Solomon is granted wisdom

1 Kings Chapter 3

Solomon made an alliance with the Pharaoh of Egypt and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finished building his palace and the Temple of the Lord and wall around the city. At that time the people sacrificed their offerings at local altars because the temple had not yet been built.

Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the instructions of his father, David. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at local altars, one of which was at Gibeon. One night the Lord appeared there to Solomon in a dream. God asked him to state what he wanted and it would be given. Solomon told God that he was a believer and was happy that God continued his kindness to him as he did his father David. Solomon indicated that he was like a child and did not know his way around his people, so he asked God for an understanding mind to help him govern well and know the difference between right and wrong.

The Lord was so pleased with Solomon's request for wisdom. He could have asked for long life or riches. So God gave him a wise and understanding mind and on top of that God also gave him riches and honor. God told Solomon to continue to follow the commandments and he would have long life.

Sometime later, two prostitutes came before Solomon to have a dispute settled. They lived in the same house and each gave birth to a baby, but one rolled over on hers and the baby died. The second prostitute claimed the dead child belonged to the first and the first claimed it belonged to the second. Now they were fighting over the infant that was alive. So Solomon called for a sword and offered to cut the child in two and give half to each woman. Then the real mother who loved her infant cried out, "No, my Lord. Give her the child-please do not kill him!" But the other woman said, "All right, he will be neither yours nor mine, divide him between us." Then Soloman gave the baby to the woman who wanted him to live, because he knew she was the real mother. And word of the king's decision spread quickly throughout all of Israel and the people were awed at the great wisdom God had given Solomon to render decisions with justice.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Marriages between royal families like the one between Solomon and the Pharoah's daughter, were common in the Near East. It built friendships with surrounding nations. But these alliances became Solomon's downfall because pagan ideas and practices came with these relationships.

Solomon received a wise and understanding mind from God, but it was up to him to apply that wisdom to all areas of his life. He was wise in dealing with governing the nation, but was foolish in running his own household.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Imagine that you had a dream in which God would grant you whatever you needed. Kind of hard to ask for wisdom when wealth and riches were available, right? But setting your sights on riches would only leave you dissatisfied because even if you get riches, you would crave more.
Solomon did not ask God to do the job for him. Just as we should not ask God to do for us what he wants to do THROUGH us. I hope that last sentence makes sense and that you understand it. We should ask God to give us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to follow through on it. If you put God and his work first, then he will satisfy your deepest needs. Then we only have to put God's plans in action! Praise be to the Lord!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.