“I [God] will give you [Solomon] a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” (1 Kings 3:12b, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “As wise as Solomon” became an idiom meaning exceptionally wise, discerning, or sound in judgment. Soon after becoming king, Solomon had a dream where God said, “ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5, NIV 1984). Apparently, he was already wise enough to say, “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?” (1 Kings 3:7-9, NIV 1984).
Already, as God had originally promised to Abraham, the people had become “too numerous to count or number.” Feeling a bit inadequate “to carry out [his] duties” and “govern this great people,” Solomon made his request. Choosing “a discerning heart” and the ability to “distinguish between right and wrong,” rather than wealth honor of fame.
God was so pleased with Solomon’s request that he replied, “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. 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.” (1 Kings 3:11-12a, 13-14, NIV 1984).
Unfortunately, having “a discerning heart” and knowing “right and wrong” does not always lead to a disciplined heart or to doing right instead of wrong. “As Solomon grew old, his wives [700] turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. So, Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely.” (1 Kings 11:4, 6, NIV 1984).
My Advice – “Do not merely [discern] the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who [distinguishes between right and wrong] but does not do what [is right] is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man [whose discerning heart] looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do [what is right and not what is wrong], not forgetting what he has [discerned], but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25, NIV 1984). Now that’s wisdom.
The Brew Is A Musing 