Solomon Received Wisdom
Book of 2 Chronicles Chapter 1 verses 7 through 12
As we begin this first lesson in the Book of 2 Chronicles, we know that King David had died after ruling all the tribes of Israel for a total of forty years.
Seven years over Judah and Benjamin and thirty-three years over all of Israel.
God had decided that Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, would now lead all of Israel after their marriage.
The first act of Solomon was to take secure control of the throne of Israel.
We know that Adonijah another son of David was trying to take control of Israel with the help of some rich and powerful leaders, but he had failed.
Solomon's second act as the new King of Israel was to seek the Lord, worship Him, and pray for the wisdom to be King.
The Tabernacle was now in Gibeon, but the Ark of the Covenant was in Jerusalem because God had chosen Jerusalem to be the place where worship would continue.
King David had built a special Tabernacle to house the Ark of the Covenant.
I believe that this tabernacle is mentioned in prophecy.
Isa_16:5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
Amo_9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Act_15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Solomon knew where the Tabernacle was located with the Ark of the Covenant, but the Brazen Altar was at Gibeon, and this is the place where sacrifices were to be made according to Levitical Law
The Brazen Altar was the one place where all sacrifices were to be made, and Gibeon was only six and one-half miles from Jerusalem.
The Brazen Altar is in fact a type of Mount Calvary where our Lord Jesus was sacrificed for our sins.
God had said if anyone offers a sacrifice and brings it not unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, offering it to the Lord then that blood would be applied to that man and he would be cut off.
Lev 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
Lev 17:4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
King Solomon knew this law applied to him as it did to all the children of Israel.
King Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon this Brazen Altar.
It is the night after the day that King Solomon did this that the Lord appeared to King Solomon in a dream.
*****2Ch 1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
We first see that God knew Solomon needed some guidance just as we all do.
We will also see that God will test King Solomon even though God knew what Solomon would ask Him for.
Solomon had brought all the leadership of Israel and the judges with him to Gibeon.
This included all the heads of the military.
It was important for all the leaders of Israel to know that King Solomon would serve the Lord God of Israel.
What a shame that our leaders will not do this because they reject the God of Truth.
They claim God and reject His Words, and it does not work like that.
Now our nation allows so-called scientists who boast of superior insight into the nature of things to direct our nation.
Many scientists assert that their investigations prove that the teachings of Scripture are false, but real facts show that the Bible has no controversy with real science.
Because Solomon and those leaders acknowledged their need for the Lord, God accepted their worship through those sacrificial offerings.
Today God accepts our worship, if we are sincere because the Lord Jesus sacrificed Himself, and the veil in the Temple at Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom and we can go directly to the Lord in our time of need or any other time.
It was important that the veil was torn from top to bottom. If it had been torn from bottom to top, it would have meant that man had done it
God appeared to King Solomon: 1Ki 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
God appeared to Solomon in a dream that was much more than a dream.
This was one of the more significant dreams in the Bible.
God revealed Himself in various ways in the Old Testament.
There are many places where God spoke audibly to people.
To Abraham: Gen 18:13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Gen 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
To Moses: Exo 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
To Isaiah: Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
God also revealed Himself through dreams as we see here with King Solomon.
Whether it was more like a dream or a vision it was interactive and it was real and it honored God.
God spoke to Solomon and Solomon spoke to God and prophecy was fulfilled.
When this is mentioned in the Book of 1 Kings we can see that it is not Jehovah who responded to Solomon but it was Elohim.
Jehovah appeared but Elohim spoke.
When we hear from the Lord Jesus Christ, He is speaking the words of His Father.
In this passage here we see that Elohim appeared to Solomon.
So, even though the Ark was not at Gibeon, God still met with Solomon and talked to him.
We see that even in the times of the Old Testament, God made it clear that He was not restricted to the Holy of Holies or the Ark of the Covenant.
The Holy of Holies was a place where God met the High Priest of Israel.
God said: "Ask what I shall give thee".
We can take this to mean that Solomon could have asked for anything.
We can just imagine how we would respond if the Almighty God asked us this same question.
We know that we can ask for anything that is in the will of God for our lives, and He will give those things to us.
What did Jesus say?
Mat_7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat_21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Jhn_16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Now it does not really say that God would have given Solomon anything he asked for, because God knew before Solomon asked, what he was going to ask for.
We can be sure that God's response had nothing to do with those one thousand animals that were sacrificed.
It was because Solomon's heart was surrendered to God at this time!
This is the key to answered prayer! Having our hearts surrendered to the Lord.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
*****2Ch 1:8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
2Ch 1:9 Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
It should be very clear that God knows what is in our hearts before we ask of Him!
When we ask of God, we must have faith that He can supply what we ask for or we will never receive gifts from God.
God is not only able, but He is also willing to give us anything, but it must be in His will for us.
God had shown more than great mercy to David, God had also made David a rich man.
Why might we ask?
1Ki 3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
1Ki 3:7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
David had left all those riches to be used to build a Temple for God in Jerusalem.
At this time Solomon was certainly not a child according to our standards.
He was probably between the ages of seventeen to twenty-two.
The one thing Solomon knew was that he was personally inadequate to fulfill God's promises to his father David.
The nation of Israel was too great.
There were too many people for him to govern effectively.
The task that was lying before him was just too overwhelming.
Solomon felt helpless.
Solomon likened himself to be a small child.
Solomon knew he lacked the wisdom to be King of Israel.
The laws of Moses stated that Israel had to have a king who was humble and who would remain humble.
A king was required to read the law of God daily and follow it.
Deu 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
Deu 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
Deu 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
No king was to feel he was superior to his fellow citizens.
We know that this is a problem in the last few governments that we have.
Those ultra-liberal Senators and Congressmen men and women treated us as inferiors!
Solomon knew he needed God's help.
This is exactly where God wants each of us.
The Lord Jesus put it this way: Jhn_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
We have found this to be very true!
What was God's promise to David?
2Sa 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
2Sa 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
2Sa 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
We know this prophecy did not only concern Solomon but more importantly our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only one who could fulfill this prophecy.
What did Solomon need?
*****2Ch 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?
**By knowledge Solomon meant the ability to gather and understand facts.
By definition knowledge is a clear and certain perception of things that exist.
We have no knowledge of things that do not exist, but God has perfect knowledge of all His creation so human knowledge is very limited.
Knowing these things then keep in mind that ignorance is the curse of God.
We know that Jesus Christ alone possesses all the knowledge of God.
**Wisdom is the ability to apply the facts that are learned.
By definition, wisdom is the right use of knowledge.
Wisdom in fact is one of the names of Jesus Christ: 1Co_1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
We should know that Solomon became king because God was rewarding his father, King David.
What Solomon needed the most was the 'Grace" of God.
We see that Solomon did not have a clue on how to rule a kingdom.
When we admit what we are, dumb sheep, then God has something to work with.
*****2Ch 1:11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
And God speaks.
What did God tell the Prophet Samuel before this all began?
1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
The word heart is used 833 times in the KJV Bible.
The heart is the center of the physical, mental, and spiritual life of all humans!
It is the heart that is at the center of our physical life.
Act 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
The heart and our mind are closely connected.
It is thought that our heart is the seat of our intelligence.
Pro_8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Sometimes we think with our heart.
Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
We ponder things in our hearts.
Luk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
We see the heart and mind connected.
Our emotions are tied to our hearts.
God can see into our hearts, and He knows who his children are and those who are not and never will be.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Now we cannot read our own thoughts into this.
This is something God knows, and we cannot know!
The heart is the center of our spiritual life!
Job said: Job 27:6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
It is our heart that will condemn us, but it is also in our heart where we feel the power of God.
1Jn 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jn 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1Jn 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
It is because our heart is at the root of all our problems this is the place where God does His greatest work!
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
It is the heart where God sows His seed (the Word of God).
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
It is in the heart where God will make His home within us.
2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
This is why if God wants to know us, all He has to do is look into our hearts.
This is why we can witness for the Lord.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
This is what God saw in the heart of Solomon.
*****2Ch 1:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
There is a principle in the Bible that we have trouble understanding and the Lord Jesus uses it: Mat_25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
We see that King Solomon had enough wisdom to offer up a wise prayer, so God increased his wisdom as the answer to his prayer.
We see that all those who make this world their end will come up short in the gifts of God.
Those who make it to the "Glory World" will not only obtain a mansion in God's home, but God will give us enough in this world that we live and take care of our families.
Yes, God gave Solomon riches and wealth and honor, but these things had another purpose.
The truth is, if we put the Lord and His ways first in our lives then, good things can happen.
It means following God's will for our lives, then blessings will come our way!
God freely gives His wisdom if we will just ask Him.
Jas 1:5 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.
Amen`
