The Meaning Of Life

https://biblehub.com/nkjv/1_kings/3.htm

If you could have anything you wished for, what would it be? Money? A new car? A new house? Jewelry or new clothes?

God came to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted…anything, and God would give it. And Solomon asked for wisdom. Wisdom. Was wisdom on your list?

There’s the age-old story of the genie in a bottle that comes out and grants you three wishes, then there is always a punch line when people aren’t specific with their wishes. For example, one guy wished for a new yacht, and there it was, a beautiful big toy yacht. Myself, I always thought I would ask for two things, then the third wish would be for three more wishes. But Solomon could have anything he wanted, and he wished for wisdom. And God granted it, and Solomon has since been known as the wisest man in the Bible, even writing the Book of Proverbs, many of which are used in conversation today (and some just repeating what they’ve heard, not even realizing it came out of the Good Book!

And Solomon was definitely wise. You then read the story about the two mothers, both sleeping with their infants, and one woke up to find her baby dead, so she stole the baby of the other mother. And when they came to Solomon for judgment, he ordered the baby to be cut in half with a sword so each mother could have half. Obviously, the real mother would not want her baby to die, and she would rather give it up than see it cut in half while the other mother wouldn’t care. And Solomon used this to determine who the real mother was.

The only thing that I question in this chapter is that it says Solomon made a pact with the Pharoah of Egypt, then took one of his daughters to be his wife. At one time, the Bible says that one of God’s commands was to not marry outside of the tribe; in fact Isaac was so adamant that Jacob not marry outside the tribe that he sent a messenger back to his relatives to find a wife for Jacob. And here we see Solomon took a wife from Egypt. And there is no mention of it being a sin, or displeasing the Lord. That said, I didn’t keep track of David’s wives, and who and who wasn’t from the same tribe as David. Regardless, David and Solomon were both mortal men and as such, were sinners. Solomon wasn’t perfect.

And as we see in 2nd Chronicle 1, the first part of the book is the same account of Solomon asking for wisdom as what we read in 1 Kings 3.

Psalm 45, we know, was written by the Sons of Korah, but we do not know specifically why. There is talk about the King and about love, so perhaps it was written to commemorate Solomons marriage to the princess of Egypt.

So, what would you ask for if God granted your wish? Has it changed after reading these chapters? I for one, always ask for wisdom before my Bible Studies, because I’m definitely not a smart man, and so many of the stories in the Bible are just that, and it is hard for me to see the real message God wants me to receive. Don’t get me wrong, the message isn’t hidden, it’s not a game of hide and seek with God, it’s just my lack of understanding that’s the problem. So I always pray that God opens my heart and mind, and that he gives me the wisdom or capability to discern the truth.

Happy Sabbath to all.