People like to make wishes. They like to make a wish when they blow out the candles on a birthday cake. They make a wish when they break the wishbone of a turkey. Some people like to make a wish on the first star they see in the night sky. We have fairy tales of people finding a magic lamp with a genie inside who grants wishes, and legends of leprechauns who grant wishes when caught. If those were true, and you had a genie or a leprechaun, what would you wish for? What would you wish for if you knew that blowing out birthday candles would guarantee a wish? Many people would wish for wealth, or maybe good health. In our Scripture today we read of a young man who was offered a wish by One who could definitely grant any wish that was made. Let’s take a look at this account, and what he wished for.
Solomon was a younger son of the great King David. He was the second child born of Bathsheba, the son following the one who had died as a baby. Though he had several older brothers, he was the one that God and King David had selected to take the throne when David died. When our Scripture opens, Solomon has recently been crowned king, following the death of his father. Very early into his reign, God came to Solomon in a dream. God often spoke to people in the Bible through dreams (Joseph, Daniel, and Joseph the foster father of Jesus are some examples). This time it was a bit different, as God had a two-way conversation with Solomon. He asked Solomon what he would like Him to give to him (vs. 5). Imagine God asking any one of us what we would like, and He would give it to us!
As a king in the ancient world, what would be the likely things he might ask for? Just like we might ask for, wealth would be one thing. Another would be for great power, that his kingdom might spread, and that he would be able to defeat all of his enemies. Another likely request might be for a long life. Solomon, though, was not so hasty in giving a response. He asked for wisdom to rule the nation (vs. 7-9). Though the exact age of Solomon when he became king was not given, most scholars believe he was a young man, possibly in his early twenties. When he answered God that he was just a little child, that wasn’t referring to him being a child by age. Solomon was referring to being a “child” with regards to experience in ruling the country. Despite being somewhat physically feeble during the last couple of years of his life, David had not shared any of the ruling responsibilities with Solomon, and thus taking the throne at a young age was a bit intimidating. Instead of asking for money and belongings, Solomon asked for wisdom, or an understanding heart, in ruling the nation.
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had not asked for personal benefits, such as wealth or the defeat of his enemies (vs. 10-11). It was very pleasing to God that he had asked for wisdom. Throughout the Bible the value of having wisdom is expounded. We are also instructed to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5).
God granted Solomon his request, and gave him a wise and discerning heart. However, it was up to him to apply that wisdom to all areas of his life. Solomon may have been wise in many areas of governing his kingdom, but he was very foolish in other areas. Many times throughout God’s Law, He instructed the people to never marry unbelievers (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). Yet Solomon disobeyed that command and married many hundreds of pagan women. In order to please these women, he set up altars to their pagan gods throughout Jerusalem, and thus led the nation into idolatry. Not only did he allow these women to worship idols, Solomon himself fell into idolatry (I Kings 11:1-11). This was far from following wisdom!
Solomon was offered a wonderful thing - anything he would wish from God. However, he did not continue to use the gift that God had given him. Very quickly he tossed it aside to please the pagan women he took as wives. Solomon began the terrible legacy that the majority of the future kings of Israel and Judah were to follow - that of worshiping idols and pagan gods and goddesses. He started out good, but ended bad.
How about us? Have we started out good when we accepted Jesus as our Savior, but later have strayed away from Him? Do we have gifts that the Lord has given us to use for Him, but we have set aside? We like to remember Solomon, unselfishly asking for wisdom, rather than for personal benefits. That is something good to follow as an example. However, we also need to take heed and not continue to walk in Solomon’s footsteps, following his later example, by letting wisdom slip. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). If only Solomon had remembered this through his life!
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