21st.: The Wisdom that Eluded Solomon
When Solomon asked for wisdom,
God gave him wisdom, like no one else.
“… a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee,
neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.” (1st Kings 3:12).
Solomon became so wise, that important people came to hear him (see 1st Kings 4:34a).
Nevertheless, for all his wisdom, Solomon let, “his wives turn away his heart after other gods.” (1st Kings 11:4).
Deut. 17:14-20 instructed the kings of Israel several things. One of which is:
“Neither shall he [the sitting king] multiply wives to himself that his heart turn not away [from the Lord]”.
And, “it [his personally written copy of the Bible] shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life,
that he may learn to fear the Lord his God.” … that his heart be not lifted up.” (Deut. 17:17a, 19a, 20a).
God told Solomon to ‘read his Bible every day’.
Great wisdom can make someone feel self-sufficient.
Solomon may not have felt the need to get with the Lord every day
(as in reading his Bible, and prayer).
When ‘Life is Good’, it is easy to drift from the Lord.
For all his great wisdom, there was a wisdom, which eluded Solomon.
God offers to all of us, the wisdom that eluded Solomon.
To get it, we must continually read, and obey God’s word. And we must also ask God for wisdom (see James 1:5).
“Whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man.” (Matt. 7:24)