By Olubunmi Adebayo
*2) SOLOMON’S DECISION TO HEED HIS FATHER’S LAST COUNSEL.*
*Before Solomon’s father -King David died, he gave Solomon a collection of personal, family, social, spiritual and political advices.*
*1 Kings 2:2-3.*
*Remember that David himself had failed many times for lack of wisdom – concerning his infidelity with Bathsheba, concerning counting the people of Israel without God’s approval.*
*David therefore knew what he lacked, and was ready to remedy the situation by way of generous and deep-seated counsels to his son and successor.*
*Solomon decided to choose wisdom because he remembered his father’s experiences and instructions.*
*Solomon himself said in Prov 4:[3] :*
*”For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother”.*
*[4]”He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.”*
*3) SOLOMON UNDERSTOOD AND VALUED WHAT WISDOM IS.*
*Solomon did not just ask for knowledge. Solomon knew that Knowledge is knowing the facts, while wisdom is knowing what to do with the facts.*
*If you look at the way Solomon started ruling, and his activities as the king up until the encounter with God at Gibeon, you will establish clearly that Solomon was a wise fellow before he asked for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:5-9. It takes wisdom to ask for wisdom.*
*Solomon said “_Give me an understanding heart to JUDGE thy people, that I may discern between good and bad”._*
*With his request above, he was not just asking for a high Intelligent Quotient capacity. He was asking for much more :*
*A) Discernment : Ability to know between good and bad – not just good and evil, but good and almost good. Leadership often fails not because they choose evil over good, but because we choose good over best.*
*B) Judgment: This is the capacity to govern, to decide, to bring justice. He knew Israel would bring 1000 cases daily. Without wisdom, justice will surely fail.*
*C) Understanding Heart: Not just head knowledge, but heart of understanding. Because leadership decisions are made in the heart, not just in the head.*
*Solomon chose wisdom because wisdom is the master of all keys – Prov 4:7 — _”Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding”._*
*4) SOLOMON SAW THE DANGER OF RICHES WITHOUT WISDOM.*
*The truth about life is “If you have wisdom, you can get wealth, but if you have wealth without wisdom, you will lose your wealth.”*
*Solomon grew up in the palace, and saw what wealth without wisdom can do.*
*i) He saw how his eldest brother – Amnon had position but lacked wisdom – raped his own sister Tamar – 2 Samuel 13, and died foolishly.*
*ii) How his other brother – Absalom, had charisma but lacked wisdom, and rebelled against their father and died hanging on a tree – 2 Samuel 18.*
*iii) How his own father – David had power but lacked wisdom in a moment, and ended up committing a shameful near public adultery with his mother – Bathsheba, which the whole nation got to know of later.*
*Going forward, Solomon realized that in his situation, wisdom is the mother of all other blessings that he would need.*
*This is why his choice pleased God-1 Kg 3:10 – _”And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing._*
*To be concluded tomorrow, God willing.*
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©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
