II Chronicles 1:3- So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.
II Chronicles 1:6-7- And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it. In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
After Solomon had offered an offering, God came to him in a dream and allowed him to ask any request. God was going to give Solomon whatever he asked for.
What would you ask for?
Solomon could have asked for Military might to conquer Israel's enemies. He could have requested riches more than any other ruler around. He could even have requested a long life ensuring his reign over the kingdom for many years to come.
I Kings 3:5-6,9- In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
Solomon realized that the only way he was going to be able to be a good ruler was if he had wisdom. So, that is what he asked God for.
Is that what you would've asked for?
II Chronicles 1:11-12- And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
God was very happy with Solomon's request. And, because Solomon asked for something that would help him to be all that God wanted of him as a ruler, God also gave him what he didn't ask for- riches and honor.
I Kings 3:10, 14- And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
It isn't hard to please the Lord. We can all do that by obeying what He tells us to do in His word.
In fact, God told Solomon that He would give him a long life if Solomon would obey God's laws. Did you know that God has promised children a long life if they obey their parents?
Ephesians 6:1-2- Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
That part "the first commandment with promise" means that it comes with a promise- then Paul tells you that the promise is a long life.
Solomon was also given this promise if he kept God's commandments.
I Kings 3:15- And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
So Solomon went back to Jerusalem and after thanking God, he made a feast. Now, he was going to be presented with a situation that would prove to him that God had answered his request for wisdom.
I Kings 3:16-22- Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
So, two women who lived together had each had a child. One of the babies had died, and the women were arguing over who got to keep the living child. One lady said that her baby had been taken away and the dead baby had been put in it's place, but the other lady said she was lying.
It was obvious that someone was lying, but who?
I Kings 3:24-25- And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
Solomon knew that a mother would do anything for her children. She would even give her child to someone else to protect it. If he threatened to kill the baby, he knew the real mother would do anything to save it.
I Kings 3:26-27- Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
Solomon realized that the woman who was willing to give up the child to keep it alive was the real mother. He also realized that God had answered his request for wisdom. His entire kingdom heard of this story and they, too, knew that their king was a wise man.
I Kings 3:28- And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
God also kept His promise to give Solomon riches and honor.
II Chronicles 1:14-15- And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.
I Kings 4:29-32, 34- And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.
