Solomon’s Request for Wisdom
1 Solomon son of David strengthened his hold on his kingdom. The Lord his God was with him and highly exalted him.
David prayed for Solomon and God answered his prayer. David stated that Solomon was inexperienced and young. Solomon's age did not stop him from being the man God needed to be king of Israel.
2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel—the family heads.
Solomon spoke to all the leaders. When leaders listen to the king, all the people who follow the leader will hear what the king said even if they were not present. God spoke to Moses, Moses spoke to the people and everybody was on one accord. This is the way God wanted his word to be conveyed. God's word must be taught. Man should never interfere with the words of God. Say only what God says.
3 Solomon and the whole assembly with him went to the high place that was in Gibeon because God’s tent of meeting, which the Lord’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness, was there.
The same tent that was prepared by God through Moses was the tent used when Solomon made his offering.
4 Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place[a]he had set up for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem,
David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem but Solomon did not offer his sacrifice there, because the place where the offering was to be burned was in a different place. Solomon was not in a hurry. He did what he had to do at the place that was prepared for him to do it.
5 but he put[b] the bronze altar, which Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, in front of the Lord’s tabernacle. Solomon and the assembly inquired of him[c] there.
Although God wanted everything orderly, he saw the intent of the heart of Solomon and excepted the offering without all parts being in one place. ( The Ark of the Covenant was in Jerusalem and the altar was in Gibeon.) This shows us that God looks at our purpose and judges us where we are, as we pursue to become better while doing what he has anointed us to do. When we follow God's leading, we can rest assured, he will correct us if we make turns that need corrections.
6 Solomon offered sacrifices there in the Lord’s presence on the bronze altar at the tent of meeting; he offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
The Altar never lost its power. The altar of the Lord is not weak. It can handle a few sins or a lot of sins. Although it was designed hundreds of years ago it was prepared to operate with the same strength or endurance to burn many years later. The design of this altar was made to do what God told Moses to do when it was time to offer sacrifices. If God was the architect of the altar, and he was, it will last for the purpose for which it was designed.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask. What should I give you?”
God saw Solomon's heart. God told Solomon to ask what he wanted. This is God speaking to a man. It did not matter to God what Solomon wanted, he said, ask.
8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and faithful love to my father David, and you have made me king in his place.
Solomon saw how David, his father walked with God. Solomon told God that he saw what he did for his father and Solomon wanted God's guidance in everything just like he guided David.
9 Lord God, let your promise to my father David now come true. For you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
Solomon knew that David led many people. Solomon asked God to answer the prayers of his father concerning his leadership to lead God's people. Solomon knew all the people he would be king over, belonged to God. I pray that when I have the opportunity to speak the word of God, that I remember people belong to God. God is the only one who knows how to lead his people.
10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people, for who can judge this great people of yours?”
Solomon asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge to lead his people. Solomon served as a captain, he knew God was king.
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge my people over whom I have made you king,
God saw Solomon's heart and knew he was speaking the truth. When God knows the truth about us, he can use us.
12 wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, wealth, and glory, unlike what was given to the kings who were before you, or will be given to those after you.”
We are like Solomon when it comes to what we can have if we put God's Word first. Jesus said to seek the Word of God first, and all of the things we need will follow.
13 So Solomon went to Jerusalem from[d] the high place that was in Gibeon in front of the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel.
Solomon returned home and reigned as Israel's king. When we operate in a leader's position, it is important to remember we are to lead as God leads. Solomon is king. God is King. God gave Moses every move of mankind. We must check God's Word daily to make sure we are making the turns in life that God directs. What God directs, God supports.
Solomon’s Horses and Wealth
14 Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.
15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as abundant as sycamore in the Judean foothills.
16 Solomon’s horses came from Egypt and Kue.[e] The king’s traders would get them from Kue at the going price.
17 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for fifteen pounds[f] of silver and a horse for nearly four pounds.[g] In the same way, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram through their agents.
From verses 14-17 Solomon did not seem to consult God's wisdom to do this. In God's curriculum written by Moses, God gave clear instructions concerning who to do business with and what to purchase. Lord, help me to not be so busy until I forgot to check with you before I do any transactions.
(Deuteronomy 17:16, which said to the Kings of Israel: But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, “You shall not return that way again.)
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