1 Kings 3

There are 2 kinds of wisdom; the first kind can be acquired through human learning and constant observations. The second kind is from above, bestowed from the Almighty God, and through constant meditation on His Holy Words.

In the Book of Proverbs, also known as the Book of Wisdom, there are a total of about 44 verses that teach us about the importance of ‘wisdom’. If we ponder over these verses, we are being reminded that wisdom is something that we must not lack in our lives as Christians.

Bible Passage: 1 Kings 3

In this chapter, we read of the famous record of Solomon praying for wisdom to govern the people of God, and he became the wises king who had no equal before him, nor was there anyone after him.

Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.

And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted.

Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

1Kings 3: 7 – 9

In this prayer for wisdom, there are 3 points that I want to highlight and to share, so that we can ponder and emulate.

1.      But I am a little child

It is not easy for a king to admit that he is a little child, but Solomon, the king of Israel did. He was able to humble himself to admit his limitations and insignificance in the presence of the King of Heaven.

We may have had very good education and good paper qualifications, and sometimes due to the experiences we have gathered through our lives, we were able to achieve much in many aspects in our lives. But our attitude towards our achievements must be right, whether in the society or in church, we must attribute them to our Father in heaven; for without God’s mercy and grace, we can do nothing, we would have been like little children who are very limited in many ways.

2.      In the midst of Your people whom You have chosen

Solomon understood that the nation of Israel was no ordinary nation, but a people chosen by God Himself, a people called as God’s possession and treasure, so this nation did not belong to Solomon.

Not all of us are leaders in the Church of God, but all of us are the lambs of God and we are all precious in His eyes. Therefore, we must treasure the treasures of God and there must also be love and respect in the treatment towards one another, for Christ had also died for all who have come into His fold.

3.      That I may discern between good and evil

Being the son of King David, I believe he must have received very good education in both the religious and non-religious aspects. Therefore, he should be able to discern between right and wrong, good and evil. Solomon prayed in this manner because he knew his wisdom gained from the world could not govern this God chosen nation in the way He wanted him to.

The works in the church has to be done according to the will of God, for she is the Body of Christ. So do we employ wisdom we have learnt from the world, or do we pray for wisdom from above to plan and carry out the divine works that we have been entrusted?

Solomon’s prayer was filled with humility and right attitude as a leader of God’s people. God granted His prayers and bestowed him with wisdom to rule the nation of Israel.

But as we can read from the beginning of this chapter, that Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh King of Egypt, and married Pharaoh’s daughter; then he brought her to the City of David. Was this political move of Solomon right?

Well, maybe some of us may think that it was clear that Solomon had done wrong in this matter because this was done before God gave him wisdom, so it was excusable.

But as we read on into Solomon’s life after God had bestowed wisdom on him, we will see that there were still many things that he did not do right in the eyes of God.

For example:

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.

1Kings 11:3

Did Solomon actually exercise his God given wisdom in all things in his life?

I think this episode of Solomon praying for wisdom and the things that he did in the later part of his life can give us some kind of warning, and that is to never quench or misuse the gift that God has given us for the edification of His Church.

As we read through 1 Kings to 2 Kings, may God guide us to learn to avoid all the displeasing things done by the kings of Israel and Judah, that may cause our relationship with our Father in Heaven.

Shalom!