God’s Wisdom (1 Kings 3-4)

God’s king is sitting on the throne.  And he has one desire, one request of the Lord.  Wisdom.  This is a king who knows his need, and comes humbly before the Lord with his request. 

And as the Lord generously answers his prayer, the implications stretch far and wide.  For the reverberations of this king’s request impact not only his own character, or immediate circle, or even the land he governs, but the reverberations are felt throughout the known world.

We applaud Solomon for his request.  But our awe quickly turns to the wisdom itself that’s been given to him.  For this is wisdom like no other, as it overflows to all who encounter it with bountiful goodness.  A king who is rooted in this kind of wisdom cannot help but bless all those around him.  

And no wonder - for this is a wisdom that humbly seeks to serve others before self.  This is a wisdom that truly distinguishes between right and wrong, and distributes judgements with equity.  This is a wisdom that is both practical and orderly, and produces a torrent of Eden-like beauty in its wake.

Can you imagine living in a kingdom where this kind of wisdom was entrenched from head to toe?  Can you fathom the heights and depths of such a place, where its subjects feasted in abundance, resting in complete peace and safety?  A kingdom where everyone’s face was turned toward the King in humble adoration, as he wisely spoke and governed for their good?

Oh friends, turn your hearts to Jesus, the one to whom all this points.  We don’t need to imagine.  We don’t need to climb the faraway tree, with wishful thinking for a taste of such a land, and such a king.

In Christ, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found.  In Christ, we are safe.  In Christ, we have a peace that can never be snatched or ruptured.  And in Him, we have an imperishable and glorious future waiting for us in heaven, where we will finally experience all the reverberations of his glorious wisdom in its fullness.  I can’t wait.  Can you?