(1 Kings 3:1-15; 4:29-34; 8:62-66; 9:1-9)
Solomon, one of the most remarkable human beings that ever lived was born in Jerusalem. He was the second-born child of David and his wife Bathsheba (widow of Uriah the Hittite). The biblical narrative shows that Solomon served as a peace offering between God and David, due to his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba.
When the woman became pregnant, in an effort to hide this sin, David sent the woman’s husband to battle, in the hope that he would be killed there. After he died, David was finally able to marry his wife. As punishment, the first child, who was conceived during the adulterous relationship, died. Solomon was born after David was forgiven. He was named “Solomon,” meaning peaceful (from the Hebrew word shalom, or peace) by his parents, David and Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12:24) to indicate that peace had been restored in their relationship with God. God gave him the name Jedidiah, meaning “the beloved of the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:25).
Now, when David was old and dying, he proclaimed Solomon king according to his earlier promise (not recorded elsewhere in the biblical narrative), despite Solomon’s being younger than his brothers. Solomon, as instructed by David, began his reign with an extensive purge, including his father’s chief general, Joab, among others, and further consolidated his position by appointing friends throughout the administration, including in religious positions as well as in civic and military posts. Solomon was the last ruler of an amalgamated Israel and Judah.
After his death, his son and successor Rehoboam adopted a harsh policy towards the northern tribes, eventually leading to the splitting of the Israelites between the Kingdom of Israel in the north and the Kingdom of Judah in the south. Following the split, his patrilineal descendants ruled over Judah alone.
Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon, the book of Ecclesiastes, and much of the book of Proverbs (1 Kings 4:32). He also completed many building projects (1 Kings 7:1–12; 9:15–23), the most important being the Jewish temple (1 Kings 6; 1 Chronicles 22). In the New Testament, he is portrayed as a teacher of wisdom excelled by Jesus of Nazareth (Matt. 12:42), and as arrayed in glory but excelled by “the lilies of the field” (Matt.6:29). But what is the source of Solomon’s greatness?
Firstly, he loved the Lord (1 Kings 3:3). The Bible had earlier spoken about God’s love for him (2Sa 12:24); in fact, he derived his name, Jedidiah (the beloved of the Lord) from it. But Solomon returned that love. Although he was both wise and rich, man, the brightest encomium of him is that he loved the Lord. He demonstrated his love for God by walking according to the statutes of his father David(1 Kings 2:2,3; 1 Chronicles 28:9,10). He walked in God’s statutes, just like his father, David, did before him. He kept close to God’s ordinances, carefully observed them, and diligently attended them. Those who truly love God will conscientiously walk in his statutes.
Secondly, he was very free and generous in what he did for the honour of God. When he offered sacrifice, he offered like a king; in proportion to his great wealth (1 Kings 3:4). At the event marking the ceremonial beginning of his reign, he offered one thousand burnt offerings to God. The Burnt Offering is a picture of the atonement, the ransom price paid so that sinful man might escape the death penalty demanded by God’s holiness. Since God is perfect, the only way sinful man can approach God, and become acceptable to Him, is through the Burnt Offering. To say it another way, the Burnt Offering pictured the atonement, the ransom price, paid to reconcile and make the person offering it acceptable to God (Leviticus 1:3-4).
In today’s terms, this is a picture of salvation, of Jesus Christ dying for us, of His paying the ransom price so that we might escape the penalty of death. Solomon offered burnt offerings to demonstrate that he wanted to have a close relationship with God like his father David. By offering one thousand burnt offerings, he was expressing his complete dedication to God. We too need to follow this principle of obedience to God and confession of sin (1 John 1:6-7 — “6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin). God responded to Solomon’s devotion with an offer of His own (1 Kings 3:5-6). The Lord appeared to him in a dream that night and told him to ask for whatever he wanted. This was a very generous offer and no strings were attached to it. God gave Solomon a blank cheque and told him to fill in the details. How gracious God was to Solomon.
But I hasten to say that God is also gracious to us. Do you recall what He said in Matthew 7:7-8 – 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. It is Solomon’s response to the offer made to him by God that we see another unusual action on his part. Solomon’s responded to God’s offer with a beautiful prayer. His prayer contains thanksgiving, humility and thoughtfulness.
First, Solomon began by thanking the Lord for showing mercy unto his father David (1 Kings 3:6; Psalm 103:1-4). Solomon thanked God for His mercy and kindness to his father and his family. He also acknowledged God’s grace in allowing himself to be king.
The second thing we notice about Solomon’s prayer is that he was very humble (1 Kings 3:7-8; 1 Peter 5:5-6). Solomon called himself God’s servant in verses 7, 8 and 9. He knew the Lord personally because he called Him, my God. But he also knew his position. The Lord was master, and Solomon was nothing but God’s servant. Solomon was also not too proud to admit his weaknesses. He knew that ruling over God’s people was a great task and he wasn’t equipped for it. By referring to himself as a child, Solomon acknowledged that he was both young and inexperienced in leadership. David had called Solomon a wise man in 1 Kings 2:9, yet Solomon humbly acknowledged his lack of ability to fulfil his duty well. We do well to learn from this. The great leaders of men in all fields have not been the arrogant and the greedy, but the servants. The real servants are the true nobility. The greatest of all, the Son of God Himself, declared that He had come not to be served but to be a servant, and to give his life a ransom for many.
The third thing we notice about his prayers is his petition, which was most unusual (1 Kings 3:9). What did Solomon choose? Solomon requested wisdom to rule well. He wanted to execute justice in Israel according to God’s Law. Solomon knew that human wisdom is not sufficient when it comes to leading God’s people. He asked the Lord to grant to him spiritual discernment to rule justly. Solomon’s choice revealed his heart was in the right place. He sought to please God, not himself. His request would benefit the nation not just himself.
Thirdly, it is in God’s response to Solomon’s request that we see His unusual blessings that He poured out mightily upon him.
First, God was pleased with Solomon’s request (1 Kings 3:10-11). God was impressed that, even though Solomon was young, he valued the spiritual over the material. God listed the things people usually choose, a long life, riches or the death of their enemies. How many people would have made the same choice given the opportunity? Not very many. Most people are selfish, even many believers. They think of themselves rather than others. They choose material blessings over spiritual ones. God was pleased that Solomon chose wisdom in order that he might serve others.
Second, God gave Solomon wisdom (1 Kings 3:12). God gave Solomon what he asked for and He gave it to him abundantly. The Lord gave Solomon more wisdom than anyone else would ever possess. Solomon was not only wise in his rule but had great general wisdom as well. His wisdom was renowned in his day. God equipped him with the wisdom to rule, but He didn’t limit Solomon’s wisdom to only justice. Solomon was wise in matters of science, nature and the arts. His wisdom exceeded the wisest men in all the earth, then and for all times (1 Kings 4:29-34). One common illustration of Solomon’s wisdom is his judging a dispute over the identity of the true mother of an infant child (1 Kings 3:16-28). Solomon proposed splitting the living child in half, knowing that the true mother would prefer to lose her son to another woman than to have him killed.
Third, God gave Solomon wealth and honour (1 Kings 3:13-14). Because Solomon desired to be a wise servant of the Lord, God gave him much more than he asked for. The Lord gave him riches and honour in abundance. There wasn’t a king like Solomon all his days. When the Queen of Sheba saw his wealth and heard His wisdom her breath was taken away. When people put spiritual blessings before material ones, God often gives the material ones too. God does this because He knows they can be trusted with wealth since they prize the spiritual most (Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you). The Lord also promised Solomon a long life if he would walk in his statutes. This last gift was conditional upon Solomon’s obedience to God’s Law. Solomon needed to continue the way he had started his life.
The greatest need of the world today is the wisdom that comes from God. We need wise men and women who will serve in governmental, business, educational, and other leadership positions. We need husbands and wives who possess genuine wisdom; and who will develop wise relationships between themselves and with their children. Wisdom is the ability to understand and discern what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Wisdom knows what to do and does it. Wisdom knows right from wrong and always does what is right. Wisdom recognizes wickedness and has nothing to do with sin and evil. Wisdom knows what responsible behaviour is and lives responsibly, turning away from all acts of irresponsibility.
Now, let me ask you, “what would you ask God for if He gave you the same offer?” Would you ask for wealth, health, fame a long life, or happiness? Or would you ask for wisdom? If you would ask for God’s wisdom to live, then I have good news for you. God offers all believers His wisdom if they will but ask for it (James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind). God promises to give wisdom to all who will ask for it in faith. Will you ask the Lord to give you wisdom so that you can live to please Him? Will you claim this promise by faith?
Your eternal salvation and spiritual well-being are our concerns. If you wish to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, you can pray the following prayer to God: “Dear God, I thank you for sending Jesus into the world to die for my sins. I repent of my sins right now and invite Him into my life to be my Lord and Saviour. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you offered this prayer to God, please write to let us know at the address below. You are also invited to join us in worshipping the Lord every Sunday in the Yoruba language at 7.20 a.m. and in the English language at 9.00 a.m.
- Good News Baptist Church,
47/49, Olufemi Road, Off Ogunlana Drive,
P. O. Box 3781, Surulere, Lagos
