| SOLOMON’S WISDOM |

Yesterday we read in 2 Samuel 7:16 that God would establish a son on David’s throne forever. Solomon is the first in a long line as a partial fulfillment of this promise.

Unwise Solomon

This passage is notorious for Solomon’s request for wisdom, it is interesting that it opens with a foolish and unfaithful decision by Solomon. We find that Solomon has married a daughter of Pharoah. Instead of trusting only in the Lord to secure the nation’s borders, Solomon has looked outside the nation to make alliances with foreign kings. Worse than that Pharaoh’s daughter brings with her not only a foreign alliance but also her foreign gods. Solomon does many things with wisdom and justice, but it is terribly destructive and entertains false worship in the heart of Jerusalem.

Wise Solomon

The Lord tests Solomon, telling him, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon’s response is the response of a truly wise and good king. It is the response of faith and humility.

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? – 1 Kings 3:9

Where David was the mighty warrior, expanding the borders of Israel, and defeating their enemies, Solomon (whose name means “peace”) brings Israel to prosperity beyond all other kings (1 Kings 3:13).

The Long Awaited King?

Since God’s promise in the garden that there would be a descendant of Eve who would crush the head of the enemy (Genesis 3:15) the people of God have waited for a ruler, a king, a savior who would lead them in peace. Is Solomon that king? Is he the king who would lead the people into eternal peace and prosperity?

We will see that, though Solomon is a great king, he is still a mere man, himself in need of salvation. The world still awaits a king who is perfect in justice and sufficient to save. This king will come. He will be a descendant of Solomon and David, but in the reading of our story, we will have to wait to see him revealed.