2 Chronicles 1:1-17
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
1 Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.
2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— 3 and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. 4 Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. 6 Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
13 Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel.
14 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.
When Solomon was made King of Israel God appeared him...God said to him, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.”...Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place...Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth...Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”...God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you...And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”...Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting...And he reigned over Israel with the wisdom that came from God...
And Solomon had great wisdom...We are told that the queen of the South will rise up at Judgment Day with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, Something and Someone Greater than Solomon is here now and has left us His Good News and Teachings...
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction...The author tells us that true knowledge springs from reverence for God and is intertwined with wisdom, the ability to apply knowledge in the correct and right way...Knowledge is to be spread in the Way, the Truth, and in Life by Godly followers...We sometimes get knowledge and use it poorly and do not apply it correctly in our lives and sometimes not in a Godly Way...
Let us thank God who leads us to Jesus in a seeking and triumphal procession and let Him use His followers to spread the aroma of the knowledge of His Son everywhere...For the followers of His Son are to God, the pleasing aroma of Jesus among those who are being saved and also for those who are perishing...To some His followers are an aroma that brings death; to others, an aroma that brings life...Jesus was and is like No Other...Unlike so many, His followers do not peddle the Word of God for profit....But the Word of God is Truth and to be spread to the ends of the earth to be used in this Godly Way...And in Jesus, His followers are to speak before God with sincerity, as they are sent from God to spread His Word and the Good News He has brought...
God's wisdom will enter our hearts, and knowledge will be pleasant to our soul; discretion will watch over us, and understanding will guard us...Knowledge can be seen as enriching the soul, providing discernment and protection for us...Because knowledge with Godly Wisdom is a precious treasure...Knowledge is likened to "gold and abundance of costly stones," which shows us intangible, intrinsic value and desirability...So let us seek knowledge with the Wisdom of Christ...Because an intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge and Truth and wants to apply it in a Godly Way...Knowledge is something we should seek and learn from Jesus and God's Word, because God's Word is Truth...Let us be wise and at all ages be open to learning new things, saying, "Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance."...Let us apply our Godly knowledge and trust God and rely on His guidance for applying knowledge...Let us trust in the LORD with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways submit to Him, and He will make our paths straight...