Heart of a King

The Wisdom of God: Jesus. 1 Kings 4.29-34

Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Samuel-Chronicles (4)

Pray Psalm 28.8, 9.
The LORD is their strength,
And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.
Save Your people,
And bless Your inheritance;
Shepherd them also,
And bear them up forever.

Sing Psalm 28.8, 9.
(Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
Our strength are You, O Savior, our strong defense and sure.
Anointed with Your favor, we rest in You secure.
Save us, and bless us, Jesus, upon us turn Your face.
With shepherd’s care, LORD, keep us forever in Your grace.

Preparation
1. What did Solomon seek from the Lord? Why did he seek it?

2. How did God respond to his prayer?

Meditation
An old spiritual expresses what should be the desire of every believing heart:
In the monrin’, when I rise,
In the mornin’, when I rise,
In the mornin’, when I rise,
Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus.
You can have all this world—
give me Jesus!

This, in essence, was what Solomon was seeking. He well knew that the Wisdom of God was a Person, an eternal Person Whose power and understanding were infinite and Who was truly the desire of all people (cf. Prov. 8).

But, of course, Solomon did not know that Person like we do. Nevertheless, God answered His prayer and gave Him Wisdom, making him more like Jesus so that he could judge the people of Israel well and lead them in creating beautiful things, doing good and useful works, and living in the peace and grace of the Lord.

The humility that led Solomon to seek God’s Wisdom and that enabled him to use that Wisdom to serve others would not last. As Solomon relates in Ecclesiastes 2, he thought he could continue in the Wisdom of God while, at the same time, indulging folly, fun, and frivolity. That choice was his downfall and led to the division of the nation and a series of disappointing kingships.

But the Wisdom of God testified that He is greater than Solomon (Matt. 12.42). And He proved that to be true at every turn, resisting every temptation and holding to the Law of God and usher in the eternal Kingdom of the Lord. Seek Wisdom, friends. Seek Jesus day by day and moment by moment. He is all our joy, strength, hope, love, and might.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
As our Bible study teacher, Pat Hunter, used to say, “The strongest man (Samson), the most powerful man (David), and the wisest man (Solomon) all fell into sins of the flesh.” They all fell for the lies of Satan, and they all committed crimes against themselves and others for their foibles and transgressions. Solomon himself wrote a pithy proverb about it:
“Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth:
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths;
For she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men.
Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death” (Prov. 7.24-27).

Of course, this encompasses far more than adulterous behavior. This includes all things that are betrayals to God and His Sovereign rule—anything that transgresses the Law of God (Ex. 20.1-17).

If two kings and a judge fell, where does that leave us?

Well, actually, it leaves us in a potentially good place if we are looking to Jesus for strength—filled with the Holy Spirit—longing to please only Him, living only for Him. The Spirit that said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16.33).

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 Jn. 4.4).

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14.26, 27).

We can succeed, where Samson, David, and even Solomon failed—just:
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You can have all the rest,
Give me Jesus.

Reflection
1. What is wisdom? How does wisdom differ from understanding?

2. Why should we as Christians expect to grow in wisdom in our walk with and work for the Lord?

3. What would you say are the keys to increasing in wisdom?

Solomon was herein a type of Christ, in whom are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and hid for us, for he is made of God to us, wisdom. Christ’s fame shall spread through all the earth, and men of all nations shall come to him, learn of him, and take upon them his easy yoke, and find rest for their souls.. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 1 Kings 4.29-34

Pray Psalm 28.1-7.
Pray that the Lord will give you wisdom—that is, that He will give you Jesus, more and more of Jesus every day. Seek His strength and the joy that comes from knowing His Presence with you always.

Sing Psalm 28.1-7.
(Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
I cry to You, our Savior, O, be not deaf to me!
LORD, speak to me with favor, lest I should dying be.
Hear now my supplications when for Your help I cry.
Receive these, my oblations, before Your throne on high.

LORD, count me not among those who walk in sinful ways.
With words of peace their tongue glows while evil fills their days.
Your works they disregard, LORD, while evil fills their hands.
Destroy them by Your Word, LORD, and let them no more stand.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus, for He will hear our prayer.
His strength protects and shields us with mercy and with care.
In You our heart rejoices; You help us by Your Word.
To You we raise our voices to praise and thank You, LORD.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.