Kingly Wisdom

Kingly Wisdom

1 Kings 3 

James 3:13, 17 Who is wise and understanding among you?
Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 

1. GOD’S GENEROUS OFFER: .

1 Kings 3:3–5 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.  The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 

God’s Fatherly disposition hasn’t changed: He is generous to His children who ask.

Matthew 7:7–8, 11 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.   11  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

2. GOD’S “HESED” (kindness, goodness) IS .

1 Kings 3:6–7a Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David.” 

Because of Christ’s accomplished work (not ours!) we are even more free to ask.

Hebrews 4:15–16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 

3. OUR  GLORIFIES GOD’S POWER.

1 Kings 3:7b–8 “But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.” 

Our prayerful and humble weakness glorifies Christ’s power and grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 The Lord said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

4. A ROYAL PRAYER REQUEST:  (WISDOM.)

1 Kings 3:9 “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 

It’s always wise to ask for wisdom!

Proverbs 4:7–8 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 

5. THE EFFECTIVE PRAYER REQUEST: .

1 Kings 3:10–14 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him,
“Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 

You can pray for godly wisdom confidently, trusting it is God’s will for you.

1 John 5:14–15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 

Many blessings accompany us when we walk in the wisdom of Christ.

Mat. 6:33 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

6. WISDOM BEGINS WITH .

As wise as Solomon was, Jesus is infinitely wiser.

Matthew 12:42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

As powerful as Solomon was, Jesus is infinitely more powerful.

1 Cor 1:24b …Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Apart from Christ, we can do nothing.           

John 15:5–7  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.