1 Kings 3 - Granted
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Introduction
Who likes history?
In the ancient world there were many books .
12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
If that was the case in Solomon’s day, what would he say today? With the “modern” invention of the printing press we have an amazing number of styles and choices of books: fiction/non-fiction, novels, mysteries, romance
In the ANE the surviving literature often has a historical bent, and such is the case with the books we will be studying this month (1 & 2 Kings)
What are the historical books of the Bible?
Joshua/Judges/Ruth
Samuel/Kings/Chronicles (500 years)
Ezra/Nehemiah/Esther
Misconceptions
The Jewish Bible had 6 books. No - 3 (or rather 2), but written on a scroll. Hebrew (no vowels) vs Greek (vowels)
Samuel/Kings/Chronicles are chronological
Samuel/Kings - the same story
Chronicles - a separate story, often told from a priestly perspective
The New Bible Commentary Purpose
Chronicles presents history differently from Samuel/Kings. The differences, the distinctive features of Chronicles, have to do with the Chronicler’s theology—truths about God and the people of God which are his special concern. He assumes throughout that his readers know the facts already, and his object is to interpret them.
It is history like our modern history books - wrong!
The New Bible Commentary Biblical History Writing
it is not history writing of the kind produced by modern historians. The very fact that the writer refers us to other sources for further information shows that he has given us only a selection of the material available to him. In other words, he has chosen to include only that material which serves his aims. This is also suggested by the very uneven and selective treatment given to the long procession of kings. The treatment of Solomon’s reign occupies seventeen times as much space as that of Joash’s reign, although both reigns lasted forty years.
1 & 2 Kings
Date - during the time of exile
Author - one of the nobles (like Daniel) or possibly a scribe, exiled in 597 BC
Purpose - “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it”; to remind Israel of its history so that they would learn from it
Content - Israel’s history from Solomon to exile
Solomon
Two kingdoms, parts 1-3
Judah alone
1 Kings 1 and 2 (how did we get here?)
David and Abishag (Shunammite), home health nurse, but given the status of a concubine
Adonijah’s attempt to usurp the throne
Solomon Anointed King
Solomon finishes David’s business
Joab, Shimei, Adonijah, Abiathar
1. God Offers
1. God Offers
1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter. Solomon brought her to the city of David until he finished building his palace, the Lord’s temple, and the wall surrounding Jerusalem. 2 However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, because until that time a temple for the Lord’s name had not been built. 3 Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the statutes of his father David, but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”
v. 1 Some would try to defend Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter, but this is a hard case to make:
God commanded Israel not to intermarry the with the Canaanites (Deut 7:3)
God commanded Israel’s kings not to multiply wives
Used as the basis for segregation, but misunderstood
not about mixing the races
Rahab, Ruth were welcomed because of their conversion
v. 2 “sacrificing at the high places” - probably not good; the former place of sinful idolatrous worship
v. 3 “Solomon loved the Lord” - yay!
“only he sacrificed…at the high places” - boo!
v. 4 “Gibeon” - current location of the tent of meeting
“1000 burnt offerings” (!) Generous
Bill Gates - gives $1,000 vs $1,000,000
v. 5 “a dream” - who else received guidance by a dream? Jacob, Joseph, Pharaoh
“Ask what I shall give you” - a blank check!
2. Solomon Answers
2. Solomon Answers
6 And Solomon replied, “You have shown great and faithful love to your servant, my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. You have continued this great and faithful love for him by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today. 7 “Lord my God, you have now made your servant king in my father David’s place. Yet I am just a youth with no experience in leadership. 8 Your servant is among your people you have chosen, a people too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
v. 6 “my father David” - Solomon recognized that it started with David, not with him
v. 7 “*you* have made your servant king - the recent events showed that this was not a foregone conclusion! Nathan and his mother had to intervene!
“just a youth” - not in age but in experience
“how to go out or come in” - life outside of the home: government, farming, military, economics
v. 9 “a receptive heart” - a listening heart (literally!)
other translations - a discerning heart
for good governing (of a numerous people)
for judging between right and wrong
Supreme court case, Roe v. Wade
Often in government there is the inability or unwillingness to judge rightly
3. God Provides
3. God Provides
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
v. 10 “It pleased the Lord” - our choices can make God happy!
“long life” - many reigns are short-lived
“wealth” - hard to do much as a ruler without resources, the power of the purse; “build back better”
“death of enemies” - very helpful to stay in power!
All of these are very reasonable, understandable choices for a King to make!
v. 12 “I now do” - notice the tense. This has now happened!
“none like you” - Solomon was unique in his wisdom; no one even with modern accumulation of knowledge can compare.
v. 13 also, as a *bonus* - “riches and honor”
v. 14 “length of days” - conditioned on obedience
v. 15 “Jerusalem” - a more appropriate place for making sacrifices
Follow-up: amazing example of Solomon’s wisdom, two prostitutes.
Applications:
wisdom over riches, fame, security
God rewards those who seek him
6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Would God honor our request for wisdom?
Where do we find wisdom? God’s word - study, meditate, apply