WISDOM AND OBEDIENCE GO HAND IN HAND

WISDOM AND OBEDIENCE go hand in hand

Today I was reading the book of Melakim 1 (1 Kings) about Adoniyahu, the son of King Dawid and the brother of King Shelomoh (Solomon). He just as his brother Abshalom tried to take away the kingdom away from his own father.  Personally I have seen how greed can cause people to do terrible things to family members, to brothers and sisters, and to the parents. Since sin entered into this world, it seems that we are not safe from greed and jealousy.

But I am so glad that the plans of Yehovah are always fulfilled no matter what the enemy tries to do. Both of them, Adoniyahu and Abshalom ended up dead, as result of their greed. But King David regains His position as King of Israel, and Shelomoh, Solomon, became his successor. We read about this important even in the following passage.

But Yehovah fulfilled His promise to King David.

Melakim 1/1 Kings 1:38-39 “So Zadok the kohen, Nathan the navi, Benayahu the son of Yahoyada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites, went down and had Shelomoh/Solomon ride on Sovereign Dawid’s mule, and took  him to Gihon. Then Tsadoq the priest took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and the anointed Shelomoh/Solomon. And they blew the horn, and all the people said, “Let Sovereign Shelomoh live!”

Soon after Sovereign Solomon was set in his kingdom, he had a dream. Yehovah appeared to him and asked him a very important question.  Let us read together what Yehovah said to King Solomon that night.

Melakim1/1 Kings 3:5-14: “At Gibeon Yehovah appeared to Shelomoh/Solomon in a dream by night; and Elohim said, “Ask! What shall I give you?’ And Shelomoh/Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant Dawid my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for Him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.  Now, O Yehovah my Elohim, You have made Your servant king instead of my father Dawid, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted.  Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.  For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” The speech pleased YHWH, that Shelomoh/Solomon had asked this thing. Then Elohim said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. If you walk in My Ways, to guard My Laws and My Commands, as Your father Dawid walked, then I will prolong you days.”

I needed to print all this verses in order each of us to fully understand that Yehovah is the One who gives us wisdom and understanding. We cannot boast about anything we think we have, for He is the giver of all good things.

Melakim1/1 Kings 1:4:29-34: “And Elohim gave Shelomoh/Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.”

Shelomoh/Solomon received more than what He asked. When we seek His kingdom, He will give us everything we may need to do His will.  He will do abundantly above what we ask or think.

However, we must obey His commandments or fail miserably in life as Solomon did. He chose to disobey the command of Yehovah.

A King was “shall not to multiply horses  for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt  to multiply horses, for Yehovah has said to you,, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.”Devarim/Deuteronomy 17:16-17

King Solomon was indeed very intelligent and accumulated great wealth of silver and gold and everything he wanted. (See  Melekh 1/1 Kings 10)

We also read in Melekh 1/1 Kings 11 He also had married  foreign wives who turned his heart away from Yehovah.  “For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of Yehovah, and did not fully follow Yehovah, as his father David did) (v.5-6).

His life did not end well.  We do not know if he repented or not. But his life should be a warning to many preachers today who love money; make themselves mansions and fly their own jets. My they awaken before their money will not become their complete downfall.

All of us need the grace of Yehovah to continue in faith.

Let us pray for the apostate church.

Shalom