KING SOLOMONS DREAM

                                         

Alexander the Great wanted to reward a philosopher who had rendered great service to him. “Ask what you want of me,” said the emperor. The philosopher took the offer seriously and told the royal treasurer he wanted 10,000 pounds of gold. Shocked by such an enormous request, the treasurer refused, then went in anger to the emperor. “This man has asked too much. His request is unreasonable.”

Alexander the Great listened patiently and then instructed the treasurer to give the philosopher what he had asked for. “He honored me in three ways. First, he believed my word. Second, he believed my wealth. Third, he believed my willingness to do what I said I would do. Give him the money. He has honored me by his great faith in my words” (Keep Believing Ministry, 2000).

When Solomon became the king of Israel he humbled himself before the Lord. His father David had charged him to “observe what the Lord requires, walk in obedience to him … so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go” (1 Kings 2:3). At the beginning of his reign, Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the status of his father David (I King 3:3-4). Solomon offered two kinds of sacrifices to God; a righteous life and burnt offering. His desire was to please God and to have a close relationship with him like his father David did.

Solomon had observed God’s great and steadfast love for his father and he knew the reason for this “you have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David because he has walked before you in faithfulness, righteousness and uprightness of heart towards you” ((I King 3:6). What a wonderful summary of a father’s life by his son. this young king referring to the history of his father’s reign, shows he kept his eyes open and his mind thoughtful when things were happening in his father’s life. When those who are watching you are asked to summarize your life after you leave the scene (estate, job place, church, life) what will they say?

I Kings 3:1-15 is the record of a dream Solomon had one night at Gibeon. He had just offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar when God appeared to him in a dream and said “ask for whatever you want me to give you” (v.5). If God gave you a chance to ask for just one thing, what would it be? Bible teacher Hugh black wrote “Tell me your prayers and I will write the history of your soul. Tell me what you are asking and I will tell you what you will get. I don’t care what you have only what you have not and desire to have”

Solomon recognized that it was God who made him king v.7 he also recognized the enormous task that lay before him, the people were too numerous to count or number and he was only a child v.8. This reminds us of another promise that God had given to Abraham when he was childless and very discouraged. God promised him that his descendants will be too many to count just like the stars or the sands on the sea shore (Gen 15:1-5, 22:17). From what Solomon says here that promise has already been fulfilled.

Solomon knew that to distinguish between right and wrong is very important in establishing a lasting kingdom. His request was “give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and distinguish between right and wrong” v 9. God said “because you have not asked for long life, riches and the life of your enemies I will do what you have asked.” The ancient kings asked for these three things from their gods. His request was unselfish, he asked for an understanding heart not that it might serve his own interest but in order to serve the people.

The Lord was very pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom and he said “I will give you a wise and discerning heart so that there will never have been anyone like you nor will there ever be. Moreover I will give you what you have not asked for so that in your lifetime you will have no equals among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life (vv.10-15).

What a wonderful testimony God had of David. What Solomon had observed in his father’s life (v.6) God had also seen in heaven. Paul told the Corinthians he was taking pains to do what is right not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men (2 Cor. 8:21). We should serve Christ in a way pleasing to God and approved of men (Rom. 14:18). That way we find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man (Prov. 3:4).

When God said to Solomon “ask and I shall give you” his words were fully pledged. The promise keeping God (Numbers 23:19) who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20) did exactly what he had said. The prayer of his dream was answered in his actual history. He gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore (1 Kings 4:29).

A heap of sand may look uniform but on careful examination a small portion of sand will struck you with the immense variety which it contains. No two particles are alike in size shape color and mineral character. Like this sand on the seas shore in its wonderful variety God bestowed upon Solomon immeasurable and diverse wisdom. Throughout Solomon’s life we see how richly he possessed this divine gift.  

King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. He collected and composed thousands of 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs (Prov. 1:1-5). His wisdom was also scientific (1 Kings 4:33). He spoke of the cedar tree that is in Lebanon (the tallest and largest of trees- Ezekiel 31:3) even unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall (the lowest and least of herbs). He also spoke about animals, birds, reptiles and fish (the four classes of animals).

Solomon had great power; he had 12000 horses, 1400 chariots and 12000 horsemen (1 Kings 4:26, 10:26).  God had promised Abraham that his seed would receive the whole land of Canaan (Gen. 12:7, 13:15, 15:18) for their inheritance, this promise was fully realized almost a thousand years later during Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:21).  Solomon was a man of peace; during his reign there was peace and stability and prosperity throughout his vast domain (1 Kings 4:20-25). They ate, lived in safety and were happy.

Israel reached her greatest point as a nation. Because of his wise administration the nation gained wealth power and respect.   His splendor was unrivaled, He made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones. All the house hold articles in the palace were pure gold (1 kings 10:14- 29) Jesus spoke of his splendor in Luke 12:27. His beautiful palace took 13 years to construct (1 kings 7:1-12).

He became famous for his wisdom, the whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart (1 Kings 10:23-24). When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord she came to test Solomon with hard question (1 Kings 10:1-13). Solomon answered all her questions nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her v.3. She was overwhelmed and she said “not even half was told me in wisdom and wealth, you have far exceeded the report I heard.

God speaks to each of his children, who fear and please him the same words he spoke to Solomon “ask what you want”. Though we are not kings like Solomon we all need wisdom and understanding. God will grant wisdom in answer to prayer (James 1:5). God also says “call me and I will answer you and I will tell you great and unsearchable things which you do not know (Jer. 33:3). God granted Abraham's and Solomon’s wish, he will grant yours too if it is in accordance to his will; ask in faith (James 1:6)