The Wisdom of Solomon
Learning about the wisdom and discernment of Solomon.
1 Kings(1) (Part of the Special Speaker(5) series)
by Greg Culpen(4) on June 6, 2025 (Sunday Morning(58))
Obedience(9), Prayer(3), Seeking(1), Wisdom(3)
June 1, 2025
“The Wisdom of Solomon”
1 Kings 3:5-14
If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be and why?
NOW…. If you were the leader of something that involved others and their well-being…how would that request be changed?
Today (TALK)…. Wisdom, Discernment, and Solomon, who he was, some accomplishments, a test and failure. We will also look at how we can be filled with this similar wisdom.
PRAYER
Let’s get to know Solomon… he was the son of King David & Bathsheba and was King of Israel from 970-931 BC. Why him
2 Samuel 7:11b-13. This is God’s promise to David regarding leadership and then we read in 1 Kings 1:29-30, King David is confirming Solomon to the throne. David also commands Solomon in 1 Kings 2, to walk in obedience to the Lord, keep his decrees & commands, laws & regulations as written in the Law of Moses. As you can hear, this young king has a lot on his shoulders.
He is known for building the first temple in Jerusalem and is recognized as a prophet and lived in the 10th Century during the “Golden Age”.
We are going to be reading from 1 Kings 3:5-14….. but we’ll work through it in bite size pieces. As Chapter 3 begins (Solomon-alliance with Pharaoh and married his daughter--returned to the City of David where he is completing his palace, the temple of the Lord (which is found in 1 Kings 5-8) and a wall around Jerusalem. He is walking in accordance with the Lord but making sacrifices on the high place in Gibeon) now, let’s read verses 5-7.
In this first passage of scripture, we have already gotten a lot of information. Gibeon…. was a city located on the west bank in the hill country of Benjamin, near Jerusalem. It had a high place where sacrifices were made to God because they had no temple at that time. In that period, people would seek high places where they could worship or make sacrifices to God or deities like Baal, which was a false god at that time.
Solomon honors God, in the dream, by acknowledging his kindness to his father, David and himself. Solomon also shows us his great humility in the reality that he is young and in need of guidance and instruction. In Psalm 32:8 we read, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” God is telling us or ensuring us that he is our guide and will keep watch over us….. Understanding this when Solomon was appointed king he was said to only be about 20. How many of you at 20 years old would have been ready to be a king? Let’s read on…
OK…so we see that Solomon is leading a “vast number” of people that is said to be around 30,000.
He asked God for a “discerning heart to govern his people & distinguish between right and wrong,” WOW. (Talk about his age, the probability of us asking that) Solomon, being the son of David, had a role or title. It’s like being the son the royal family in England with the title of “Duke” and Solomon must have known this as we read in 1 Kings 1. What does he mean by a discerning heart? Discernment is seeing the differences, a gift from God through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
This verse highlights the necessity of mental renewal to discern God's will and resist worldly influences. To know what is right and wrong.
Like Solomon, we as believers know our role and we need to be equipped from this perspective…think of it like this…Firefighters need hoses to put out fires, Nurses need needles to treat patients with medication and Solomon, a temple builder for the Lord, needed wisdom.
Wisdom…what is that? Wisdom is good sense or judgement. The word wisdom is first mentioned in the book of Exodus regarding craftsmen building the tabernacle. The use of the word then was translated as “skill” or “ability” and the word used was Hokmah. Say that with me. This thought of wisdom is about a process and result…. The skill and ability of the craftsmen was the process of time spent learning and mastering their art and the result was the finished product.
The wisdom Solomon was requesting from God was to gain the capability to see things from God’s viewpoint and respond accordingly…. This is what is called Godly wisdom. One story of this wisdom is found in 1 Kings 3:16-28…. Explain
You see, the world is full of plenty of information, a vast amount of knowledge but unfortunately there is a great absence of wisdom & we can see it every day in the people around us.
Let’s finish reading…starting in verse 10.
As you can see, Solomon is not only given what he asked for, God is so pleased with his request, he grants him with so much more, including:
“Every day, Solomon needed 5,000 liters of fine flour, 10,000 liters of coarsely-ground flour, 10 grain-fed cattle, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, and geese. Solomon had 40,000 stalls of chariot horses and 12,000 chariot soldiers.” Each of the twelve regional officers brought food to Solomon and his household for one month of the year. They provided everything he needed, as well as barley and straw for the horses. Solomon ruled the whole region west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza which was 3 times the size of Israel today. Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey. Seems he had it good!
Have you ever asked God for the least of things, only to be blessed greater than the ask? Solomon was given so much more than wisdom but his love for foreign women would lead him to worship their God’s which drew him away from God and it would lead to a division of his kingdom. Why do we allow ourselves to be drawn away, to be deceived…that’s what the devil does best.
How can we be wiser in our choices, how do we gain the wisdom of Solomon and remain close to the Lord. How can we discern what is good, what is right and wholesome? I want us to look at 4 ways we can gain strength and wisdom.
#1- Seek and meditate on it
In Proverbs 2:6 we read…For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Knowledge and understanding…where do we find that…. Who has a bible in their hand, hold it up. This is the best Godly wisdom you could ever seek and find. (The B.I.B.L.E. song). THEN…we take the time to read the words in away that is not careless. What do I mean, well…we should always ask for guidance & understanding of God's word, paying close attention and consideration to God's direction from the text. Remaining steadfast and diligent in our faith.
#2- Obey scriptural principles
What are these…. This is a divine direction from scripture that provides guidance, wisdom, and insight into how we should live our lives which are also shown in the character of God. These principles encapsulate the core values, virtues, and ethical standards that God expects His people to uphold. In Genesis, we find the story of Adam and Eve which teaches us about the principle of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.
The book of Exodus recounts the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It teaches us important principles such as obedience, trust in God’s deliverance, and the power of His provision. The book of Proverbs…. Its principles encompass various aspects of life, including relationships, work ethics, financial stewardship, and the pursuit of knowledge. The book reminds us that true wisdom comes from God and that seeking His guidance in all areas of life is essential. Proverbs also provides insights into the importance of integrity, honesty, and diligence. In the gospels, Jesus embodies the ultimate example of living out biblical principles. One of the central principles Jesus teaches is the command to love God and love others. This principle transcends all others and serves as the foundation for righteousness and holiness in Christian living. Jesus also speaks about the significance of prayer, teaching His followers to commune with God and seek His guidance in all things….. which leads us to
#3- Pray for it
Just asking God for wisdom doesn’t mean you will receive it. James 1:5-6 says,
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
Verse 5 is highlighting the willingness of God to provide guidance to those who seek it sincerely and then we are to ask in faith, without doubting. Doubt can hinder our ability to receive wisdom. This passage illustrates that faith is essential when approaching God for guidance. This is a reminder for us, as believers, that divine wisdom is accessible through prayer and faith, especially in times of difficulty. James, the brother of Jesus, in scripture reminds us that heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering and without pretense. This takes us to our last step…
#4- Heed Godly counsel and walk with the wise
We’ll stay right here in the same book…turn to James 3:13-16…lets read this together. Think about this for a minute. How can we seek wisdom and be wise if we aren’t learning from the wise or walking with them? How is God working in the world and the in lives that you surround yourself with? Is your life reflective of God or the world? We seek Godly counsel…by reading your bible every day, seeking out a mentor that can be an encouragement and hold you accountable. Being active in the church and pray continually. These are the fruits of the wise that come from God that include joy, peace, and connection…whereas the fruits of man lead to absence from God, dissension, anger, and isolation.
Proverbs 13:20-21 ESV reads…..
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.”
My question to you today is this…..will you be just another product of the world
or will you choose to seek the Lord and His infinite wisdom? Will You choose to accept His invitation of salvation today and become a child of God………….
Take this time, as you sit and listen to this closing song, ask yourself, Is all your hope in Jesus?
