The Petition of Solomon (1 Kings 3-4)
1 Kings 3-4
Studying through the Kings,
Last week we saw Israel’s third King rise to the throne.
David left an established kingdom to Solomon,
And because of his conviction, Solomon was able to keep it established.
David told him, “Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man”,
And that is precisely what Solomon did.
• He dealt with the DECEPTION of Adonijah
• He dealt with the DISOBEDIENCE of Abiathar
• He dealt with the DEPRAVITY of Joab
• He dealt with the DISRESPECT of Shimei
Solomon protected his kingdom because of his great conviction.
This morning we look at “The Petition of Solomon”
TO BEGIN, LET ME ASK HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THIS STATEMENT?
“Ask what you wish me to give you.”
If you walked into a grocery store and the manager said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”
If you walked into a car dealership and the salesman said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”
If you walked into a bank, and the manager of the bank said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”
If you walked into the oval office, and the President of the United States said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”
What would you ask for?
But let’s raise the stakes a little.
Suppose the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE approached you and said:
“Ask what you wish me to give you.”
HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?
If someone with unlimited power, and unlimited resources
Handed you a figurative credit card, how would you spend it.
The answer to that question reveals what it is you most desire in life.
This morning we will see what that one thing should be.
(Read: 1 Kings 3:1-9)
Pray
I’ve told you one of the main themes to the books of 1 & 2 Kings is:
THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING GOD
This morning I hope to show you just how important it is.
Namely that, there is a blessing found in seeking God
That does not exist in seeking any other thing.
Psalms 119:2 “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.”
With that in view, let’s look at THE PETITION OF SOLOMON
3 things:
#1 THE REQUEST OF SOLOMON
1 Kings 3:1-9
The first two verses of that chapter, are not our focal point this morning,
But I most certainly want you to recognize them, because these two seemingly insignificant statements will prove to bite Israel in a few years.
The writer here not only reveals that Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter (an act that will haunt him later), but he also gives insight to us as to why he did it.
The fact that he “brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.” Reveals to us that Solomon most likely sought the protection of Pharaoh.
With Pharaoh’s daughter living in this un-walled town,
He would be a strategic ally if Solomon had to fight a battle.
We also learn (2) “The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days.”
It is true they didn’t have a temple, but they did have the tabernacle,
And until the temple was built, it was to be the place of sacrifice.
However, Israel followed the pattern of pagan worship.
And so, every so subtly you see two major cracks
That will eventually threaten Israel in a major way.
But at this point, that is not the theme.
Rather, the writer focuses us in on the very heart of Solomon.
And in verse 3, we begin to see what mattered most to him.
“Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.”
Aside from his misunderstanding of the place of worship,
Solomon loved God, and he revealed that through his obedience.
And it was because of this great love that we see what happens next.
(4) “The King went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.”
Although it is not stated,
It is obvious that Solomon is following David’s advice.
1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”
And here Solomon puts that advice to practice.
It is obvious that Solomon was not giving a token offering,
He was serious about finding God.
It is one thing to attend church and then say, “I sought God”.
It is quite another to give a thousand burnt offerings to prove it.
Solomon wanted His will,
Solomon wanted His guidance,
Solomon was willing to sacrifice to get it.
And that in itself is worth noting.
When is the last time you sacrificed to make sure you had an encounter with God?
Jeremiah was clear on this:
Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
And it is obvious that this is how Solomon has shown up.
This is no ordinary church service, Solomon wants to meet up with God.
And notice how God honors his commitment.
(5) “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
Notice that Solomon went to that place, and he was spending the night.
This was also no quick thing.
Solomon didn’t expect to go attend some hour and a half church service that cost him nothing and meet the God of the universe.
Solomon was in it for the long haul, and it paid off,
For God recognized the desire of Solomon’s heart
And actually gave Solomon that infamous statement.
“Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
And there you have it.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK FOR SOLOMON?
READ 6-9
Now to make sure that the magnitude of what he just asked for sinks in,
Let’s take a moment and analyze what he said.
There are several things that become blatantly obvious.
1) SOLOMON HAD A SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE
What I mean by that is that Solomon
Knew who he was, and who God was.
Some times we get the “big head” with God,
As though God actually needs us to accomplish His will.
And certainly Solomon could have had this mindset.
But you will notice that he had no arrogance whatsoever.
In fact, he had a good sense of perspective.
(6) “Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before you in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne as it is this day.”
Solomon knew that he was where he was by the grace of God.
He had earned nothing, and he deserved nothing.
God had graciously allowed him this opportunity.
Beyond that, look at how Solomon identified himself to God.
(7) “Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king”
(8) “Your servant…”
(9) “So give Your servant…”
It would have been very easy for Solomon to identify himself as
“God’s King”, but Solomon didn’t.
He was a servant of God.
It just so happened that the Master desired
For this particular servant to also be king.
But it didn’t change the fact that Solomon saw himself as servant
And then look at how Solomon refers to his subjects.
(8) “Your people…”
(9) “Your people…”
(9) “this great people of Yours.”
God was God, Solomon was servant,
And the people and the kingdom belonged to God, not Solomon.
He had a sense of perspective.
2) SOLOMON HAD A SENSE OF PERCEPTION
Solomon realized the enormity of the task that was before him.
Unlike Adonijah who thought he was ready to be King,
Solomon sees things more clearly.
He knew that this task was beyond him.
(8) “Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.”
Solomon knew this was a big task,
And he knew it was too big for him.
Notice how he concluded verse 7, “I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.”
He ends verse 9 in similar fashion, “For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
He knows God called him to this task,
But he is also wise enough to realize
That he cannot do it without God’s help.
Solomon had a sense of perspective, Solomon had a sense of perception.
3) SOLOMON HAD A SENSE OF PURPOSE
Solomon also knew why God had made him king.
This honor of being king was not for the glory of Solomon,
It was for the glory of God.
God did not call Solomon to further Solomon’s agenda.
God called Solomon to further His own agenda.
And Solomon knew this.
For when he was given God’s credit card.
“Ask what you wish Me to give you.”
HOW DID SOLOMON ANSWER?
(9) “So give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.”
Solomon asked for an “understanding heart”. Literally “a hearing heart”
He wanted to have God in his ear all the time.
He simply wanted to make sure that in all he did
That God would be near him guiding him every step of the way.
• Solomon knew it was about God.
• Solomon knew the kingdom was God’s.
• Solomon knew the task was too large for him.
So all he wanted was God to give him clear guidance all the time.
That was the request of Solomon.
• He was not self seeking…
• He had no selfish ambition…
• He had no pride or arrogance…
• He simply wanted to do God’s will all the time.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED FOR?
Because, by the way, we have such a promise as well.
O Yes, God has given each of us the exact same offer.
John 14:13-14 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
It is worded a little differently in the sermon on the mount.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
THEN WHY DIDN’T GOD GIVE ME WHAT I ASKED FOR?
James has the answer.
James 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
That is precisely what Solomon didn’t do.
He sought God for God’s will and for God’s glory.
NOW, HOW DID GOD RESPOND TO SOLOMON?
#2 THE RESPONSE OF GOD
1 Kings 3:10-14
Verse 10 really says enough. “It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.”
Verse 11 records that God was actually impressed with Solomon’s humility and genuine desire to please God.
And then look at how God responds.
Verses 12-13, “behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”
God simply said, “I have done according to your words.”
God gave him wisdom like no other man.
And then God threw in a bonus.
“I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”
Now I am not real big on “principle preaching”,
But let me just give you an obvious and logical truth.
If you are willing to bless God with all that you have,
Why would God withhold from you?
Remember the parable of the talents?
The man who used them for the glory of the Master.
Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”
Remember when Jesus gave the parable of the soils?
Matthew 13:12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”
God responded well to Solomon’s selfless request.
But do notice there was a stipulation.
(14) “If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”
God was more than happy to bless Solomon,
So long as Solomon continued with that same humble attitude.
When you come to God, truly seeking God and His glory,
God is motivated to answer the prayer.
Just listen to the sermon on the mount.
First Jesus gave “The Wealth Warning”
“Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal…”
Then He gave the “The Worry Warning”
“Do not worry about what you will eat, or what you will drink, or what you will put on for clothing…”
And Jesus closed that section with this great verse.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Set your heart on the things of God, and God will supply the rest.
DID HE FOR SOLOMON?
Let’s look.
#3 THE REALITY OF GOD’S BLESSING
1 Kings 3:15-4:34
Certainly we can’t read them all, but let me show you the point.
God told Solomon, (3:12) “Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.”
WISDOM (3:16-28)
And God did, for if you read VERSES 16-28,
You will read that story about the women who argued over the child.
(Paraphrase the story)
And notice how the people responded.
(28) “When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”
But that is not all God promised.
(3:13) “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor…”
Well, let’s see.
RICHES (4:1-28)
It lists all his servants, and all his daily provisions.
(READ: 4:22-28)
Solomon was a rich dude!
HONOR (READ: 4:29-34)
Can you see that Solomon was famous the whole world over?
No body had more honor or glory than him.
WHY?
Because he “sought first the kingdom of God, and all those things were added unto him.”
So let me ask you again.
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT IN LIFE?
WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR?
• Are you trying to succeed in a job?
• Are you just trying to make ends meet?
• Are you trying to “get ahead” in life?
• Are you trying to live the American dream?
According to Jesus
Matthew 6:32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
Those are the things that preoccupy the world.
Don’t worry about those things.
In fact, Jesus even gave you a little example
Matthew 6:28-29 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.”
In other words, what God did for Solomon
Wasn’t a drop in the bucket for what God can do for you,
But you have to get your priorities straight.
Quit seeking the world, and start seeking the things of God.
Psalms 34:8-10 “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.”
Psalms 119:2 “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.”
Amos 5:4 “For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, “Seek Me that you may live.”
Psalms 105:4 “Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.”
And there you have it.
If you crave the things of the world,
You can expect no blessing from God.
But if you will seek Him and His glory and His kingdom
“all these things will be added to you.”
SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?
Sounds to me like time to get still before the Lord.
We are so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life,
That we don’t have time to go spend the night at God’s altar.
Solomon was king, and I’m sure he was busy, but he wasn’t too busy
To camp out at God’s altar until God met with him.
It also sounds to me like it is time to give to the Lord.
I know of no better way to show God that you love His kingdom more
Than worldly comfort than to sacrifice worldly comfort
In order to give to His kingdom.
We call it tithing, but it is really even more than that.
Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”
Solomon sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings no the LORD’S altar,
Because he was serious about meeting God.
Perhaps we need PERSPECTIVE about who we are and who God is.
Perhaps we need PERCEPTION that we need God to succeed in this life.
Perhaps we need PURPOSE and remember that we are here for God.
WHATEVER WAY YOU APPLY IT IN YOUR LIFE,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IT IS NOT OUR KINGDOM GOD SEEKS TO GROW, BUT HIS,
AND TRUE BLESSING IS FOUND IN PARTICIPATING IN HIS WORK.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
