It is wise to fear the Lord

And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 1 Kings 3:11

What was Solomon asking for? He was asking for wisdom on how to rule. This was a wise thing to ask! He was asking for wisdom on how to rule the people in the right and Godly way that exceeded his own understanding and ways. He couldn’t do this on his own and neither can we. I love the old song, “I can’t even walk (without You holding my hand)”. Often we think we can, just to find out we cannot. Solomon was admitting that he didn’t know how to go out or come in on his own. He didn’t know how to be a king. He desperately needed wisdom that could only come from God and this pleased God that he had asked this one thing.

So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies.”— NLT version.

So God gave him so much more than what he even asked for. That’s how much it pleases Him when we truly seek Him. It is wise to.

Solomon wanted to know how to rule and how to rule God’s way, not haphazardly or in a foolish and wicked way. He knew that God’s ways were higher, better and far exceeded his own understanding. He knew that he would need him in order to succeed because he was not secure in this position. He was unwise and thus was his first time ruling as king. He also wanted what was best for the people which showed where his heart was at and it wasn’t just for personal gain.

Many are wise to ask and seek counsel but so many times people mature and grow and then forget that they need the same God the same as they did when they began. Don’t forget.

Isaiah 55

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts

We must seek Him while He may be found and turn from ourselves and turn to Him. We are to seek FIRST the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness, as first choice and not as a last resort.

Solomon was wise to ask and seek this one thing, when he could have went and asked anything me else or for anything else! He just wanted to do right by God and by the people.

He knew that he was nothing without God. The same God his father, David, had served and he obviously knew the only reason that his father was great and succeeded in everything that he did, was also because of God. David was not a perfect man and he had a lot of experience under his belt, BUT his heart was after God’s own heart, and that is why he always succeeded in everything he did. The heart is the really matter of everything.

So God gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart (and mind, they go hand in hand) and so much so that He said that there would never be another man this wise after him nor had there been before him. THIS is how much it pleases God for us to seek Him and to seek wisdom truly, not just for our own selfishness and benefit. To seek God first, period. His will. His way. His wisdom. Each and every day.

He tells us to ask (plainly) or not to expect. Also we are told to ask with right motives and intent. Not to just fulfill our lust or for our own selfish pleasures!  (See James 4:3) Also, of course God wants to give us good things but if our hearts aren’t right we won’t use these things wisely, but often to our own ruin and demise.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Ask! This is amazing news. He not only wants to give us wisdom on how to handle everyday life and any situation that comes at us, and to help those around us. He also says that He will give it to us liberally or very generously, AND without finding fault! The truth is, none are faultless and this is how much it pleases Him for us to ask for Him for wisdom.

He is a good good Father and He WANTS TO guide His children and WANTS US TO be wise. But, if we don’t ask genuinely or if we ask for the wrong reasons, He knows the heart. But He so desires that we ask! So don’t be afraid to ask because you think you’re not worthy, for none is. He desires for you to ask and to give it to you in abundance. So, Ask! Seek. Find. Be scared not to!

God’s word CLEARLY tells us what to get and that’s wisdom. But, if we do not seek the one thing and ask for it then we shouldn’t expect to receive or to get it.

Proverbs 4

4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

We are told to GET WISDOM. Get it and don’t forget it. How do we get it? We ASK for it. Wisdom is the principle thing, the main thing! And even if it cost you all, get understanding. It’s VITAL and it’s a vital necessity. So many people do not have wisdom and the Word tells us that God’s very own people perish for a lack of knowledge. His very own people. They simply do not understand. You need wisdom to discern and have that knowing but you also need understanding to understand when and how to use it (wisdom). They go hand in hand. God wants us to be wise.

Lots of people have lots of knowledge or book smarts because they read up but have no knowledge on how to use it or apply it. Therefore it is useless and just information without action and knowing how to use it. “A book’s true value lies in its application.” The Word of God is alive and active, and it is sharper than any two edged sword! But, again, if we don’t read The Word, know it and how to apply it, what good does it do to have a tool and not know how to use it??

God wants us to have knowledge and wisdom, yes, but also to seek understanding on how to apply and not just to know the information. Lots of people have world smarts but no spiritual insight and are blinded to the spiritual realm and so they live defenseless.

God has already told us the importance of this: “KEEP MY COMMANDS AND LIVE”. It’s life. It’s not just a message. The Bible clearly tells us to be doers of the word and not hears only or we are just deceiving our own-selves, and that is the truth of the reality. We must ask ourselves: “Do we want to perish?” To waste away, be ruined and destroyed? Do we want to be deceived and live a lie? I sure hope not.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord! That is the basis to everything because the Lord is God and we are not. Period. There is no other. He alone is God and unless we fear Him, we won’t honor Him, much less live for Him. We must honor and reverence HIM AS our Maker, worship Him and live lives that’s worthy of living and honors Him. I fall short everyday but that’s no excuse to stay this way. If He is truly Lord of our lives, then we must allow Him to rule because we trust that Father knows best.

Without a reverential fear of God, we will not fear to follow Him in the correct way. It is wise to fear The Lord. Not to just be scared of Him. That’s not what it’s all about. He is Creator and Maker and He desires to be first and foremost. He is Lord of all or in the end He is not Lord at all to you, because it all comes down to this: He clearly says that not everyone who “calls Him” Lord Lord will enter in, BUT HE who DOES the Will of the Father. Unless we are learning His Will and applying it, then we aren’t pleasing Him. It’s not enough to just know. Without wisdom, we don’t really know what to do.

So, “God I look to You” as the song says: “I won’t be overwhelmed, Give me wisdom, You know just what to do.”

“God, like Solomon I want wisdom to understand what to do but I also want to apply it. I we see that he didn’t always do this and stuff got in the way and became god and more important to him than you. Wisdom must be applied. Father, God, forgive me for anything that I have let stand in the way between me and You. Your Word tells me to seek FIRST Your kingdom and Your righteousness, and then all these things will be added into me. Not before, but after. I must truly seek YOU first and whole heartedly.”

You’re NOT a man that You should lie and You’re not man at all! You are God and God of your promise. There is no other God besides You and there must not be any other god in my life or the god of self. For You alone are God! You gave Solomon what he did ask for and what he did not ask for. You gave him BOTH wealth and honor and it was his. Because this is not what he desired more than You!!! That’s the importance of where our heart is and what is our first love and desire. He didn’t always use wisely what you gave but in the end realized anything we give our hearts to other than you cannot save or suffice or please us. Only You.

Read Revelations 2.

You went on to make a covenant with him after he asked for wisdom and told him IF HE would walk in Your ways, keeping Your statues and commandments as his father did, THEN you would lengthen his days also! He didn’t ask for any of this and yet You delighted to give it all. Your Word also says that if a father knows how to give good gifts to his children being wicked, how much more shall You not give to THOSE WHO ASK YOU! We must ask! We are your children. We aren’t worthy but You are and You see fit! Oh how you love us! The Father delights to do good for His children.

“Father God, I know that you are my Father and that you are my God. You are my provider, my portion and my inheritance. You own it all. You know what I need before I ask, but You desire for me to ask. I truly believe that You desire to give me the desires of my heart as long as my heart pleases You. I understand that my heart must be set on You and You must be first place and nothing else will have room to rule. Your Word tells me clearly that if I keep your commandments that the blessing shall follow me. You’ve already gone before me and done Your part, but you desire for me to ask and take part in the inheritance You gave. I don’t have to chase it. You desire communion and relationship with me. You want me to obey You, not because You are a harsh Father but because You are a good good Father and want to protect me. But Your Word says “If you” and so I must follow You. I must seek You. I must ask.

Trust in The Lord with all your heart and do not lean onto your understanding whatever you do and in all of your ways, DO acknowledge Him (first) and (then) HE WILL direct your paths…..

Lord, I’m learning to both trust and lean into You and into the promises of God.

Solomon did not stop there at asking and receiving. God made a covenant with him. He also offered back up an offering to him, and we must offer our lives with an altar of worship and thanksgiving, and praise! To be the living testimonies that God called us to be in Jesus mighty name: it’s only by the power that He gives to save and the power that lives within me. I am what I am because of Him and I am nothing without Him, in Jesus Mighty name, amen. The covenant of peace with God.

Songs to meditate on:

“God I Look To You” by Bethel Music

“God Really Loves Us” by Crowder and Dante Bowe

“More” by Red Rocks Worship