A Discerning Heart

1 Kings 3:1-3 – (Early Leadership): Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem. The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. (NIV1984).

  • In our walk with the Lord, we should not “accept that” there be any “except that.”

1 Kings 3:4-5 (The Lord’s Question): The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 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.” (NIV 1984).

  • God does not always drop on us the things that He wants for us before we are able to answer that what we want is what He wants.

1 Kings 3:4-5 (Solomon’s Response): 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. “Now, O 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. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 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?” (NIV 1984).

  • A wise and “discerning heart” may not be what we think.

Intelligence – The ability or capacity to learn and understand. Many people have the capacity, but do not follow through and use it for learning and understanding.

Knowledge – Being aware of or possessing facts, information, and ideas. A lot of people’s minds are cluttered with facts, information, and ideas that they never use.

Education – To provide schooling by formal instruction or supervised practice. The world is full of educated fools, who have been taught but failed to learn. Who took in the teaching but could not use (apply) it.

Training – To make fit, qualified, or proficient by instruction, discipline, or drills. Many leave schools thinking they now know it all and neglect training. In so doing, they are slow to become (or never become) fit or qualified for their job.

Experience – Direct observation and/or participation. Education is the beginning. Training is a transition. Experience is an on-going process that keeps on building.

Wisdom – A deep understanding and keen ability to grasp and comprehend inner qualities and relationships that might not necessarily be evident. The capacity to exercise sound judgment, arrive at just conclusions, and make good decisions. Superior intellect does not make you wise. Knowing a lot does not make you wise. The best education does not make you wise. In depth training does not make you wise. Years of experience does not make you wise. Even the wisdom of this world can go only so far, especially if sought independently of spiritual discernment.

1 Kings 3:10-15 (God’s Response): The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 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, 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. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 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. (NIV 1984).

  • When we seek first Kingdom things, lesser thinks may also come our way. But seeking first should not be done with an eye on the lesser things.

1 Kings 11:9-13 (Postscript): The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So, the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” (NIV 1984).

  • Sometimes the end of the story can reveal the shortcomings of worldly wisdom. The burning question we should all have is how might we guard against having a postscript in our life like Solomon’s? By turning worldly wisdom into Heavenly wisdom.

Heavenly Wisdom – Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17, NIV 1984). Wisdom that lacks these qualities is not very helpful in matters of spiritual discernment.