Types of Wisdom
1 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. 2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. 3 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.
4 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. 5 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.”
6 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.
7 “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. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 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 3:1-9 )

God asked Solomon in a dream what He should give him. Solomon’s answer was a discerning heart “to govern your people” and the ability to “distinguish between right and wrong” (verse 9). This made sense. Kings were not only rulers but also judges, and they themselves were judged by their judgments. The ability to govern was important for a king, and Solomon was wise enough to know his shortcomings. He described himself as “only a little child” and not knowing “how to carry out my duties” (verse 7). As the king of a nation built out of 12 tribes located between powerful nations, his request showed wisdom. But what type of wisdom?

It was the same type of wisdom Solomon showed when he married an Egyptian princess. The marriage would bring an alliance that would keep his southern border safe. But Solomon was wise to not put too much trust in the promises of kings. He also focussed on building programs that would make Israel strong, especially by building the wall around Jerusalem (verse 1).

We are told that God was pleased that Solomon had asked for such wisdom, rather than for riches or power. But was it the wisest wisdom to seek? He had just sacrificed on a pagan site (verse 4), and the marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter was the first of a long series of marriages to foreign wives who would lead him into idolatry.
There are many types of wisdom: financial wisdom; wisdom in relationships; wisdom in planning for the future. Solomon chose political wisdom. This was good, but spiritual wisdom, knowing how to follow God, would have been a wiser wisdom to ask for.

Prayer:
• What type of wisdom do you pray for? Wisdom to live a more comfortable or successful life in this world? Or wisdom to truly follow God?

Pray for a wisdom that will lead you closer to Him.