Solomon’s Gift Of Understanding

One thing that you will find out about Solomon is that he began his life as king by serving the Lord and doing His will. However, it was soon afterword’s that he slowly forgot God and started to live for the flesh and his riches instead. Fortunately, near the end of his life, he knew everything he gained was vanity. So he came back to the Lord. As for this study, we will find out how he gained his wisdom. Now, if you think he got his knowledge from his own doing, you are mistaken. It was God that bestowed the gift of understanding, and judgment to him. And here is how it all went down. Starting in 1 Kings 3, verse 3, it reads, ¹“and Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.” (1 Kings 3:3,4) It was because of his dedication to serving God and doing his will, that then led to what happened next. It reads, ¹“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. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.” (1 Kings 3:5-8) This is just the beginning of his dream.

Solomon then told God exactly what he desired from him. He said, ¹“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.” (1 Kings 3:9-14) Now, wait a minute! Did you hear what Solomon asked for? He didn’t ask for riches or honor, but simply an understanding heart to judge people. He didn’t want to think as most people do, but know the difference between good and evil. This is what pleased the Lord. My friends, this is so amazing to even hear of such a person. It is uncommon now to see people like this anymore, even though there are still many people out there that are living their lives for God like me. Jesus is the center of everything we do, and therefore, we also have been given gifts of the Spirit as he did. A gift of understanding is amazing and so is that gift, plus a gift of writing and teaching God’s Word, as I have been given. God is so good to those that love Him.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that You will give me words to speak this day and forever. Help me to always know Your will, that I may never lean unto my own understanding. I need Your understanding in my life, that I may be able to always distinguish between what is good and evil. I do not wish to have the lines to be blurred in any way, because of sin in my life. So if there is anything inside of me or in my house now that doesn’t glorify You, but brings in darkness instead, bring it to my attention immediately. I do not wish to grieve the Holy Spirit, but to always have the comforter with me at all times. Nothing I am doing or possess now is more important than abiding in You and doing Your will. I am ready to give up anything for Your cause, for You are my Savior and Lord of all. I will remove out of my life and destroy whatever does not honor You, and I pray that others will make this choice today as well. Lord, nothing I can gain in this world is worth more than having Your presence with me. I would never want to replace Your love with superficial love that comes with meddling in sexual sin and porn. These things are grievous in Your sight and only lead to temporary pleasure, plus guilt and shame afterward. Therefore, lead me far from the hands of the evil one and draw me into Your fold at all times. You are the rock upon which I stand. Nothing is greater. So Lord, as I go out into the world and teach and preach the gospel, give me understanding. Help me to see the evils of this world, and also have the courage to speak out against it. May Your words be what comes forth out of my mouth. Fill me with the Holy Spirit at all times, that I may continue to be a valiant servant for Your kingdom. I love You, Lord. You have blessed me beyond measure, and I am so grateful. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

1 Kings 3

¹1 Kings 3 (KJV)
1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days.
3 And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
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.
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.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 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?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 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;
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.