Solomon was given the opportunity to have anything that he asked from the Lord and Solomon chose to ask for wisdom. Wisdom is not just being smart or intelligent. It is about being able to discern what to do with the knowledge we have. God was so impressed by Solomon that in addition to giving him great wisdom, he was also given riches and honor. We should be constantly seeking wisdom and discernment from God. Solomon’s downfall was that he chose to be led astray by his heart. He turned his heart to focusing on what his wives were doing (worshiping other gods) instead of walking with the Lord. Are we actively working on seeking wisdom and walking with the Lord or are we seeking knowledge and following our own desires?
Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed all of his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. 1 Kings 8:56-58 ESV
Passage:
1 Kings 1-11
Discovered:
- David was old and could not get warm, so they found a beautiful woman, Abishai to serve the king.
- Adonijah (second son) went around declaring himself king. He invited his brothers, royal officials and Joab out to Serpent’s stone to offer sacrifices.
- Bathsheba was afraid to Adonijah and spoke with Nathan. Nathan told her to go to David and have him declare her son, Solomon, the future king. David told Nathan and Zadok to anoint Solomon as King. When Adonijah found out, he was afraid and fled to the altar and only let go when Solomon told him, he would obey die if proven wicked. He pledged himself to Solomon.
- David’s advice to Solomon: obey the Lord, honor Barzillai and execute Joab and Shimei for their crimes against David.
- David died after ruling 40 years, 7 over Judah, 33 over all of Israel.
- Adonijah sent Bathsheba to request Abishai as a wife. Solomon saw through his attempt to claim the throne and had him executed. Solomon expelled Abiathar from the priesthood, killed Joab and Shimei.
- Solomon formed an alliance with Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter.
- The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon and told him to ask for anything since he obeyed and walked with God. Solomon asked for wisdom. The Lord also blessed him with riches and honor.
- Solomon wisely judges which woman the living child belongs to by offering to cut it in half to share. The mother offers he son to the woman with the dead child if his life is spared.
- Judah and Israel were at peace, all were happy and everything was plentiful.
- Solomon got cedar and cypress from Hiram, King of Tyre. He had forced laborers of 30,000, 70,000 burden bearers, 80,000 stonecutters and 3,300 chief officers. Solomon sent Hiram wheat and oil in exchange.
- 480 years after the exodus, and 4 years into Solomon’s reign, he began work on the temple.
- 60 cubits (a cubit is 18 inches) long, 20 cubits wide, 30 cubits tall and took 7 years to build.
- At the same time, Solomon constructed his house: 100 cubits x 50 cubits x 30 cubits high.
- Hiram from Tyre, part Naphtali was hired to make all the metal furnishings for the temple.
- Solomon moved the ark into the temple and the Lord moved in: appeared as a cloud, filling the temple.
- Solomon dedicates the temple-asking the Lord to be with the always, judge His servants, forgiving those who repent, hear the foreigner so that His name may spread. Celebrated with a 7 day feast.
- Lord appears before Solomon a second time: gives him a blessing of the throne of Israel if he walks with the Lord and a warning that if he serves other gods, He will destroy Solomon’s house and cut off Israel.
- Solomon gave King of Tyre 20 cities in Galilee, but Hiram thought they were worthless.
- Solomon built up a navy with help from Hiram sending seamen, resulting in a profitable import/export business.
- Queen of Sheba came to visit and was amazed that everything she had heard about Solomon’s wisdom, wealth and honor was true and under told.
- Solomon allowed his foreign wives to worship their gods and was sucked into worshipping them as well.
- God warned Solomon that if he strayed He would take away the kingdom leaving him only one tribe.
- Lord sent adversaries of Solomon: Hadad the Edomites, Rezon and Jeroboam.
- Jeroboam was a servant that met Ahijah in the wild and was given a prophecy: I will give the 10 tribes to you. Solomon found out and tried to kill him, but he fled to Egypt.
- Solomon died after reigning 40 years. Rehoboam ruled in his place.
Help me to remember:
that there are 2 sides: obedience and disobedience, each with it’s own path as Solomon discovered through the blessings he received and the adversaries raised against him.
Lord, I ask that . . .
I have just a fraction of the wisdom that was given to Solomon.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
the ability to learn and the curiosity to seek wisdom.
