Solomon becomes king and asks for wisdom
We have been walking with King David this summer. And this week we see David hand the throne over to Solomon.
For David, it seems like things were much better for his soul when he was on the run living in the wilderness and was forced to rely on God for survival. There in the wilderness he would seek God first, and then things would seem to fall into place for David. Once David gained power, he gave into his lust and even murdered one of his loyal soldiers to cover up his sin. For the rest of his life David is haunted by violence. Things went better for David when he sought God first. That is the David we look up to.
Power isn't just dangerous because of those outside who want to take it from us- as Absalom tried to steal power from David. Power is also dangerous from the inside- it leads to all kinds of temptation- like David thinking he can use Bathsheba as a plaything and command the death of her husband with no consequences. It leads to the illusion that we are God and can do what we like. Power is dangerous, not because it corrupts, but because it exposes corruption. The dark parts we see in David were likely there all along, but the power he gains as king allows for that corruption to be expressed. It is also true that the more authority and power you have the more wide ranging your corruption will be felt. And the more power you have, the less one often feels the need to seek God first, rather than rely on yourself and your own resources.
Like David's other sons, Solomon embodies David's virtues and his vices. Solomon seems to be humble and intelligent. But, within Solomon there are glimpses of the desire for power and worldly success. Solomon has great ambition, but we don't see that right away.
At the beginning it seems as though Solomon has the throne thrust upon him. But, Solomon's enthronement isn't as smooth and easy as our reading makes it seem. We've skipped a few bits. Solomon's brother, Adonijah, claimed the throne. It seemed like no contest. Adonijah had the support of Joab, the general of the army. There where important priests who were supporting his claim to the throne. David was quite old by this point and not all that well. David wasn’t really doing anything to oppose Adonojah’s claim. Adonijah had the power on this side and it seemed like no one was standing in his way. He went forward with his plans to become king without a second thought about any competitor for the throne.
A small group had other plans. Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan, and a few others went to David to tell him about His son Adonijah's bold move to claim the throne, and also to remind him of his promise that his son Solomon would take the throne. We don't really get a sense of what Solomon is thinking.
David is still well enough to organize a response and give his son advice. Solomon is anointed king by the prophet Nathan and he rides into Jerusalem on King David's mule (1000 years later another son of David would ride into Jerusalem this way- we call that Palm Sunday). It was a bold move, but David was still respected enough that this action was sufficient to make Solomon king without any serious resistance. Solomon's brother, Adonijah, and all who followed him were shocked. For all we know Solomon was shocked as well.
I have a certain respect for those who have leadership thrust upon them. I often think of those people as having a lack of selfish ambition. St. Augustine is said to have been basically kidnapped and forcibly consecrated a bishop. It wasn't his own striving for power that led to his becoming bishop. ... Solomon may have been such a person. Leadership is thrust upon him and he is then forced to respond.
Solomon shows himself to be a leader who can make difficult choices, and who understands the intricacies of politics. As he begins his rule he makes shrewd decisions that firmly set the kingdom under his rule. All potential opposition is dealt with. The young 20 year old Solomon has proven himself to have what it takes to be a great king. He even begins to think outside of his own kingdom and starts setting up relationships with other nations. He marries the daughter of the Pharaoh and secured an alliance with Egypt. He is a good politician.
It is at this point that Solomon has a dream where God appears to him. God says to Solomon “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” It is an amazing question. Implied in the question is that you will get whatever you want. How would you answer? ....
Solomon's answer is profound. He doesn't ask for long life, or money, or for his enemies to be eliminated. Solomon comes to God in humility saying, "I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong."
One of the main duties of an ancient king in Israel was to act as a judge. He was to make just decisions. He was the one who would correct the wrongs that have been done. He was to determine between right and wrong, and good and evil. Solomon asks for a wise and sensitive heart so that he can see clearly and grant justice.
God is so impressed with Solomon's answer that God indeed grants him a wise and discerning heart, and also adds other blessings. He grants what Solomon did not ask for- riches and honour- and if he walks in God's ways he will have long life. … We see here a foreshadowing of Jesus' words, "Seek first [God's] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt 6:33).
Solomon seems to be a perfect image of a king, just like his father was at the beginning. At the beginning when we meet David he has an amazing innocence about him. He is confident in God and not afraid to face the giant Goliath. David has a very good heart and is constantly blessed by God because of it. Solomon likewise is following in his father's footsteps. He is thrust into leadership and performs well. God says to him to ask for anything and he asks for wisdom to make justice a reality in his kingdom. Solomon is a rising star, just like his father was. He has his father's virtues.
But, he also has some of his father's vices. Solomon may have come through with flying colours at the beginning, but with money and power Solomon will have many more temptations. His later decisions, ironically, will not be as wise as this first decision when he asked for a wise heart to enact justice.
Solomon marries an Egyptian, the Pharaoh's daughter, and allies himself with them. Egypt, for the people of Israel, will always be attached to the memory of power and slavery. Solomon will actually imitate Egypt in many ways. He will have huge building projects that will use forced labour- Essentially enslaving his own people in the Promised Land. As a king it was tempting to build bigger and better in order to show your power and strength.
Solomon will also have 300 concubines, and 700 wives, which is an important status symbol, but it also shows a heart filled with lust.
Solomon was a good businessman. He knew how to make money using his relationships with other nations and the trade routes that came through his kingdom. Solomon was amazingly wealthy, but it was never enough. That's one of the things about money- there's always more to have. Solomon became an icon of wealth, status, and extravagance.
Like his father David, Solomon was a mixture of virtue and vice- just like us. He did amazing things- he built the temple. He was full of wisdom and was a writer of proverbs. But he was also drawn to walk off the path set for him by God.
But, in today's passage Solomon does well. And through this we get another glimpse into God’s heart. Solomon asks for a wise and discerning heart to give justice to the people of God. This pleases God incredibly. This tells us that God cares about his people and wants them to have justice. That's the only reason God would see Solomon's answer as a good one.
Solomon seems to lose sight of the original reason he asks for wisdom, but another son of David will never reach the end of his integrity, and so he will be trusted with even more authority and power. That Son of David rules God’s kingdom and only wants justice for the subjects who live there. He does not make them into slaves, on the contrary, he serves them. He does not consume his people, on the contrary, he invites them to consume his life in the form of bread and wine.
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