Give Me Now Wisdom – II Chron.

1:10

2 Chronicles 1
King James Version

1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and
the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds,
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and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at
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Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the
servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which
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David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made,
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he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation
sought unto it.

And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at
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the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall
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give thee.

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my
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father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou
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hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this
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people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not
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asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked
long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge
my people, over whom I have made thee king:

The need for wisdom is without a doubt one of the greatest needs in our church
today.

We know the Bible is very clear, that, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him.” (James 1:5)

What was it about Solomon that impressed God, and God heard his prayer for
wisdom?

Let’s examine this passage and see.

I. Solomon’s Passion for God

God doesn’t issue divine wisdom to those that will not use it for His honor and
glory.
Notice verse 1 – here was a young king that God was with him and magnified him
exceedingly

A.  Notice the Involvement – vs. 3 He was involved, and got everybody else
involved

I am always motivated by these men in the Bible that got everybody around them
fired up for God.

B.  Notice the Investment– 1,000 sacrifices!  Not just a routine; this was a time-
consuming display
C.  Notice the Impression – vs. 7 – In that night did God appear

II.  Solomon’s Petition to God

A.  It spoke of his Dependence – vs. 8, 9

1. God’s past blessings – vs. 8

2. God’s promise to bless – vs. 9

B.  It spoke of his Desire – vs. 10a Give me now wisdom and understanding…
1. It superseded his desire for prosperity – vs. 11 – not asked for riches, wealth
2. It superseded his desire for popularity – vs. 11 – or honor
3. It superseded his desire for power – vs. 11 – or the life of thine enemies
4. It superseded his desire for posterity – vs. 11 – neither yet has asked long life
C.  It spoke of his Duty – vs. 10

He recognized he was serving God’s people –he needed God’s help

III. Solomon’s Progression with God – 2:1

2 Chronicles 2

2 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an
house for his kingdom.

A. God blessed his determination – 2:1 – doing it for the name of the Lord; vs.
5, 9 wonderful great

And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
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Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to

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build shall be wonderful great.

NOTE: I can’t help but mention that building the Temple wasn’t even his idea; it
was passed down to him

This is what I call a Second Generation Determination – he caught what Daddy

had – A love for God’s house!
 B. God blessed his delegating – 2:2

And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and
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fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to
oversee them.

153,600 – Undocumented immigrants; 70,000 men to bear burdens; 80,000 to hew,

3,600 overseers (vs.17,18)

And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the
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numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found
an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.

And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and
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fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six
hundred overseers to set the people a work.

C. God blessed his dealings – 2:3 – we will need wisdom to deal with the world
around us

And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal
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with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to
dwell therein, even so deal with me.

Huram heard of God’s love (vs. 11) and offered to help.

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Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon,
Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.
The Wisdom of God: How We May Obtain it

2 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
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So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding;
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Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
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If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
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Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
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For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and
understanding.

Proverbs 2:1-6
Obtaining the Wisdom of God: Proverbs 2:1-5
1. Be submissive to God’s Word: Prov. 2:1a, John 1:12
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But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

2. Be disciplined in retaining God’s Word: Proverbs 2:1b, , 

Psalm 119:11
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Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
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Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in
doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 Timothy 4:16

3. Be disciplined in hearing God’s Word: Prov. 2:2, 

Nehemiah 8:1-8
8 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that
was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of
the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and
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women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the
seventh month.

And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the
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morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could
understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the
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purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and
Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and
Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the
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people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen,
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Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped
the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah,
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Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the
people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and
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caused them to understand the reading.

4. Be disciplined in prayer to know God’s Word: Prov. 2:3

5. Be disciplined in studying God’s Word: Prov. 2:4, Ezra 7:10

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For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do
it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
             6.  Place the highest value in obtaining God’s Wisdom: Prov. 2:4, , , 

Job 23:12

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Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the
words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Matt. 4:1-5

4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
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And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
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And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command
that these stones be made bread.
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But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
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Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of
the temple,

Psalm 119:72

72 
The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.