By Olubunmi Adebayo
*He was the most hated of the several sons of King David.*
*He was so hated that nobody could ever bet on him that he would one day become the king of Israel.*
*His mother – Bathsheba, was viewed everywhere in the palace, and outside the palace, with the eyes of worthlessness reserved for harlots.*
*When the mantle of leading the nation of Israel fell on him-the boy SOLOMON, came clean to God in affirming his inability to lead the people due to his lacking in wisdom and Understanding to lead such a great nation.*
*Not the background of Solomon alone was a challenge – the sheer size of the assignment and the shoe he was to fill were just too great for him!*
*Infact, there were only a few such gigantic assignment and leadership successions in the entire old testament of the Bible – Joshua stepping into the shoes of Moses, and Elisha stepping into the shoes of Elijah.*
*But Solomon stepping into the shoes of King David was even a bigger and greater comparison compared with the other two mentioned above. This is because, Joshua followed Moses on several assignments, Elisha followed Elijah and poured water on his hands, but none of such was our reference concerning Solomon!*
*Please read the exchange between him and God in some details :*
*1 Kings 3: [4] And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.*
*[5]In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.*
*[6]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.*
*[7]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.*
*[8]And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.*
*[9] _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?_*
*One great lesson all of us should learn from Solomon at this critical stage of the national history of Israel following after the death of their great King (David) and also a critical moment in the life of Solomon himself is to ask the question : WHY MAKE SUCH A DEMAND OF WISDOM FROM GOD IN THE FACE OF SEVERAL THINGS A YOUNG KING COULD HAVE ASKED?*
*Please pay attention to the following, they will help you in your journey of life :*
*1) SOLOMON UNDERSTOOD THE WEIGHT OF THE ASSIGNMENT BEFORE HIM.*
*Solomon was very young when he stepped into the great shoes of King David. He was around 20 or 21 years old. Remember that David his father was a great warrior, a mobilizer, an orator, a worshipper, a legend, but Solomon was none of these.*
*Israel at that time was a nation of Millions of people. David had galvanized the several tribes together in a journey of 40 years of consistent and enviable leadership.*
*Many young leaders today would have asked for money to impress, army to protect, fame to show off, but olomon felt the weight of the assignment before him.*
*He also realized that Leadership is not about title, it is about burdens. If you don’t carry the burden for the people, you will ask for toys and cookies. Remember similarly how Pastor E A Adeboye asked for at least a miracle for each of the church members under him about 45 years ago when he was asked by God what he wanted to mark his approaching birthday, and God granted his request.*
*Please know this : If you do not carry the burdens of the people you lead, you will ask God for selfish and self-centered irrelevancies.*
*Solomon chose wisdom because he knew the people were too great for a small mind to lead.*
*If God gives you a great assignment, a great people, great business, great family, great ministry without great wisdom commensurate with it, – you will destroy it.*
*Solomon chose wisdom because he was HUMBLE enough to admit – _I am but a little child_.*
*To be continued tomorrow, God willing.*
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©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
