Solomon’s Opportunity

MEMORY VERSE: “I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man; and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper [margin, or, do wisely] in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.” —I Kings 2:2,3

I KINGS 2:1-4

THE aged King David had abdicated the throne of Israel in favor of his son Solomon. He had many sons, but he recognized in Solomon the Lord’s choice. He said, “And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.”—I Chron. 28:5

David recognized that the kingdom of Israel was not his, that the real ruler over the nation was the Lord. In prayer he said, “Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head over all.”—I Chron. 29:10,11

We read that “Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father.” (I Chron. 29:23) The kingdom of Israel was not the real messianic kingdom, but it was used by the Lord as a type of that kingdom. It was essential that those who reigned as kings in this kingdom be faithful to the Lord in order to enjoy his guidance, blessing, and protection.

David knew this; and urged Solomon, as we note in our memory text, to keep the charge of the Lord, and to walk in his ways. Only thus could he be assured that the Lord would prosper his reign, and fulfill his promise, “There shall not fail thee … a man on the throne of Israel.” (vs. 4) Many of Israel’s kings were unfaithful to the Lord, and finally this typical kingdom came to an end, but the Scriptures show that God’s promise to David is to be fulfilled by the Messiah, of whom it is said that he would sit on the throne of David.—Luke 1:31,32; Isa. 9:6,7; 11:1-9

I KINGS 3:5-9

Solomon became renowned for his great wisdom. Near the beginning of his reign the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask what I shall give thee.” Solomon replied, in part, “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. 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?”

The Lord was pleased with this request, and told Solomon so. He said, “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 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 honor.”—I Kings 3:10-13

Solomon was no doubt inherently a wise and humble man, and his sincere reverence for the Lord, and wholehearted devotion to him, would increase his wisdom, for he would be willing to accept the instructions of the Lord, which would help to make anyone wise toward God.

Solomon’s writings were inspired by the Lord, and we can see in them a brilliant display of his wisdom. For example, “Eat thou not the bread of him that bath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”—Prov. 23:6,7

QUESTIONS

In what sense was the kingdom of Israel the kingdom of the Lord?

How could any king of Israel be assured that the Lord would prosper his reign?

What important thing did Solomon request from the Lord, and was his request granted?

Where in the Bible do we find the wisdom of Solomon displayed other than in the experiences of his reign?

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