10/30/2022 “Solomon’s Wisdom” 1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28

One thing I have heard time after time over the past several years is, “I wish things could
go back to “normal””. I’ve said that as well. Maybe you’ve said a variation of this statement as
well. We have been in a day and time that has been longing to return to a time of tradition. A
time of “normalcy”.
The problem is that traditions change. While we crave for “normal”, we forget that
normal has shifted over time. Case-in-point, Solomon.
Solomon was one of the sons of David and he was chosen by God to follow David on the
throne. It would be really easy to think that Solomon entered into his time of Kingship and kept
everything the same - kept all of the traditions going. But that wasn’t the case.
The first thing we hear in today’s scripture lesson is that King Solomon went to Gibeon
to offer sacrifices. Friends, this was not where David offered sacrifices to God. David worshiped
God in Jerusalem. And even now that the ark of the covenant, signifying God’s presence with the
people, had been returned to Jerusalem, Solomon still went to Gibeon, marking a change, a
distinction between his leadership and his dads.
Lest we think that this was the only change Solomon made, God appeared to him in the
night, in the form of a dream, and asked him what he desired for God to give him. Now, friends,
God is not a genie who grants wishes. But God effectively came and asked Solomon what he
needed from God in this point of his leadership of God’s people.
And Solomon didn’t ask for what other people needed before him. He doesn’t ask for
military might or protection - because he is in a relatively calm time in history compared to his
father. No, he asked for wisdom - what he needed to lead the people. An understanding mind to
govern the people. A spirit of discerning between what is good and what is evil. Because the task
before him of governing is greater than what he could do on his own.
As I’ve been sitting with this text this week, I’ve been wondering what I would ask God
for. If God said he me, “Ask what I should give you,” what would my response be? I think most
of us probably have some sort of wish lists in our heads. Things where we think “if this was just
a little different” or “I had a little more of this or a little less of that” than my life would be
better.
A more direct question is - would your first thought be to ask for wisdom?
I think wisdom and a spirit of discernment are things that we often misunderstand, even
within the world of the church. It’s more than simply having a sharp mind for facts or
knowledge. It’s wholly different than getting what you want out of life. Wisdom is seeking after
the heart of God.
Which goes hand in hand with discernment. There are some words that we use a lot in the
Church, but from time to time I have to wonder if we have actually considered what they mean.
One such word for me is discernment. Discernment is actually linked to the verb, the action, of
discerning, to distinguish or perceive. Whenever I think of discerning, I think of making God’s
choice. Seeking God’s will. Following the path that God would want me to go.
Because the truth is that God gave us individually and collectively, free will. God gave us
the ability to make choices. And let’s be honest, there are a lot of things that we have to choose
every day. What time am I going to get up? Am I going to hit the snooze button? Where will I go
throughout the day? What am I going to eat? What am I going to wear? The list goes on and on.
And most of those are rather simple choices. But we also know that there are a lot bigger choices
that we have to make as well. What am I being called to as a job? Where am I going to live? And
for us as a Church, who is God calling us to be and how is God calling us to reach out?
Individually, there are some people that are just super good at discerning. Folks who seem to
have their heart directly connected to God’s heart, and who seem to be right in line with God’s
will. Other people, and I would venture most of us, need people in our life who can help us
discern God’s will at certain points in our lives. But what this looks like in everyday living may
be different for each of us.
Solomon knew that he was not just making decisions for himself as an individual, but
was seeking to do so of behalf of a people. Therefore, he needed the gift of wisdom and spirit of
discernment.
Many of us may not make such weighty decisions in our own life, but that doesn’t mean
that we still do not need wisdom and discernment.
An example from my own life: Once a month for over nine years, I met with Renee, my
spiritual director. Renee and I sat in silence, praying that God spoke to us. I shared with her
about the past month, knowing that without fail she is going to ask me where I experienced the
movement of God. Renee held me accountable while challenging me to listen to the Holy Spirit.
Because of her powerful example, I also serve as a spiritual director for folks, asking them that
same powerful question about where they saw the movement of God.
Another place of accountability that leads me to discernment in my life are deep
friendships. Some of these friends I am blessed to see once or twice a month, sitting in each
other’s presence and asking how it is with our souls. Others live too far away to sit across from
each other so we connect via video-chatting on the internet and emails asking for prayer requests.
There are three such friends who I know are praying for me daily, and I pray for them, asking
that God helps them continue to grow in their faith and ministries.
Friends, Solomon was known for his wisdom, which yes, was a powerful gift from God.
But he was wise even in his asking for wisdom and discernment. A request that came out of
humility that said - Lord, you’re asking me to do this thing that I cannot do on my own. Lead me.
Fill me. Use me.
Sometimes we can incorrectly think that God is like the genuine in Aladdin. Giving us
what we wish for. But Solomon wasn’t asking for a wish. He wasn’t asking for something on
behalf of himself or out of his own ambition. No, he was asking to be equipped for what God had
called him to do.
Which required wisdom and discernment.
Friends, what is God calling you to do this day and how are you asking God to equip you
to live into that call? When you come to God, bearing your heart, is it out of what you want or
what you know, deeply know, that you need? Who are surrounding yourself with to help you
discern and what does a posture of seeking after the wisdom of God look like in your life?
May we pray for those things that bring meaning to our life and helps us live into the
identity of our calling from God, all for the sake of the Kingdom. Amen.