HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 673
1 KING S 4
page 303
king instead of my father, David, but I am like
a little child who doesn’t know his way around.
8 And here I am in the midst of your own chosen
people, a nation so great and numerous they
cannot be counted! 9 Give me an understanding
heart so that I can govern your people well and
know the difference between right and wrong.
For who by himself is able to govern this great
people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had
asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because
you have asked for wisdom in governing my
people with justice and have not asked for a
long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—12 I will give you what you asked for! I will
give you a wise and understanding heart such
as no one else has had or ever will have! 13 And
I will also give you what you did not ask for—
riches and fame! No other king in all the world
will be compared to you for the rest of your life!
14 And if you follow me and obey my decrees and
my commands as your father, David, did, I will
give you a long life.”
15 Then Solomon woke up and realized it had
been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and
stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant,
where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace
offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a
great banquet.
Solomon Judges Wisely
16 Some time later two prostitutes came to the
king to have an argument settled. 17 “Please, my
lord,” one of them began, “this woman and I
live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby
while she was with me in the house. 18 Three
days later this woman also had a baby. We were
alone; there were only two of us in the house.
19 “But her baby died during the night when
she rolled over on it. 20 Then she got up in the
night and took my son from beside me while I
was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms
and took mine to sleep beside her. 21 And in the
morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was
dead! But when I looked more closely in the
morning light, I saw that it wasn’t my son at all.”
22 Then the other woman interrupted, “It
certainly was your son, and the living child is
mine.”
“No,” the first woman said, “the living child
is mine, and the dead one is yours.” And so they
argued back and forth before the king.
23 Then the king said, “Let’s get the facts
straight. Both of you claim the living child is
yours, and each says that the dead one belongs
to the other. 24 All right, bring me a sword.” So a
sword was brought to the king.
25 Then he said, “Cut the living child in two, and
give half to one woman and half to the other!”
26 Then the woman who was the real mother
of the living child, and who loved him very
much, cried out, “Oh no, my lord! Give her the
child—please do not kill him!”
But the other woman said, “All right, he will be
neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”
27 Then the king said, “Do not kill the child,
but give him to the woman who wants him to
live, for she is his mother!”
28 When all Israel heard the king’s decision,
the people were in awe of the king, for they saw
the wisdom God had given him for rendering
justice.
Solomon’s Officials and Governors
King Solomon now ruled over all Israel,
2 and these were his high officials:
4
3
4
Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.
Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha,
were court secretaries.
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal
historian.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of
the army.
Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
• Desires
1 K I N G S 3:5
God asked Solomon what the desire of
his heart was. God recognizes the deep
desires we all have; he is the creator
of desire. God has desires too. Out of
God’s desire for relationship, he created
the world. Out of God’s desire for our
enjoyment, he created magnificent
variety in people and nature. Out of God’s
desire to care for us, he made food
and resources for shelter, warmth, and
medicine. Out of God’s desire to teach us
about love, he created the intimate bond
of marriage. Out of God’s desire for our
love and fellowship, he developed a plan
of salvation. Desire is one of God’s most
wonderful gifts because it puts the power
behind our purpose.
Problems arise when we don’t
recognize the dark side of desire, our
propensity to want that which we cannot
or should not have. Dark desires give
power to purpose, too, but to a purpose
that is bent on evil. Don’t feel guilty if
you have a strong desire for something
as long as that desire is directed toward
that which is good and ultimately
pleasing to God. Here, Solomon’s desire
was worthy—he wanted great wisdom.
Later, Solomon’s desires turned ugly
and resulted in the downfall of his entire
kingdom (11:1-13).