Words to the Wise: 1 Kings 3:4-15 - Reformation Sunday

⁴ The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” ⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. ⁹ Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one like you shall arise after you. ¹³ I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. ¹⁴ If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”

¹⁵ Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem, where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being and provided a feast for all his servants. (NRSV)

 

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

Whenever you asked my late grandmother, “how are you doing,” she almost always gave the same answer: “I’m old!”

When our daughter, Rebecca, heard her say this, she said, “you’re not old; you’re experienced!”

After we all got done laughing, we realized she was right. You can’t grow up during the Great Depression, enter adulthood during World War 2, and watch your oldest son go off to Vietnam without becoming tremendously wise, which she was.

Solomon, however, was quite inexperienced when he inherited the throne of his father, David, and the political mess his death created. Two of Solomon’s older brothers have already attempted to seize the throne from his father, only to end up dying in the process. And there are plenty of other high-ranking officials who’d rather see someone other than Solomon on the throne. To assume and consolidate his power, Solomon purges several high-ranking officials who’d taken up sides against him; and those he doesn’t kill he strips of their power.

When his kingship is finally secure, God appears to Solomon in a dream and promises to give him whatever he desires. Solomon asks God for “understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil.”

God is so pleased by his answer that he not only gives Solomon wisdom, but he also gives him riches and honor as well. In fact, Solomon will become so wealthy and wise that dignitaries will come from all over the world just to be in his presence.

All told, Solomon possessed everything he needed to make Israel the most prosperous, the most powerful, and most peaceful kingdom on earth. But he doesn’t do that. Instead of ruling with his wisdom, Solomon rules with his ego. He marries a thousand wives, and to impress them, he worships their gods. One could argue that the temple he built for God in Jerusalem was a monument to himself; then, he went and built a palace for himself that was even more garish. To fund it all, he raised taxes and even enslaved some of his fellow Israelites.

By the time Solomon dies, the people’s faith in the Davidic monarchy was pretty much gone. The northern tribes seceded and established their own kingdom.

I think we can relate to what the average Israelite was feeling at the end of Solomon’s reign.

More and more, it feels like everything in the world is unraveling. We know what it’s like to watch politicians waste our tax dollars. Inflation, recessions, shootings, and Covid-19 are pushing us to the edge. We're losing faith in our elected leaders and system of government. We're losing faith in our institutions and our values. We're losing faith in ourselves and each other. We're losing faith in God.

But things don’t need to go on this way. The world is suffering—and we are the Body of Christ. God wants life, love, and peace to flourish on this earth. Our job, therefore, has nothing to do with fighting a culture war, but in seeking wisdom from God, receiving it; and unlike Solomon, putting that wisdom to work.

God has given us the Word of life: the Ten Commandments; to love the Lord your God with all your heart soul, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. We have the Gospel, which teaches us to love your enemies, pray for your persecutors, and do good without expecting anything in return. God has given you eyes and ears to learn, minds to think, hands to work, voices to teach and inspire.

You may not be royalty, but God can accomplish just as much through you as God wanted to do through Solomon. It doesn’t matter whether you are a school student, wage-earner, volunteer, or a CEO. God has put you where you are for a purpose—and that is to be God’s presence.

We are the Body of Christ. We don’t run away from problems. We don’t run away from hurting people. We run towards them. We don’t run away from the unknown, because that’s where God will make himself known. We don’t lose our heads. We use our heads.

When you trust God, every crisis becomes an opportunity to witness amazing grace. Every challenge becomes an opportunity for growth. Every failure becomes an opportunity for learning. Every conflict becomes an opportunity to build trust and strengthen relationships.

We don’t attack the people who oppose us, we pray for them and strive to work with them—because nothing shows us the kingdom of God quite like adversaries working together towards a common good. By listening to people, learning with people, and working with people, we will inspire goodwill in others. Together, we will we become co-creators with God.

Our problems may be too much for us, but they’re not too much for God. When you’re faced with a situation where you don’t know what to do, or you don’t feel like you have what it takes to act, ask God. God will take care of the rest.

The more you open yourself up to be used by God, the more God will teach you—and the wiser you will become. Even when you fail and make mistakes, God is making you wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—but the end goal of wisdom is life. It’s transformation. It’s Reformation.

God grant us the wisdom we need, and the will to act, and the strength to keep on going, so that life and love may triumph.