1 Kings 3 Solomon Asks for Wisdom

Posted by MrBilly at 5:20 PM

Asking for Wisdom

First, I would like to get a few key terms defined:

knowl·edge -noun

  1. acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition: knowledge of many things.
  2. familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning: A knowledge of accounting was necessary for the job.
  3. acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report: a knowledge of human nature
  4. the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension
  5. awareness, as of a fact or circumstance: He had knowledge of her good fortune
  6. something that is or may be known; information: He sought knowledge of her activities.
  7. the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time
  8. the sum of what is known: Knowledge of the true situation is limited.


wis·dom –noun


  1. the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.
  2. scholarly knowledge or learning: the wisdom of the schools.
  3. wise sayings or teachings; precepts.
  4. a wise act or saying.
in·tel·li·gence - noun
  1. capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity;
  2. aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc.
  3. manifestation of a high mental capacity: He writes with intelligence and wit.
  4. the faculty of understanding
  5. knowledge of an event, circumstance, etc., received or imparted; news; information.
dis·cern·ment - noun


  1. The act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.
  2. Keenness of insight and judgment.
I believe it is important to recognize how these very similar words are not exactly interchangeable as we might thing. Rather, I believe that they compliment each other and in fact, it is possible to have each independent of each other.



  • Solomon has made an alliance with the Pharaoh of Egypt through marrying his daughter. This alliance with the provisions for continued worship compromised his devotion because his people did not have a place to worship within Jerusalem. v. 1-7 (Faith In Action, pg 494)
  • Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father , David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incenses on the high places.
It was imperative that the people of Jerusalem have their own place to worship, (they are currently offering sacrifices and burnt offerings on a high place) so as we will see, Solomon works to build a temple for his people.

However, I would like to emphasize the fact that he "showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father". For me, that is a very amazing thing- remember his father's charge to his before he died,


Be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and where ever you go... (v 2-3)

What an amazing charge to a son. A call to action! To me, it is important to see that even though David had screwed up many times in the past, we still held on to his desire to 'get right with God'. David asks Solomon to do this so that the Lord may keep his promise to him- so that he will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel. A noble goal in itself, but, but to go further, David seems as if he doesn't just want Solomon to walk with the Lord for the future of his country, he wants him to walk with the Lord so that Solomon will not make the same mistakes David did in the past.

  • So how is Solomon to do this? Here is the big question:

If you could ask God for anything, what would you ask for?

Perhaps you would ask for the financial means to do whatever you want? It seems that many of us (myself included), are always asking for God to bless us with prosperity- maybe not outright, but for success at work. Prayer for that promotion, for that raise, or even just a job that will put us in a better position for the future. I'll admit, that personally, I often forget to ask God for the tools to accomplish his will. That is what is interesting about Solomon's request. Solomon asks for "a discerning heart."

  • Solomon asks for discernment- remember our definition: The act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.
David gave Solomon the charge of walking in the way of the Lord. When we learn to walk in the ways of the Lord we make his desires our own. It's interesting how our priorites begin to change when we start aligning ourselves with what God wants for us.

An intersting thing about discernment is that it is not the defintion of wisdom. Although both contain the ability to have knowledge of what is true, true wisdom goes beyond jsut knowledge. it has the discernment to do what is right. It is not jsut a measurement of what is right and wrong- rather, it is the ability to choose what is right. Solomon asked for this and recieved the gift of wisdom and discerment from the Lord.


  • Solomon wanted a discerning heart for what purpose? "to govern God's people." (v 9)

Here is the next interesting thing about Solomon's request: he did it not so that he may gain more power from knowledge, or even to be more well respected amongst his people. He did it so that he may govern God's people.

One of my favorite passages in this chapter:

...but I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my
duties. Your servent is here omong the people you have chosen , a
great people to numerous in number to count. So give me a discerning heart
to govern your people and to distinguish beteween right and wrong. (v 7-8)

Solomon knows that alone, he cannot govern a nation in the way his father David challenged him to do. much in the same way, we begin to realize that there are things we of our own strength and ability we cannot do without God.

Again, when we begin to align ourselves with the Lord's will, we begin to think less about our needs and more about how we can serve others and thus, serve God. The nation of Isreal needed a strong leader to continue after David and Solomon asks for the tools to make it so.

  • Lord, develop in me the tools and abilities that I need to glorify your kingdom and create in me the will to make it so.

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and anot for long life or wealth for
yourself, nor have you asked for the death of your eemies but for
discernemnt in administering justice... I will give you what you have not asked for- both riches and honor- so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. (v 10-14)

  • Notice, however that there is a stipulation of sorts:
And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David
your father did, I will give you a long life. (v 14)




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1 Comment:

  1. ChildsPlay said...
    January 15, 2009 at 5:52 AM  
    When we align ourselves with God's will, rather that asking God to align with us, then we open ourselves to His blessings.

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