Focal Teaching Passages:
1 Kings 3:1-28
Solomon Begins His Reign: A
Prayer for Wisdom (3:1-15)
The lesson passage commences with the record of King
Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter for the purpose of forming a political
“alliance” with Egypt. The “Pharoah” referred to here was
probably Siamun (978-959 BC) who maintained peaceful relations with Israel for
some twenty years. While such political marriages were quite common in the
ancient world, marriage agreements with foreigners outside the covenant
community had been strictly forbidden by God (Deut. 17:17; I Kings 11:2). As
the story of Solomon’s reign continues this sin will come to play in a deeply
troubling way.
The reference to the sacrifices on the “high
places” (v. 2) indicates the need for a central temple where such worship
practice could be properly observed. Since at the time there was no such
central location for the worship of “the Name of the Lord,” the people
of Israel sacrificed at altars previously dedicated to the Canaanite gods.
These worship places existed because Israel had not yet obeyed God’s command to
destroy them (Num. 33:52). Wiseman describes these structures as typically
consisting of “flat rock-hewn platforms[s] with an altar” where animals could
be sacrificed [83].
Verse 3 recounts Solomon’s initial “love for the
Lord” which was demonstrated by means of his commitment to walk “according
to the statutes of his father David.” That is, he demonstrated obedience to
those obligations directly expressed by his father prior to his death
(2:2-4).
In verse 4 we learn that Solomon
journeyed to “Gibeon,” the “most important high place,” located
about seven miles from Jerusalem, in order to present to the Lord “a
thousand burnt offerings on the altar.” While he was sleeping, the Lord
Himself appeared to Solomon by way of a “dream.” In the nighttime
theophany, or vision, Solomon heard the voice of Yahweh saying, “Ask for whatever
you want me to give you.”
Demonstrating an awareness of God’s mercy and
covenant faithfulness—“you have shown great kindness to your servant”—and
displaying great humility—“I am only a little child”— Solomon asked only
that he might have a “discerning heart” in order to effectively lead the
people of Israel (v. 9). The Hebrew concept of a discerning or listening “heart”—which
was the location of the mind and will for the Hebrews—communicated the idea
that genuine hearing is properly reflected in the act of obedience. That is,
one was thought to have “heard” a command when he had actually obeyed
that command. Thus, Solomon is fervently praying for the ability to both
clearly hear and receive the divine command and to faithfully obey it to the
letter. Notice that Solomon was particularly interested in governing his people
(“too numerous to count or number”) with integrity and fairness—“to
distinguish between right and wrong” (vv. 8-9).
In response to his humble request, which “pleased”
the Lord greatly, God granted Solomon not only a “discerning heart,” but
also “riches and honor” to the degree that no one on earth had in the
past or would in the future manifest (vv. 11-13). Furthermore, the Lord promised Solomon the
blessing of long life so far as he kept God’s commands and walked in His ways
as his father David had done before him (vv. 14-15). Note that there is an explicit reference to
the fifth commandment in the Decalogue in verse 14. This feature
“underscores the continuity of God’s covenant with Israel, with David, and with
Solomon, the new generation,” but also serves to emphasize the “conditional
nature of Solomon’s kingship” [House, 111].
The significance of this agreement between Israel’s
king and the God of Israel is found in the fact that Solomon chose the proper
pathway of leadership. Richard Nelson [First
and Second Kings, Interpretation, 31] explains that in this encounter, “two competing
patterns of kingship are set before the reader; a kingship of glory and a
kingship in the spirit of Deuteronomy.”
He continues:
What Solomon does not ask for are the trappings of glory and worldly success that made up much of the royal ideology . . . . It was just this pattern for kingship that Deuteronomy had warned against (Deut. 17:16-17), as had Samuel (I Sam. 8:11-18).
At least initially, then,
Solomon wisely chooses the path of humble, Spirit-empowered leadership that
will bring glory and honor to God on the one hand, and will effectively serve
the people of Israel one the other.
Solomon’s Wisdom in Action:
A Wise Judge (3:16-28)
Solomon’s newfound wisdom was soon tested in the
strange case of the “two prostitutes,” each claiming to be the mother of
the same child (vv. 16-22). Displaying
God-given wisdom, Solomon quickly solved the problem by proposing to have the
baby “cut in two” (v. 24). This strategic ploy and subsequent resolution
to the dilemma resulted in great respect from his people—“they held the king
in awe because he had wisdom from God to administer justice” (v. 28).
One: Note the two tragic errors which appear
early in Solomon’s reign:
What made these actions so potentially destructive
and dangerous? How could these actions
ultimately led to his downfall? Is it possible for Christians to repeat the
same mistakes? If so, give examples.
Two: Early in his life, Solomon possessed
many admirable and God-honoring qualities.
These are revealed in his response to God’s offer to grant his prayer in
3:5-15
Identify these exemplary attributes in the following
verses:
How can these qualities serve as patterns for
leadership and be practically implemented today?
Three: What does it mean to have a “discerning
heart”? Note that this Hebrew idiom
literally means a “learning heart.” How would you define “wisdom”? What are the characteristics of biblical
wisdom?
Hint:
Donald Wiseman [1 & 2 Kings, TOTC, 85] identifies several
distinguishing characteristics of biblical wisdom:
Four: Look
carefully at 3:14 and see if you can define how David’s kingship prepares us
for the work and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ—the king of kings. Check out these passages for additional
help: