By Christopher Dryden
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?
1 Kings 3:9 ESVUK
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
Proverbs 2:6-8 ESVUK
The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:42 ESVUK
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:13-18 ESVUK
It’s good to note where God is pleased with something. God is like the coach who approves of the players who follow the instructions on the pitch and, in doing so, wins the game. The players get credit for executing the game plan, and they acknowledge that the victory is the outworking of the coach's plan.
Solomon had big shoes to fill when he took over from his father, David. David established the standard by which all kings would be measured from when he was anointed as a boy to his last breath as the great king. It says much about his legacy, however, that the request of his successor pleased God. In requesting an understanding and discerning heart, Solomon essentially is asking God for wisdom. He’s asking for wisdom because he knows just how significant his position is. The request is a sound one – it’s asking God for what is necessary to oversee what belongs to God.
Solomon’s relationship with wisdom inspires the collection of wisdom literature in the scripture, the highlight of which is the collection of Proverbs. If there’s a prevailing theme in that book, it’s about the great value of wisdom. The wisdom to rule a great people is also essential in ruling ourselves – to rule well and to do so in a way pleasing to God, it is essential to operate by the wisdom of God. This is why that wisdom marks Jesus’ rule; indeed, Jesus fulfils that wisdom. This wisdom to rule in a manner pleasing to God remains a quality we all need to pursue to rule well in life. Jesus displays that in His approach to different people - showing mercy and compassion to those who need it and criticising those who should know better but only oppress people with a harsh and judgemental attitude full of selfish ambition.
This is why James, in his letter, harks back to the importance of wisdom. He encourages anyone who lacks it to ask God, who gives liberally. He helps us understand God’s kind of wisdom. Solomon could establish a righteous rule if he relied on God, who gave Him wisdom, so we depend on Godly wisdom to rule our lives well. As James contrasts worldly wisdom with godly wisdom, we note how Solomon’s decline was down to following after other gods rather than relying solely on the true source of wisdom.
Chaos abounds where ungodly wisdom is enthroned. This is evident in a world ruled by bitter jealousy, pride and selfish ambition. That kind of wisdom is present in the political world as figures jockey for positions of power at others' expense. That kind of wisdom is present in the entertainment world as figures pull down each other in the vain pursuit of glory. That kind of wisdom is even present on the local scene, where gossip, backbiting, and hypocrisy are covered under a veneer of respectability.
As we pursue God's rule that brings about righteousness and peace, let’s be reminded of how important it is to humbly approach God to have His wisdom so we can produce those qualities. That way, we can be part of the victorious team that can give credit to God for the game plan.
Ask: Why was God pleased with Solomon’s request?
Seek: Are you familiar with God’s kind of wisdom? How does it shape your decisions? If you’re unfamiliar with His wisdom, what steps can you take to be familiar?
Knock: Thank you, Father, for giving us your Son who operated in your wisdom – making decisions that pleased you, applying the difference between right and wrong. Help us, Father, as we live by your Spirit to rely on your wisdom to rule well and produce fruits of righteousness and peace.
