1. SOLOMON'S REVELATION FROM GOD
a. The Place of the Revelation.
It was on the hilltop at Gibeon, 6 miles NW of Jerusalem, where the Tabernacle
was pitched with an altar to YHWH (2 Chronicles 1:3-4). The Ark itself had
been taken to Jerusalem where there was another altar (15), on the
threshing-floor of Araunah (2 Samuel 24:18).
b. The Time of the Revelation.
It was the night after he had offered a thousand burnt-offerings in one day.
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
c. The Manner of the Revelation.
It was in a dream, as with Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, Mary's Joseph, etc. Do you
have godly dreams? Martin Luther King did. "I have a dream..."
2. SOLOMON'S REQUEST TO GOD
a. He acknowledges God's Sufficiency.
This he had fully seen during the reign of his father David: especially over
the rebellion of Absalom and Achitophel. With David dead and older brother
Adonijah challenging, Solomon needs this wisdom.
b. He acknowledges his own Insufficiency.
Young Solomon was not really a child. Josephus says he was 14; but if Ussher
is right he was 20. He just felt inadequate. St Paul said "When I am weak,
then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).
3. SOLOMON'S REWARD FROM GOD
a. The way to spiritual blessings is to wrestle with God.
We all need wisdom; in James 1:5-6 we are told to ask God for it. "Where shall
Wisdom be found?" (Job 28:12) - in Christ, "the Power of God and the Wisdom of
God" (1 Corinthians 1:24). Wrestling Jacob would not let go until God's Angel
blessed him (Genesis 32:26; 48:16). God made Solomon the wisest ever (1 Kings
4:31ff). The Queen of Sheba said, "The half was not told me" (1 Kings 10:7).
b. The way to temporal blessings is to rest upon God.
"Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you"
(Matthew 6:33). Riches and honour were granted to him absolutely - God made
him the richest man ever. Look at his grocery bill (1 Kings 4:22ff) - but long
life was given conditionally (14): he died at 60. How long might he have
reigned if he had rested upon God! Accommodating his foreign wives' gods was
his downfall; "his wives turned away his heart" (1 Kings 11:3).
Notice how Solomon returned to give thanks to God publicly (14). God who hears
our prayer in secret will reward us openly (Matthew 6:6).
_________________________________________________________________________
In Christ,
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
