“…turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”
Proverbs 2:2-10
I was signing a book for a friend and wanted to note a Scripture passage about wisdom, because I believe this person is wise and lives well because of that wisdom. That’s how I stumbled upon this week’s passage. Wisdom, I believe is something so valuable, and yet not really valued in our world today, all you have to do is watch the news or listen to political candidates speak to know that wisdom is not something high on the priority list of most people.
Let’s race back in time for just a moment. King David is nearing the end of his life and names his son Solomon as the successor to the throne. History tells us that Solomon was still a very young man, likely around 20 years old when he became king. One night the Lord appeared to him in a dream to have a little chat. The conversation started by God telling him to: “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Now I don’t about you, but if I was talking face to face with the Lord and he says me ask for whatever you want Me to give you - it would be really tempting to ask for the money to pay off student loans, or for the trip to Australia or maybe that he put the white double cab pick-up in my drive way. It would be really tempting but it wouldn’t be the best response to make. In that situation it could also be very easy, because of fear – talking to the Creator of the universe and all – to just say something like oh I don’t really need anything, just fine the way I am, also not the best response when speaking to God.
Solomon in his response acknowledges all the goodness the Lord had shown his father David, he acknowledges that it was because of God that he now sat on his father’s throne as king and he acknowledged that he felt inadequate for the task. Solomon could have asked for lots of things but he asks the Lord to “give your servant a discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:9). The Lord was pleased with his response – well because it was a really good response of course. So the Lord gave him a wise and discerning heart, and then because Solomon and chosen wisely in the first place all the other stuff he might have been tempted to ask for was given to him as well. Solomon would go on to lead the people of God through a time of great peace and prosperity, he is still known as perhaps the wisest man ever.
I don’t know what you are facing this week – maybe life is smooth sailing or you are in a storm. No matter what is going on, you can’t go wrong asking for a discerning heart – the Lord will give you wisdom, the kind of wisdom that leads to knowledge, understanding and victory – to a life of abundant living.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for the examples you set before us in your Word. We know Solomon wasn’t perfect but when given the chance to ask for whatever he wanted or thought he needed he chose well, asking for Your wisdom. Help us to make the same request of You for a discerning heart, so that we can act justly and walk in your wisdom to the victorious and abundant life you have for us. Show us the best ways to share that wisdom, knowledge, understanding and victory with those around us. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
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