Wise guy
1 Kings Chapters 3-4
One of the least comprehensible criticisms of Christianity that you sometimes hear is that it is anti-intellectual or opposed to learning. While it’s likely possible to find isolated examples of that, the whole Christian tradition and Jewish traditions before it is so rich in celebrating knowledge and wisdom that such celebration is one of the clearest characteristics of the faith.
In the 2000+ years since Jesus, and starting even within the words of the New Testament, some of the greatest minds in the world have proclaimed and defended the faith.
And, of course, the Old Testament gives us the example of King Solomon, celebrated for his wisdom we read about today. (Many of the proverbs we’ve been reading each day are also credited to him, as are many of the psalms.)
Being the son of the wise King David and being surrounded by godly advisers, Solomon was probably already wise, but when God offered to give him whatever he asked for, Solomon wisely asked for a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong.
God honored his humility and his desire to serve his people faithfully.
It’s interesting that right after God bestows the gift of wisdom on Solomon, the writer tells the famous story of Solomon determining which of two women is the mother of a child.
While the version of the story we likely read in Sunday school as children omitted the fact, I think it’s significant that the two women involved in the dispute were prostitutes and that the death of the one child could be blamed on carelessness. This first example of Solomon’s wisdom isn’t about how he handles some great affair of state or international negotiations. Instead, it’s about a rather sordid tragedy leading to a dispute between two people at the bottom of the social ladder.
God’s gift of wisdom isn’t just for the benefit of the high and mighty. Instead, Solomon (and God) are concerned that justice be done for the lowly as well.
And Solomon’s wisdom isn’t limited to the wisdom he needs to be a judge and ruler over the people—Verses 4:32-32 suggest his brilliance extended into writing, teaching, international affairs and science.