Readings for today: 1 Kings 3-4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 72
Wisdom is a gift according to the Bible. It’s not something we can manufacture. It’s not something we can earn. It’s not something we can buy. It comes from one source. It is drawn from one well. The ancients put it like this - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” I really like how Eugene Peterson describes it in the Message version as he translates this conversation between God and Solomon. “Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?” (1 Kings 3:9 MSG)
A God-listening heart is the essence of wisdom. Seeking God. Hearing from God. Listening to God. Ultimately obeying God. This is what it means not only to learn wisdom but to walk in wisdom as well. After all, God’s ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He promises to do for us more than we can ever ask or imagine. His plans for us are more glorious than we could ever come up with on our own. So it makes perfect sense if we want to live with wisdom, we need to seek it from God. This is what makes Solomon’s request so amazing and worthy of emulation. Of all the things he could have asked for as he got started - military might, untold riches, etc. - Solomon was humble enough to recognize his weakness and his deep need for God’s guidance. He also understood the responsibility of his new role. He was being called to a life of service. Being king was not about him. It was about the people he served and his desire was to do that well. Of all the sons of David, this character trait seems unique to Solomon and it’s what makes him such a great king.
Again, I love how Peterson describes it, “God gave Solomon wisdom—the deepest of understanding and the largest of hearts. There was nothing beyond him, nothing he couldn’t handle. Solomon’s wisdom outclassed the vaunted wisdom of wise men of the East, outshone the famous wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, wiser than Heman, wiser than Calcol and Darda the sons of Mahol. He became famous among all the surrounding nations. He created 3,000 proverbs; his songs added up to 1,005. He knew all about plants, from the huge cedar that grows in Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows in the cracks of a wall. He understood everything about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. Sent by kings from all over the earth who had heard of his reputation, people came from far and near to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:29-34 MSG)
Do you have a “God-listening heart?” If God were to come to you and present the same offer He gave Solomon, how would you answer? Would you ask for wisdom or something else? The Book of James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him/her ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given.” (James 1:5 ESV) How does one pray for wisdom? Let me encourage you to use the words of the Psalmist. Make them your own. For if we ask for wisdom and then act in wisdom, those we love and live among will truly be blessed. “Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God, the gift of just rule to the crown prince. May he judge your people rightly, be honorable to your meek and lowly. Let the mountains give exuberant witness; shape the hills with the contours of right living. Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants. Outlast the sun, outlive the moon— age after age after age. Be rainfall on cut grass, earth-refreshing rain showers. Let righteousness burst into blossom and peace abound until the moon fades to nothing. Rule from sea to sea, from the River to the Rim.” (Psalms 72:1-8 MSG)
Readings for tomorrow: Psalm 119:89-176