Solomon's wisdom

1 Kings 10:1-10

Solomon, David’s son, succeeded him as king. Solomon’s reign was characterised by wealth and wisdom. He spent 7 years building a temple and 13 years building a palace which left observers lost for words at their grandeur.

Solomon’s wisdom was a gift from God. 1 Kings 3 tells the account of God appearing to Solomon in a dream and asking him, ‘What do you wish Me to give you?’ (v5). Solomon answered, ‘Give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil’ (v9). This answer pleased God (v10)! He promised to give him, ‘a wise and discerning heart, so that there will be no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you’ (v12) and also ‘riches and honour’ (v13).

The wisdom God gave Solomon was jaw-dropping! Not only was he able to wisely judge difficult legal cases (see 1 Kings 3:16-28 for an example) but he also spoke 3,000 proverbs and had 1,005 songs, as well as being able to speak about trees, plants, animals, birds, insects and fish (1 Kings 4:29-33).

Word spread regarding Solomon’s wisdom and people travelled far and wide to hear him speak (1 Kings 4:34). Amongst these visitors was the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10) who was amazed by his wisdom. However, crucially she observed that it was God who was to be blessed. She said that because of His love for Israel God had granted Solomon wisdom in order that he could ‘do justice and righteousness’ (v9).

The fact that a rule of justice and righteousness could only be established by wisdom from God is crucial to what we see realised in Jesus. Jesus, like Solomon, continually astonished the crowds He spoke to with His wise and incisive teaching that came with authority (see Matthew 7:28-29, 13:54, 22:33; Mark 1:22, 6:2; Luke 4:32; John 7:46 for some examples). Crowds travelled in order simply to hear Him teach. In this regard Matthew 12:42 cites the challenge that the example of the Queen of Sheba gives to people. She was willing to seek out the God-given wisdom Solomon had. In Jesus we have a far superior example, but do we recognise this?

Solomon’s wise reign hints at something far greater. In Jesus we see the One who is full of wisdom and who will reign in justice and righteousness.

Further reading:      Luke 2:41-52      Matthew 12:38-42

Worship Video:

To think about:
James 1: 5 tells us: “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Have you ever asked God for that particular gift?

Have you ever been in a situation when what you said to someone could only have been the wisdom of God?

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