Solomon's Wisdom

Solomon became king of Israel after his father David's death, inheriting a kingdom at peace and a divine promise that his throne would be established forever if he walked in obedience to God. The young king loved the Lord and walked according to the instructions of his father David, though he offered sacrifices at the high places—the tabernacle being still at Gibeon before the temple was built.

One night at Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, 'Ask for whatever you want me to give you.' This was an extraordinary offer—God inviting Solomon to name his request. Solomon could have asked for anything: long life, wealth, the death of his enemies, military victories. Instead, Solomon responded with remarkable humility and insight. He acknowledged that God had shown great kindness to David and had now made him, David's son, king. But he confessed, '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.'

Then Solomon made his request: '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?' The Hebrew words translated 'discerning heart' literally mean 'a listening heart'—Solomon wanted the ability to hear God's wisdom and apply it to complex situations. He wasn't asking for personal gain but for the ability to serve God's people well. His request demonstrated that he valued wisdom above all earthly treasures.

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. God said, '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, 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.' But God didn't stop there. He also promised to give Solomon what he hadn't asked for—both wealth and honor, so that in his lifetime no other king would compare to him. God added that if Solomon walked in obedience, He would give him a long life as well.

Solomon's wisdom was soon tested in a famous case. Two prostitutes came before him, each claiming to be the mother of a living baby. One woman's baby had died in the night when she rolled over on it. She claimed the other woman had switched the babies while everyone slept. Both women claimed the living child as their own, and there were no witnesses to settle the matter. How could Solomon determine the truth?

Solomon called for a sword and declared, 'Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.' This shocking command revealed the truth. The real mother, filled with compassion for her son, cried out, 'Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!' But the other woman said, 'Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!' Solomon immediately identified the first woman as the true mother and gave her the child. When all Israel heard the verdict, they held the king in awe, recognizing that he had the wisdom of God to administer justice.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. His wisdom was greater than all the wise men of the East and Egypt. He spoke three thousand proverbs and wrote a thousand and five songs. He described plant life and taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. People from all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by kings who had heard of his extraordinary understanding. The Queen of Sheba traveled from afar to test him with hard questions, and she was overwhelmed by his wisdom, declaring that not even half of his greatness had been reported to her. Solomon's wisdom brought glory to God and blessing to Israel, though tragically, in his later years he turned away from wholehearted devotion to the Lord.