Post by Zac Loh on Dec 3, 2008 15:10:06 GMT -5
As a Christian here and now, on planet Earth, we need three every important elements from God: guidance, strength and wisdom.
We can have God’s wisdom, but we can’t anticipate and cover everything. Therefore, we need God’s guidance.
If we have God’s guidance, it doesn’t mean that there will be no challenges and troubles. Therefore, we need God’s strength.
No matter how much wisdom we have, we will have to face hindrances and obstacles. There isn’t a quick remedy every time. It is not suppose to be easy always, anyway. In this world, real true genuine Christians will surely have confrontation and persecution. Therefore, we need God’s strength.
Looking at the succession of leadership from the prophet Samuel to King David, we have to overlook King Saul because he didn’t typify God’s kind of leadership for Israel. To have God’s guidance, we have to have God’s leadership in our lives.
We can see a great evidence of God’s guidance in Samuel’s life. What is remarkable about David’s life is God’s strength in him which enabled him to endure all sorts of danger and crisis. Of course, Solomon was the wisest man on earth during his time; because God gave him the wisdom.
We will study the lives Samuel, David and Solomon: to see how we can have the abundance of God’s - guidance, strength and wisdom - in our lives.
SAMUEL’S SACRIFICE AND SANCTIFICATION: THE GUIDANCE OF GOD
God provided His guidance to Samuel even though Samuel was, at times, ignorant of God’s ways. There was such an abundance of God’s mercy in the aspect of His guidance in Samuel’s life.
For starters, as a child, He didn’t even know that it was God who was speaking to him. Yet God continued calling him (1 Samuel 3:1-14).
God instructed Samuel to ordain a new king; and Samuel could have made a mistake if God did not intervene. Samuel was looking from his own human perspective but God saw better (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
What are the aspects of Samuel’s life can we emulate, so that we too will receive God’s abundance mercy in guidance? What qualities did Samuel had, which made him a good candidate for God’s guidance?
Samuel Was Consecrated To God
In 1 Samuel 1:11, we find that Hannah dedicated her future son Samuel to the Lord, as a Nazarite, symbolized by the uncut hair. A Nazarite was a person set apart and especially consecrated to the Lord.
We may not have a godly parent who dedicated us to the Lord, but we can dedicate ourselves to be set apart for God. It means that we abstain from polluting ourselves by the spirit of this world. We keep ourselves from being influenced by the values of this temporal world. We are wholly dedicated to God.
Samuel Lived In The Temple
Hannah was childless. And God answered Hannah’s prayer. The childless Hannah had given birth to Samuel. And after Hannah had weaned the baby; Samuel was given to the temple, to live there (Samuel 1:22-28).
Samuel breathed, lived and ministered - in the temple. He found his life, and calling - in the temple.
The temple signified the church, the universal body of Christ.
After we were given birth, our spiritual birth, that is `born again’ in John 3:3-8; we must find our life, and calling, in the spiritual church (not necessarily limited to the local congregation).
The question is, where do we find our life and calling? I don’t mean we stop being soul winners for the Lord in this world. But first, we must find our purpose and call – in the church. The church is where we are to be planted, and to grow. The church is our base, foundation and platform. The church is to be our spiritual home. The church is to send us back as witnesses to this lost and forsaken world. The church is our spiritual launching pad for our mission in this world. We must have a passion for the church.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Samuel not only lived in the temple, he himself was a temple of the Lord.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
The Fallacy Of Merely Looking For Guidance
Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Samuel 8:1-5)
There is a fallacy in totally relying on moment-by-moment guidance from God – in everything, all the time. It sounds spiritual, but this is pseudo spirituality. Do you ask God what color of clothes to choose from – to wear on a daily basis? Do you ask God which drink to order from, each time you have a drink at a restaurant?
Samuel’s children followed the footsteps of Eli’s children. Eli was Samuel’s mentor. But Samuel should have the wisdom not to follow Eli’s parenting behavior or the lack of it.
Why didn’t God guide Samuel so that he would become a better father? We each have our own responsibility. The truth is, not only do we have our own responsibility; we each have to be responsible to consistently ask God for wisdom to discharge our responsibilities.
Not only do we need wisdom from God, we also need strength from God. Samuel needed the inward emotional strength, and the strength of character, to correct his sons.
DAVID’S DEVOTION AND DEPENDENCE: THE STRENGTH OF GOD
Reading the pages of David’s life is like a glossary of confrontation, discrimination, danger, trauma and betrayal. His life was much more than an adventure.
David was the youngest son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:11), yet he eclipse all his other seven brothers in strength and deed.
When he was still in his youth, he personally fought the bear and the lion in the wilderness – and won. As a shepherd boy, he faithfully protected his father’s sheep. Yet, he was sidelined by his father. His brothers even ridiculed him. But, he battled the human giant Goliath whom everyone in King Saul’s army was afraid of (including his brothers). And he slew Goliath.
King Saul became jealous of David’s popularity. The king sought to murder David. Marked for death, he avoided capture again and again. Twice, the king himself speared David but missed. Twice, David had the easy opportunity to kill the king but he spared the king’s life. Saul speared David. But David spared Saul. By this time, David had already experienced betrayal by the king, roaming in the wilderness, and living in caves.
As the years moved on, David had a group of followers. At one time, David was leading these men into a military campaign. But the men wanted to stone David, because their families were taken captive while they were away following David.
In this intense situation and extreme crisis, David steadied himself and inquired of the Lord. And with that, David managed to rescue their families and recovered everything.
David was ridiculed by his wife publicly, which was hyper shameful in those days. Yet, David remained true to his conviction.
His own son Absalom revolted against him.
David Centered on God
In his personal times with God, David channeled all of his being to God. He had a single focus. He had a strong relationship with God. David was a man who seeks after God’s heart, not his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). It is God’s strength that we seek after; not our own strength.
Remember the song “God is the strength of my heart” which goes like this:
Whom have I in heaven but You
There is nothing on earth I desire beside You
My heart and my strength many times they fail
But there is one truth that always will prevail
Chorus
God is the strength of my heart
God is the strength of my heart
God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever, forever.
When he was greatly distressed, David strengthened himself in the Lord.
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:6)
When nobody is there to encourage us, we need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord – by praising and thanking the Lord – by confessing and declaring His greatness and faithfulness – by remembering and meditating on His everlasting goodness and loving kindness.
David Sought God
Do a brief study of the psalms of David, and you will discover David’s dependence on God. Take for example, Psalm 18, you will see explicitly how David seeks after God for strength and help.
Psalm 18 was the words David used to express his song to God. He said those words to God, because God delivered him from the clutches of those who made David their enemy including King Saul.
Psalm 18 began with these words (verses 1 - 3):
I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
You see the depths of the troubles David was in. During these times, David turned to the Lord. David was utterly dependent on God.
From reading the psalms of David, you will David’s devotion to God and his dependence on God – the keys to divine strength.
The Fallacy Of Merely Looking For Strength
It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.” (2 Samuel 11:1-5)
We cannot totally rely on strength for everything. David fell for Bathsheba and committed adultery. He displeased God, and duly punished by God.
David had extra, excess, emotional and physical energy. He should have led his people in war at the time when kings go out to battle. David was restless.
David asked God for guidance when he was in a crisis. He should have continued to ask God for guidance, even when he was not in a crisis. He should have asked for guidance to do what God wanted him to do, at that point of his life.
And he should have asked God for wisdom. He could have avoided the mistake. Even when he made the initial mistake, he could have been saved from falling further. After he committed adultery, he committed murder by sending Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) to death in order to protect himself (but he couldn’t protect himself from God). It was trickery, cunning and deceit. But it was not God’s wisdom.
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:14-18)
Was David envious of Uriah because he had such a beautiful wife, namely Bathsheba? David knew Uriah, because Uriah was his longtime faithful brave warrior. The fact that Uriah lived so near the palace; it was probably a reward from David bravery, contribution and longtime service. Whether envious or not, nobody knows. But David was evidently self-seeking. And David did not have peace after that. David eventually recovered because of the mercy of God.
SOLOMON’S STEP-UP AND SUPPLICATION: THE WISDOM OF GOD
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. (1 Kings 3:5-13)
Solomon Exercised His Responsibility
Solomon inherited the kingship along with its responsibilities including the completion the temple which his father had wanted to build. Not only Solomon stepped-up to the responsibility of the kingship, he completed the task of building the temple.
If we are to be as wise as Solomon, we are to dedicate ourselves before God to step-up to our ministries, responsibilities and tasks. We are to purpose ourselves to develop and use wisely our gifts and talents as Solomon did.
Solomon Asked For God’s Wisdom
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8)
You notice in the above Bible passage that we do not ask wisdom for the sole purpose of avoiding trouble, or escaping trouble; because God at times allowed the trouble, and even planned the trouble.
We ask for God’s wisdom in the midst of our trouble. God’s wisdom can protect us from unnecessary trouble or provide solution to our trouble; but we don’t live in fear.
When we ask God for wisdom, we ask in faith and not in fear. And we don’t doubt that we are going to receive wisdom when we asked it; nor do we doubt the wisdom of God after we have received it.
In our Bible passage James 1:2-8, it was described that a person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. A wave goes to-and-fro. The ship rocks and sways. Average inexperienced people get seasickness.
The problem with people who are influenced by doubts is that they vacillate. One time they believe in God’s wisdom. At another time, they doubt. They receive wisdom from God. But they fail to act. They may have acted, but they didn’t follow through. The end result being they don’t receive the blessing of God’s wisdom.
The Fallacy Of Merely Looking For Wisdom
For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. (1 Kings 11:4)
Can you imagine, the wisest man on earth, was badly influenced by his wives?
Can you imagine, the wisest man on earth, made the mistake of having so many wives?
Maybe, the reason for marrying many, was because Solomon didn’t want to commit the mistake his father David made with Bathsheba (Solomon’s mother was Bathsheba). Having so many wives, he didn’t have to face the same predicament like his father David. Whenever he wanted to sleep with a woman, there would have been no shortage of supply; he would have been spoilt for choice. He didn’t have to sneak and plot. He could do it in a moment notice. And he could do it without breaking any religious laws, and keep himself in social acceptance (all these were possible back then!).
Solomon was not known as a man who sought God for guidance. Maybe he was relying too much on his wisdom. If we have this much wisdom, it could easily give us a false sense of security. No matter how much wisdom we have, we still need to depend on God on a daily basis!
I think Solomon should have sought God for guidance before marrying again. Perhaps God would have given him, with his first wife, an experience that was so satisfying, that he wouldn’t want to marry another!
Because Solomon was a very rich king whose fame spread far and wide, hordes of women (royalty definitely not spared …including the beautiful Queen of Sheba!) wanted to know him and be near to him. Perhaps Solomon was very good looking as well.
Solomon needed strength from God to resist all these women who were attracted to him.
We can have God’s wisdom, but we can’t anticipate and cover everything. Therefore, we need God’s guidance.
If we have God’s guidance, it doesn’t mean that there will be no challenges and troubles. Therefore, we need God’s strength.
No matter how much wisdom we have, we will have to face hindrances and obstacles. There isn’t a quick remedy every time. It is not suppose to be easy always, anyway. In this world, real true genuine Christians will surely have confrontation and persecution. Therefore, we need God’s strength.
Looking at the succession of leadership from the prophet Samuel to King David, we have to overlook King Saul because he didn’t typify God’s kind of leadership for Israel. To have God’s guidance, we have to have God’s leadership in our lives.
We can see a great evidence of God’s guidance in Samuel’s life. What is remarkable about David’s life is God’s strength in him which enabled him to endure all sorts of danger and crisis. Of course, Solomon was the wisest man on earth during his time; because God gave him the wisdom.
We will study the lives Samuel, David and Solomon: to see how we can have the abundance of God’s - guidance, strength and wisdom - in our lives.
SAMUEL’S SACRIFICE AND SANCTIFICATION: THE GUIDANCE OF GOD
God provided His guidance to Samuel even though Samuel was, at times, ignorant of God’s ways. There was such an abundance of God’s mercy in the aspect of His guidance in Samuel’s life.
For starters, as a child, He didn’t even know that it was God who was speaking to him. Yet God continued calling him (1 Samuel 3:1-14).
God instructed Samuel to ordain a new king; and Samuel could have made a mistake if God did not intervene. Samuel was looking from his own human perspective but God saw better (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
What are the aspects of Samuel’s life can we emulate, so that we too will receive God’s abundance mercy in guidance? What qualities did Samuel had, which made him a good candidate for God’s guidance?
Samuel Was Consecrated To God
In 1 Samuel 1:11, we find that Hannah dedicated her future son Samuel to the Lord, as a Nazarite, symbolized by the uncut hair. A Nazarite was a person set apart and especially consecrated to the Lord.
We may not have a godly parent who dedicated us to the Lord, but we can dedicate ourselves to be set apart for God. It means that we abstain from polluting ourselves by the spirit of this world. We keep ourselves from being influenced by the values of this temporal world. We are wholly dedicated to God.
Samuel Lived In The Temple
Hannah was childless. And God answered Hannah’s prayer. The childless Hannah had given birth to Samuel. And after Hannah had weaned the baby; Samuel was given to the temple, to live there (Samuel 1:22-28).
Samuel breathed, lived and ministered - in the temple. He found his life, and calling - in the temple.
The temple signified the church, the universal body of Christ.
After we were given birth, our spiritual birth, that is `born again’ in John 3:3-8; we must find our life, and calling, in the spiritual church (not necessarily limited to the local congregation).
The question is, where do we find our life and calling? I don’t mean we stop being soul winners for the Lord in this world. But first, we must find our purpose and call – in the church. The church is where we are to be planted, and to grow. The church is our base, foundation and platform. The church is to be our spiritual home. The church is to send us back as witnesses to this lost and forsaken world. The church is our spiritual launching pad for our mission in this world. We must have a passion for the church.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Samuel not only lived in the temple, he himself was a temple of the Lord.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
The Fallacy Of Merely Looking For Guidance
Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Samuel 8:1-5)
There is a fallacy in totally relying on moment-by-moment guidance from God – in everything, all the time. It sounds spiritual, but this is pseudo spirituality. Do you ask God what color of clothes to choose from – to wear on a daily basis? Do you ask God which drink to order from, each time you have a drink at a restaurant?
Samuel’s children followed the footsteps of Eli’s children. Eli was Samuel’s mentor. But Samuel should have the wisdom not to follow Eli’s parenting behavior or the lack of it.
Why didn’t God guide Samuel so that he would become a better father? We each have our own responsibility. The truth is, not only do we have our own responsibility; we each have to be responsible to consistently ask God for wisdom to discharge our responsibilities.
Not only do we need wisdom from God, we also need strength from God. Samuel needed the inward emotional strength, and the strength of character, to correct his sons.
DAVID’S DEVOTION AND DEPENDENCE: THE STRENGTH OF GOD
Reading the pages of David’s life is like a glossary of confrontation, discrimination, danger, trauma and betrayal. His life was much more than an adventure.
David was the youngest son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:11), yet he eclipse all his other seven brothers in strength and deed.
When he was still in his youth, he personally fought the bear and the lion in the wilderness – and won. As a shepherd boy, he faithfully protected his father’s sheep. Yet, he was sidelined by his father. His brothers even ridiculed him. But, he battled the human giant Goliath whom everyone in King Saul’s army was afraid of (including his brothers). And he slew Goliath.
King Saul became jealous of David’s popularity. The king sought to murder David. Marked for death, he avoided capture again and again. Twice, the king himself speared David but missed. Twice, David had the easy opportunity to kill the king but he spared the king’s life. Saul speared David. But David spared Saul. By this time, David had already experienced betrayal by the king, roaming in the wilderness, and living in caves.
As the years moved on, David had a group of followers. At one time, David was leading these men into a military campaign. But the men wanted to stone David, because their families were taken captive while they were away following David.
In this intense situation and extreme crisis, David steadied himself and inquired of the Lord. And with that, David managed to rescue their families and recovered everything.
David was ridiculed by his wife publicly, which was hyper shameful in those days. Yet, David remained true to his conviction.
His own son Absalom revolted against him.
David Centered on God
In his personal times with God, David channeled all of his being to God. He had a single focus. He had a strong relationship with God. David was a man who seeks after God’s heart, not his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). It is God’s strength that we seek after; not our own strength.
Remember the song “God is the strength of my heart” which goes like this:
Whom have I in heaven but You
There is nothing on earth I desire beside You
My heart and my strength many times they fail
But there is one truth that always will prevail
Chorus
God is the strength of my heart
God is the strength of my heart
God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever, forever.
When he was greatly distressed, David strengthened himself in the Lord.
Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:6)
When nobody is there to encourage us, we need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord – by praising and thanking the Lord – by confessing and declaring His greatness and faithfulness – by remembering and meditating on His everlasting goodness and loving kindness.
David Sought God
Do a brief study of the psalms of David, and you will discover David’s dependence on God. Take for example, Psalm 18, you will see explicitly how David seeks after God for strength and help.
Psalm 18 was the words David used to express his song to God. He said those words to God, because God delivered him from the clutches of those who made David their enemy including King Saul.
Psalm 18 began with these words (verses 1 - 3):
I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
You see the depths of the troubles David was in. During these times, David turned to the Lord. David was utterly dependent on God.
From reading the psalms of David, you will David’s devotion to God and his dependence on God – the keys to divine strength.
The Fallacy Of Merely Looking For Strength
It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.” (2 Samuel 11:1-5)
We cannot totally rely on strength for everything. David fell for Bathsheba and committed adultery. He displeased God, and duly punished by God.
David had extra, excess, emotional and physical energy. He should have led his people in war at the time when kings go out to battle. David was restless.
David asked God for guidance when he was in a crisis. He should have continued to ask God for guidance, even when he was not in a crisis. He should have asked for guidance to do what God wanted him to do, at that point of his life.
And he should have asked God for wisdom. He could have avoided the mistake. Even when he made the initial mistake, he could have been saved from falling further. After he committed adultery, he committed murder by sending Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) to death in order to protect himself (but he couldn’t protect himself from God). It was trickery, cunning and deceit. But it was not God’s wisdom.
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:14-18)
Was David envious of Uriah because he had such a beautiful wife, namely Bathsheba? David knew Uriah, because Uriah was his longtime faithful brave warrior. The fact that Uriah lived so near the palace; it was probably a reward from David bravery, contribution and longtime service. Whether envious or not, nobody knows. But David was evidently self-seeking. And David did not have peace after that. David eventually recovered because of the mercy of God.
SOLOMON’S STEP-UP AND SUPPLICATION: THE WISDOM OF GOD
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. (1 Kings 3:5-13)
Solomon Exercised His Responsibility
Solomon inherited the kingship along with its responsibilities including the completion the temple which his father had wanted to build. Not only Solomon stepped-up to the responsibility of the kingship, he completed the task of building the temple.
If we are to be as wise as Solomon, we are to dedicate ourselves before God to step-up to our ministries, responsibilities and tasks. We are to purpose ourselves to develop and use wisely our gifts and talents as Solomon did.
Solomon Asked For God’s Wisdom
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8)
You notice in the above Bible passage that we do not ask wisdom for the sole purpose of avoiding trouble, or escaping trouble; because God at times allowed the trouble, and even planned the trouble.
We ask for God’s wisdom in the midst of our trouble. God’s wisdom can protect us from unnecessary trouble or provide solution to our trouble; but we don’t live in fear.
When we ask God for wisdom, we ask in faith and not in fear. And we don’t doubt that we are going to receive wisdom when we asked it; nor do we doubt the wisdom of God after we have received it.
In our Bible passage James 1:2-8, it was described that a person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. A wave goes to-and-fro. The ship rocks and sways. Average inexperienced people get seasickness.
The problem with people who are influenced by doubts is that they vacillate. One time they believe in God’s wisdom. At another time, they doubt. They receive wisdom from God. But they fail to act. They may have acted, but they didn’t follow through. The end result being they don’t receive the blessing of God’s wisdom.
The Fallacy Of Merely Looking For Wisdom
For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. (1 Kings 11:4)
Can you imagine, the wisest man on earth, was badly influenced by his wives?
Can you imagine, the wisest man on earth, made the mistake of having so many wives?
Maybe, the reason for marrying many, was because Solomon didn’t want to commit the mistake his father David made with Bathsheba (Solomon’s mother was Bathsheba). Having so many wives, he didn’t have to face the same predicament like his father David. Whenever he wanted to sleep with a woman, there would have been no shortage of supply; he would have been spoilt for choice. He didn’t have to sneak and plot. He could do it in a moment notice. And he could do it without breaking any religious laws, and keep himself in social acceptance (all these were possible back then!).
Solomon was not known as a man who sought God for guidance. Maybe he was relying too much on his wisdom. If we have this much wisdom, it could easily give us a false sense of security. No matter how much wisdom we have, we still need to depend on God on a daily basis!
I think Solomon should have sought God for guidance before marrying again. Perhaps God would have given him, with his first wife, an experience that was so satisfying, that he wouldn’t want to marry another!
Because Solomon was a very rich king whose fame spread far and wide, hordes of women (royalty definitely not spared …including the beautiful Queen of Sheba!) wanted to know him and be near to him. Perhaps Solomon was very good looking as well.
Solomon needed strength from God to resist all these women who were attracted to him.