The Prayer for Wisdom

God I look to You, I won’t be overwhelmed Give me vision to see things like You do God I look to You, You're where my help comes from

Give me wisdom, You know just what to do God I look to You, and I wont be overwhelmed Give me vision to see things like You do God I look to You, and You're where my help comes from Give me wisdom, You know just what to do Yeah yeah

And I will love You Lord my strength And I will love You Lord my shield And I will love You Lord my rock Forever all my days I will love You God Hallelujah our God reigns Hallelujah our God reigns

This is a song that I feel is for us currently. This week has been a week where many of us have been shaken deeply by the wide spread of covid 19 and I want to say to those affected we are praying for you and sending our love.

Those who are dealing with heavy anxiety and fear. This song is also for you. May God’s widsom and peace reign supremely in your life.

In our Prayer meetings on Tuesday nights we have been looking at effective prayers in scripture. Today I felt to take a look at the prayer of Solomon.

2 Chronicles 1:10 NIV

Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

What if you were able to ask God to give you the sweetest deal of the Century?

Suppose God said ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you?

Imagine that!!

Whatever you want, anything at all, nothing is out of the question.

What would you ask for?

Truckloads of money?

Supplies? Food?

New Car?

Pay off debts?

Help a Charity?

Support a bunch of missionaries?

Cure Covid-19?

Or would you ask for super powers?

Think of all the good you could do.

Hearing God tell you that He would gladly give you anything you asked would be a mind blowing project wouldn’t it?

Nearly 3000 years ago God gave this opportunity to a man named Solomon.

Solomon was the second son of David and Bathesheba’s union. He was already born with a stain on his record.

His home life was not easy with 5 stepmothers and some wild half brothers.

One of the half brothers raped (Amnon) is half sister (Tamar).

Then her brother (Absalom) looked for revenge and killed Amnon.

Later on, Absalom made a violent play (and ultimate suicidal play) for the throne.

Talk about crazy times.

Solomon was to be given the reigns of the kingdom by his father King David.

King David was like a superhero of 1000 BC

He was:

Dashing

Good looking

Intelligent

Talented

Larger than life legend

He was a man after God’s own heart

His life experience reads like a fantasy when you think about it

He was a shepherd boy in his youth

Military hero

Killed a giant

Eluded King Saul’s army

reunited a band of men

Became King

He led a tiny nation to become a world power

Wrote many Psalms

Survived a scandal - Bathesheba

Survived an ugly military coup by his own son

He planned to build God a great Temple

When David died the weight of a young nation weighed on the shoulders of an untested son, Solomon.

Talk about pressure, talk about big shoes to fill. Solomon had to step up and take David’s place as King.

This is the thing I want us to hear this morning.

God knows when we are facing more than we can handle and he knows just want we need.

So God appeared to Solomon in a dream and made him an amazing proposal.

“Ask Me for whatever you want and I will give it to you”.

What an opportunity?

Would you know what to ask for?

The great thing in this instance Solomon knew exactly what to ask for.

2 Chronicles 1:7–10 NIV

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Give me wisdom

Solomon asked for what he believed to be the most important gift anyeone can receive - Wisdom. He ranked wisdom ahead of money, looks or miracle powers.

Solomon was a student of great diligence and he used his time growing up in the court of a king and studied from the greatest minds of his land.

He had learned the teachings of the ages and collected parables from the sages of the time.

In his mind, the road to blessing leads through the doorway of wisdom. In the book of Proverbs he wrote this:

Proverbs 3:13–18 NIV

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

In Solomon’s mind if you can only get one gift let that gift be widsom.

Proverbs 4:5–6 NIV

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

In Solomon’s mind Widsom is life’s most valuable pursuit.

Proverbs 4:7–9 NIV

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”

Careful study of the book of Proverbs shows wisdom is attained through the way we live. It is carefully cultivated.

What I am talking about is this:

God centered

Christ like

Character driven

Common sense living

Wisdom is the way that leads to God.

Widsom is characterized by:

mercy

tact

humility

discipline

respect for authority

teachability

honesty

So when let me ask you again what would ask God for if you could ask for anything?

Solomon asked for widsom.

Give me wisdom - this is one of the most effective prayers fround in the pages of scripture and God loves to answer.

The book of 1 Kings records the response.

1 Kings 3:10–12 NIV

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

Here’s 2 Chron. record of the Lord’s answer:

2 Chronicles 1:11–12 NIV

God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

Here’s what happened next. Just after this account Solomon’s wisdom was put on display.

Two harlots came to Solomon for answers.

Both were mothers of newborn children. They both lived in the same house.

Woman 1 claimed woman 2’s baby died in the night so woman 2 switched babies whjile woman 1 slept. Woman 2 denied it, so it was up to Solomon to decide.

Solomon ordered a man to cut the baby in half and give half to each woman.

The first woman cried out “Give her the baby, Don’t kill him!”

The second woman said “Neither of us will hvave a living baby cut him in two”.

The plan was a success. Solomon ordered “Don’t kill that baby. Give him to the first woman. She is obviously the real mother”.

Solomon asked for wisdom and God said YES!

1 Kings 4:29–31 NIV

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.

Solomon became known as the wisest and richest men who ever lived. The author of the wisdom literature is none other than Solomon (Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesasties).

So this morning in the midst of all the chaos that surrounds us look to God. Let Him be the center of our focus. Let the example of Jesus be how we live our lives. Let our desires be driven by God like character.

We need to ask God for wisdom and receiveing it is not a one time deal that only Solomon is able to cash in on.

“God, Give me wisdom”

The New Testament book of James gives us the encouragement to ask for widsom with this promise:

James 1:5 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

So right now of all the effective prayers in scripture we can pray I believe this is the one we need to shout the loudest.

Right now this is a stressful time.

Working from home

Schooling from home

Lockdown

Uncertainty of next steps

So many uncertainties, so many decisions

What decisions are you wrestling with?

Do you need wisdom?

Remember that when Solomon asked God for wisdom. God answered YES!

So what I would like us to do is stop right now and ask God to give us wisdom for the things we are encountering and for each situation we face.