Wisdom and Humility to Rule Well

2 Chronicles 1:1-12

    1 Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly.

    2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers' houses. 3 Then Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for the tabernacle of meeting with God was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4 But David had brought up the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim to the place David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Now the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD; Solomon and the assembly sought Him there. 6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

    7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?"  8 And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"

    11 Then God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."

In this second book continuing the Chronicles of God’s work with His chosen people, it begins with Solomon taking over the reigns passed by king David to rule Israel.  His first huge undertaking was to build the temple; therefore, he started with humility and reliance on the LORD his God.  God had begun the work in him by being for Solomon and by making him great in ruling well.  Solomon therefore gathered all the leaders together and first offered a plethora of sacrifices to the LORD to begin his reign based on pleasing the LORD.  When God then asked what He could give the new king, Solomon wisely confessed the foundation and purpose of God’s promise to his father regarding establishing a lasting kingdom, and knew he did not have it in himself alone for the task ahead.  He asked for wisdom (James 1:5, Proverbs 2:3-6) to know how to live, to go in and out before God’s people with wisdom and knowledge to rule as a God-pleaser.  He wanted to judge fairly and according to God’s standards of the law as written, knowing no man had such ability in and of himself.  He wanted to fulfill God’s promises and will but needed the ability to do these things, and do them well (Philippians 2:13).  The LORD honored this humble faith-filled heart by not only giving him abundantly more (Ephesians 3:20) than asked, but also what he did not ask.  God gave Solomon what other men would have desired only for themselves, namely, riches, wealth, and honor more than any other king ever had.  He also gave him the knowledge and wisdom to rule well as was on Solomon’s heart, a heart for God as given by the example of his father (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22).  Being a precursor in the lineage of He Christ, the Messiah, this was fulfilled in one greater than Solomon (Luke 11:31) with infinite wisdom of the divine nature in union with the mortal.  We see then the prophetic examples and words of an eternal kingdom represented in David’s line through promises being fulfilled in Solomon which would culminate in complete wisdom beyond the greatness given to Solomon.  We also find that a heart for God and desire for knowledge with wisdom to apply it in serving God’s people, the true church, is what we should set as the direction of our lives in serving Christ our Lord.  We need humility and godly wisdom to lead well.