37 - King Solomon

1 Kings 2:1-3:28

King David is about to die, and gives a charge to his son and successor, Solomon.

2 ²“….Be strong, be courageous, ³and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.”

David gives charge to Solomon

Thus begins a tumultuous period.  By the end of 2 Kings, the united kingdom of Judah and Israel has disintegrated, and the first temple built and destroyed.  These books make it clear that the failure of the kings to worship God and to keep his commandments cause the exile to Babylon.

Here at the beginning we see the young king Solomon, already recognized by his father as having wisdom, asking God in a prayer or dream for discernment:

3⁹Give your servant therefore an understanding mind* to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people? *[or understanding heart]

God grants this and more; He gives what Solomon did not ask for:  riches and glory and long life.

Immediately, Solomon shows his wisdom in the famous story of the two women brought before him, each claiming a baby.  Since they could not agree, he threatened to cut the baby in half.  The one whose child it was pleaded for the child to be spared and given to the other; Solomon recognized her love for her child, and gave it to her.  

Solomon with two women pleading for one child

And the people stood in awe of him, "because they perceived the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice."

When have you seen great leaders exercise wisdom and justice?  Should that be our expectation?