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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom

Published 9 days ago • 3 min read

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Meditation

Reader,

Today's prayer is one that is likely very familiar. Solomon, in a dream, prays for wisdom.

Copying this out slowly, one thing struck me more forcefully than I had noted before. Solomon was already somewhat wise when he issued this prayer.

Solomon is motivated by two things— awe and fear. His awe in the face of God's kindness to David in providing a legacy as promised. The second is the fear that he, Solomon, personally isn't, and cannot be, up to the task.

Solomon's "fear of the Lord" is his commitment to be the vessel that keeps the promise. The promise is worthy of his life. This gifts him humility to know he can't fulfill God's promise without God's help.

Solomon's request for a "discerning heart" is in itself a demonstration of real wisdom. Brought about by a mix of awe and wonder at the goodness of God and a necessary (and legitimate) fear at the task he now must fulfill. But that wisdom he has is not enough. He needs God to continue to provide a more discerning heart throughout his reign and whatever it brings.

The actual prayer is found in verses 6-9. So you can choose to simply copy the prayer (which is hatched out) or also include the set up, God's response and the conclusion which I have provided for context and clarity.

Today's full text is 1 Kings 3:5-15

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.
9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 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.”

15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

Encouragement

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Proverbs 9:10

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Andy

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