1 Kings 3:5-15: What would you ask for?
God visits King Solomon in a dream and asks him what he wants from Him. Solomon first acknowledges God's goodness to his father King David who walked in truth and righteousness. Then he asks for wisdom because he wants to always do right by the Lord and serve his people in an honorable way. He has a servant's heart in that he wants to assure all his judgements are fair. Therefore, he tells God he wants to be able to discern between good and bad.
This is my prayer as well, that I may always know right from wrong based on God's standards, not man's or my own.
God is pleased with Solomon's humility and not only makes Solomon the wisest person that ever lived but goes above and beyond what he asked for and grants riches and honor to the point where "there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days." But in verse 14 God adds that Solomon must keep God's commandments if he wants to retain these wonderful blessings and then God will also lengthen Solomon's days (see also 1 Kings 6:12).
God is pleased with us when we put other needs above our own as Solomon did. May I also approach the Lord in such humility and selflessness.
Jumping ahead to chapter 4:29 God says, "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore." Therefore, he became not only wise, but compassionate, a perfect combination!
(1 Kings 3:5-15) And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father...
In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, "Ask what I shall give thee."
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. 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... Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"
And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, "Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days."
And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream.
1 Kings 11:1-13: Dishonoring God's Blessings
I decided to post these as 1 writing instead of 2 separate posts. It actually almost makes me sad to share the rest of Solomon's story, but here it is:
Just as his father David, King Solomon dishonors all of God's generous blessings and does exactly what God had commanded him not to do. He marries a whole lot of wives (as well as taking in a large number of concubines) that worship false idols and in turn he worships the same false gods and even erects altars to them.
It baffles me that the wisest man that ever lived would turn into such a rebellious and evil man. As God told David in 2 Samuel 12:7-11, Solomon's choice to dishonor God's blessings showed that he despised the Lord and His commands. It is a cruel slap in the face to God who had been so gracious by blessing Solomon beyond what he had asked for.
I would never question the judgement of the Holy of Holies, but it makes me wonder why He blessed Solomon if He knew how far the king would fall. However, as I mentioned in my previous writing, the Bible does say that Solomon had "largeness of heart," which I take to mean that he was very compassionate and fair in his judging. Also, Solomon wrote the profound book of Proverbs full of spiritual wisdom for us to still read today. He also wrote 2 of the Psalms (72 & 127) and the Song of Solomon, which is a love poem beneficial to married people (this is not an allegory of God's love for us as it would be very inappropriate for God to speak to us the words written in that book or us to Him). Therefore, Solomon's gift was not just for his benefit but also for the people he ruled over and to all who have read his writings, which may be why God gave a rebellious man so many blessings.
The Bible never says that Solomon repented as his father had. At least not what I have read in 1 Kings. We don't know if he arrogantly ignores God's rebuke and continues his idolatry until his death, or if he repented. Also as with his father, there would be consequences for his sins, but Solomon does not suffer, others must suffer because of Solomon. God says it is for David's sake He will not snatch the kingdom away from Solomon, but instead from his son and even then, he will only take away a portion.
God's mercy makes me wonder if Solomon was repentant after all, but the Bible says God was gracious because of His promise to David and to Jerusalem, not because Solomon had a change of heart. God always keeps his promises. So again, I do not know if Solomon ever made peace with the Lord. Shortly after his kingdom is mostly given to Jeroboam, Solomon dies. (1 Kings 11:26-43, not posted below.)
Solomon's tale is truly a sad and frustrating one, but aren't most of us the same way? We sin and choose the things that God forbids even after all of God's blessings. God Himself, His son Jesus, the gift of salvation, and the Holy Spirit are the best gifts of all. We still rebel and turn away to our own selfish desires. Then others may suffer the consequences of our actions. Just as with King David, many others in Bible, and many others not recorded in any book, God is always gracious to forgive our sins when we repent.
(1 John: 1:8-9) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Dear God, may I always humbly acknowledge and honor Your blessings by choosing to live a holy life for your sake alone!
(1 Kings 11:1-13 & 26-39) But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, "Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods:"
Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.
Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, "Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen."
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