a dead child. The first women claimed that the second woman had killed her own infant son and then switched him with her infant son so that she would think that her child had died. The second denied any nefarious action and claimed that the living child was her own. After hearing their claims, Solomon proposed to divide the living child in half and give one part to each woman. Not because he wanted to Kill the child, but instead, Solomon proposed this troubling judgement so that the true mother would reveal herself by pleading for the child's life. This is exactly what happened leading Solomon to declare that she was the rightful mother. This judgment showed the people that God had given Solomon wisdom, which earned him the respect of all Israel. From this passage we see that God is faithful and we can trust that when we ask for the things He has promised to give, and God will give those things to us. That is what praying in the will of God looks like. God had given Solomon the Kingdom and had also given Him the grace to judge His people. We see that Solomon trusted in his prayer and so God and prepared Him for the to rule. Solomon's wise ruling is proof that God will equip those who trust Him for their daily ministry and any challenges that come up in their daily lives. God’s wisdom and provision is accessible to all believers who humble themselves and ask for it. God’s wisdom comes to us as we read His word and allow the Holy Spirit to reshape the way we think. Trust in God prayerful seek Him as you proclaim the redemption that is found in Christ Jesus to a broken world.

3. God is Faithful to His Word.

1 Kings 4:1–34 KJV 1900

1 So king Solomon was king over all Israel. 2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest, 3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder. 4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: 5 And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend: 6 And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute. 7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision. 8 And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim: 9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan: 10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher: 11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife: 12 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam: 13 The son of Geber, in Ramoth-gilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars: 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim: 15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife: 16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth: 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar: 18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin: 19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land. 20 Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. 21 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22 And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, 23 Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. 25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon. 26 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27 And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon’s table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge. 29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

The entirety of 1 Kings 4 reflects how God is faithful and always keeps His Word. In Yahweh’s response to Solomon’s humble prayer, God promised to give Solomon riches, honor, and a long life if he kept His commands. Solomon’s success and the Golden age that came about during his rule were blessings from God. 1 Kings 4:29–34 “29 God gave Solomon wisdom, very great insight, and understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol. His reputation extended to all the surrounding nations. 32 Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs numbered 1,005. 33 He spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34 Emissaries of all peoples, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.” This shows us God is faithful to keep His promises. 2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” The entire Christian faith is built upon the trustworthiness of our Lord. The peace, and prosperity under Solomon show us a glimpse of how our God always keeps His promises. God's faithfulness to Solomon mirrors His faithfulness to the promises he has made to us. Under Christ, we partake in a kingdom that will ultimately fulfill God's promise of peace and eternal fellowship with Him. The assurance which comes from knowing God should keep us from worry. Knowing God keeps His promises should inspire us, Christians, to prayerfully live our lives in humble recognition of His faithfulness.

Conclusion:

To summarize, in 1 Kings 3–4, we witness Solomon’s humble request for wisdom instead of wealth or power, showcasing his understanding of the gravity of leadership. As the Holy Spirit tells us many times throughout the Old Testament, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God honors Solomon’s humility by granting him unparalleled wisdom and fulfilling His promises to Solomon, which leads to prosperity for the kingdom of Israel.

In times when we can pause and pull ourselves away from the monotonous bustle of life, we should give ourselves time to reflect on our own need for humility and reliance on God. By recognizing our limitations and asking for God's wisdom in our prayers, we can navigate the issues of life better just as King Solomon did. Believers must approach God with humility and trust Him for wisdom in our decisions and lives. We can rely on God's faithfulness because He has proven Himself trustworthy both in our own lives and also in the lives of believers, like Solomon, who have gone before us. We can overcome challenges and fulfill our God-given roles through His grace and strength.

I’ll leave you with one final thought:

How this does this passage point us to Christ?

God’s faithfulness to Solomon points to Christ, who is the ultimate embodiment of wisdom. Solomon simply asked God for discernment and God freely gave Him wisdom and blessed him. Just as Solomon's reign brought peace and prosperity to Israel, Christ's reign brings true peace and eternal blessing into the lives of believers. As 1 Cor. 1:30 says, Christ is our wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV 1900

30 Ye are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, [our] righteousness, [our] sanctification, [our] redemption.