Change 4….continued 5

 

Change 4…continued 5…

Asking for wisdom….

Solomon… one of the sons of King David…began his rule in his early twenties.  He had been promised the kingship, had watched his father, David then to king…he reigned for 40 years…built the Temple.  He wrote Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes…

He was prepared for kingship, but preparation to actuality is huge…change…

David admonished Solomon…

 When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

1Kgs.2.1-4

Solomon sought wisdom from the Lord…

 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 

And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. 

And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but 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 many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” 

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. 

Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 

I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 

And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

1Kgs.3.3-14

At any age we, too can ask for wisdom…

 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Jas.1.5

Ruth…a Moabite, widowed, leaving her home country …asked to go with her mother in law…she was diligent, caring, hard working…a non-Israelite, she became part of the lineage of King David and is listed in the genealogy of Jesus…

She sought counsel from Naomi, her widowed mother in law…

So many changes as a young woman…widowhood, traveling, eeking out food as a gleaner to finally remarrying into wealth with Boaz…change…

 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. 

The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. 

And she lived with her mother-in-law. 

He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 

Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 

Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

Ruth.1.16-18, Ruth.2.12,Ruth.2.23,Ruth.4.15,Ruth.4.16-22

 https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/51218/how-old-was-solomon-when-he-became-king

Thank YOU…when changes come our way, help us to seek your wisdom as the Wisdom giver…

 If the Lord had not been my help,my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. 

When I thought, “My foot slips,”your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. 

When the cares of my heart are many,your consolations cheer my soul. 

But the Lord has become my stronghold,and my God the rock of my refuge.

Ps.94.17-19, Ps.94.22