Burning Ones

In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. O LORD God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.
—2Chr. 1:7-9

Because Solomon’s greatest desire was wisdom, the Lord blessed him in all things.

I think what amazes me most about this story is that the God of Genesis 1, Revelation, and Exodus pops in to see Solomon and speaks like a Genie! This is the “Let there be light!” God; the “Where were you when –, Job?” God. And yet here he is, asking a man essentially, “What do you wish of me?”. Wow. I never thought that through, but it really is incredible.

I think almost as amazing as the situation itself, though, is Solomon’s response. Keep in mind that there is very little coercion, if any, going on here. Solomon=Aladdin and God (at least for the moment) has made himself =Genie in the Lamp. Solomon really could ask for anything in the world. Yet he asks for wisdom.

It’s also wonderful how he connects this with the prophetic history of his family. I get the picture of a very young Solomon in David’s house listening to his Dad pray and sing about the faithfulness of God, being there when David was writing some of the Psalms, just talking with his Dad, and marveling at what God had chosen to do with David. From that place, Solomon looks out at the huge nation that God had made him king over and says, “If I’m going to be part of that promise, I know one thing that I’m going to need a lot of…”.

What I love about this: It shows that Solomon knew that he was unwise.

Solomon got it. We’ve been going through the Beatitudes at Church recently and of course the very first one is “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” I’ve been reading some lately and Robb has said a bit about what it means to be poor in spirit. It’s such a tricky little phrase it seems. Could’ve said it clearer Jesus? :) I’ve come to the conclusion, for now, that to be poor in spirit is to realize and possess the knowledge and attitude that in and of yourself, you are completely and utterly incapable of any good.

I think that is what Solomon did here, and I believe that is why God rewarded him so extravagantly. He saw a man that truly was poor in spirit, who looked at the task God had so clearly given him, and felt dwarfed and subdued in the face of it. His one request, when he had every option open, showed where his heart truly was.

Any thoughts about Solomon or being poor in spirit? Leave them in the comments

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