Lesson 21: Solomon Part 2 - His Wisdom

1 Kings 3

There are things that happen to us in life that are beyond our control that are good and bad. The God of heaven who loves us does everything with the intent to bring us closer to himself - to draw us if you will.

The three reactions to God’s dealings with us is that we remain unaffected, we become bitter or we get better and draw closer to God as result of whatever He is doing.

In our study tonight, we will see that Solomon has choices to make. But his choices are not for a lifetime, choices are only for a short time. Then we at times and varying stages need to recommit again, again, and again.

So, Solomon is given a gift. He has been given the entire kingdom of Israel. What will He do with it? We saw last time, that he started out right and established his kingdom and everything he did was as his father had instructed him.

That is a great starting place for most people most of the time is to receive good counsel and then act upon it.

Having had his kingdom established in, we now see him going on and advancing.

God’s will for the Believer is not just to exist. It is not just to live out our lives. God’s will is that we would be productive. It is His will that we would bear fruit. That is how we are to be - it is making good and profitable use of our lives for God. Solomon seeks to that, but with God’s help.

II. Solomon’s Blessing and Wisdom Confirmed

1 Kings 3:1-4

A. Seeds of Carnality

Solomon was a great man but a flawed man. That is possible for all of us. We can do some really great things with out lives but then we have this baggage along the way - some losses. Some things that trouble us.

That doesn’t have to be. My goal for our younger folks to get rid of that notion - that we are going to have some flaws - and for our older people to be rid of our flaws.

1. He marries Pharaoh's daughter

v.1, when it says made affinity, it means he married her.

Not only did Samuel, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit warn about a multiplicity of wives, but the Bible clearly warns about marrying non-believers.

Either way, Solomon, whether it be for fitting in with the world or for expediency’s sake, marries her. But many may argue - “Well, they are more protected, are they more blessed.” I would counter that with something that trumps those and all of our arguments - what does God say.

Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 7:1–3 AV

When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Now the true biblical legalists would say that these people cannot be married, therefore the marrying of an Egyptian woman would be allowed.

But that contradicts if you will those who did marry women of Canaan such as Rahab from Jericho who were Canaanites, and Ruth of Moab who according to Deut 23:3 were not to enter the congregation for 10 generations. What do you think the big difference is?

The spirit of the law is that they would not marry the wicked, sinful idolatrous people of the land, and Rahab became a believer, Ruth certainly was.

God’s blessing far outweighs any blessing of the world.

2. Spiritual Compromise

This is something we are going to see again and again in the lives of the kings of both Israel and Judah.

And honestly it is something that I have been wanting to understand and I think I’ve come to a conclusion finally.

v. 2, “Only the people sacrificed in the high places.”

Now the BIble talks about Samuel sacrificing in the high places in 1 Samuel 9, but over 50 other times between 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles it talks about Israel doing the same.

The problem with the High places is this, God never sanctioned it as part of Israel’s worship.

When there was not tabernacle, then they worship and sacrifice, and the patriarchs often did.

But with a tabernacle and the soon coming temple, those were the God sanctioned places of worship.

So it wasn’t wrong in itself to worship, but there is a best way, a right way to worship the Lord.

Now, it is wrong to worship on your own when there is a church to worship at. It is wrong to give to wherever you feel like when their is a church to give through.

But at this time likely no one was bringing their offerings, therefore the Levites went back to the fields, which meant that there was no sanctioned place to sacrifice, which meant they sacrificed where God has said not to.

That easily relates to the church.

B. Solomon’s love for God

vv.3-4

So, as the people sacrificed in the high places as we mentioned, and the reason is there was not place given them at the time to sacrifice.

So, the king sacrifices in those placers as well.

It says that Solomon loved God. What simple statement - a blessed statement - that the Word of God says of Solomon.

1000 burnt offerings in Gibeon.

C. Solomon’s greatest gift

1 Kings 3:5-15

1. God asks Solomon what He can do for him

It is an unusual thing. It is not something that happens elsewhere in the Bible. But God, in His sovereignty does ask Solomon. You say, why doesn’t God ask me what I want. Probably because He knows what you would choose. But this is what God does with Solomon - perhaps it is just as simple to say that God asked Solomon because for the relationship God had with his father David or because God knew the task ahead or because God knew how He would answer. Either way:

2. Solomon’s answer

a. He praises and shows his thankfulness to God

v.6

b. He shows humility

v.7

c. He recognizes that his calling is great than himself

v.8

d. His request is for wisdom

v.9

Notice how he defines wisdom here: an understanding heart to judge between good and bad.

But that is what he asks for that he might perform the work that God has called him to.

That shows something was there that was special. It shows that Solomon had been taught or developed a maturity that was special because

The importance of wisdom:

a. Wisdom is the most important thing

Proverbs 4:7 AV

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

b. Wisdom is more valuable than riches

Proverbs 16:16 AV

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Proverbs 8:11 AV

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

c. Wisdom should be studied

Proverbs 5:1 AV

My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

d. True wisdom starts with fear of the Lord

Proverbs 9:10 AV

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

e. Wisdom is found in humility

Proverbs 11:2 AV

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

f. Wisdom is better than any sin

Ecclesiastes 2:13 AV

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

g. Wisdom should be prayed for

James 1:5 AV

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.

h. God’s will is that we would be filled with wisdom

Colossians 1:9 AV

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

3. God’s is pleased and Solomon more than requested

One of the wonderful things about our God is that he gives us more that we deserve and more than the we ask.

God lists the common things kings would ask for in verse 11.

God starts out by given him what he asked for:

a. God gives him wisdom

A wise and understanding heart.

The wisdom given to Solomon is greater than any other man will ever have. But God takes it further:

b. God gives him riches

c. God gives him honor

He promised these things so much the he would be the greatest king in the world

d. God is willing to give him length of days

But this is only promised if he will walk in all of God’s ways.

D. Solomon’s Gift Displayed

vv.16-28

Let me say this about the wisdom he displayed in this account.

1. There is a judge

2. There is the judged

The two women represent right and wrong

3. The Judgment

sin was brought to light and the wrong was redressed.

4. The reward and punishment

One was blessed with a son and the other was cursed in that she departed without a son

For you and I, that judge is the Lord God of heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ.

We are judged by what we do with the Son. Right is putting our faith only in the Son - and wrong is anything else.

The judgment is that our sin will be brought to light.

The reward is the sin of the redeemed has already been paid and they have everlasting life. The puishment of the lost is to pay for their own sin in hell.