The Wise King - Pt 1

Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. (1 Kings 3:3-7 ESV). Today we will begin a short series of devotionals looking into the life of one of the great kings of Israel, Solomon. Solomon was the wisest of all men and we all can quote some of his proverbs; however, it seems apparent that wisdom is in short supply. At every generational strata, people have lost confidence in leadership and many feel as if they have nowhere to go or turn to for help. First, we will look at the wisdom of childlike faith.

One of our granddaughters, Maggie, is two. She is a bundle of confidence and fearlessness. I have seen her running full speed thoughtlessly, without a care or concern for her path. I know some of that will change as she matures; however, for now she simply trusts that she will be fine wherever she goes at whatever speed she musters. She can do that because of the care she has received from her mom and dad. They protect her while giving her various experiences building her confidence and strength. Most of us have had that same training and care. It is the circumstances of life that seem to change our confidence. Think back to the time when you finally got out of the military or school, and you were taking that first job. Or maybe it was when you had your first child, and all of the sudden, you realized you had to act like an adult. I’ll never forget those feelings when Mary and I were first married. We were still in college and the thought that I was responsible for everything seemed a daunting task. In those early days I worked two jobs, pastured a small church, and took a full load of classes. It’s a wonder we survived! That’s what Solomon felt like when he unexpectedly and suddenly became the King of all Israel. He felt overwhelmed, yet he had all this responsibility. He was called to lead a great nation that began with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph; it was a nation with extraordinary, Godly leaders like Moses and Joshua, and even his own father, David. Solomon reflected on all of this, and said, “I feel like a little child.” Now, think about that for a minute. Children are utterly dependent on their parents. So, when Solomon, since his earthly father had died, spoke to his Heavenly Father, all he could say was, “I feel as a little child.” He expressed an utter dependence on his Heavenly Father. That is not a bad place for a king to begin. And it’s not a bad place for all of us to be, either. The beginning is not within our strength or talent. It is turning to our real source of strength and protection. Approach your life as a little child. He will provide; He has got us!