Growing Up As Solomon

1 Kings 3 & 4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 72

1 Kings 2:46 and 2 Chron 1:1 “The kingdom was now firmly established in Solomon’s hands and the LORD was with him and made him exceedingly great.”

Solomon took care of what needed taking care of.  He tied up the pollical loose ends of David’s reign.  He avenged the wrongs and betrayals and reaffirmed trusted alliances.    And he married an Egyptian princess.  

Solomon is only about 20 years old when he becomes king of Israel.  Really just a rookie and he knows this.  

And you have to wonder a little about him.   He grew up in a household full of brothers and eventually a very volatile political climate, created by brothers who conspired to overthrow their own father. Running, conspiracy, blood, guts, and murder.

I wonder if Solomon had a better circle of friends than Amnon, or Absolom, or Adonijah.  Maybe he grew up with a Jonathan beside him. 

Solomon recognized David’s faithfulness and his righteous upright heart. (1 Kings 3:6) He saw God’s kindness to David.  He recognized this mutual relationship between a man and his God and how important it was.  And he desired this pattern for his own.  The life-pattern of this singer-of-songs, dancer-before- the-ark. 

This rookie, admitted he was a little child when it came to governing a nation.  He went up to Gibeon, to the high place to bring offerings.  To seek the LORD, who appeared to him in a dream, and told him to “ask for whatever you want me to give to you.: (1 Kings 3:5)

He responds with “Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.  So, give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.  For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 King 3:8 & 9)

1 Kings 3:10 “The LORD was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.  11Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do whatever you have asked.  I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover I will give you what you not asked for- both riches and honor- so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you long life. “

He did have a long life.  He was blessed with exceedingly great wisdom. And he was a decent ruler.  And there was peace and people loved him. 1 Kings 4:25 “During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheeba, lived in safety, each man under his own fig tree.

That’s such a great expression – “each man under his own fig tree”. 

It paints such a content picture. 

Of life that leaves enough

time to linger long in the shade of one’s tree. 

Of enough for each man to have his OWN tree.

Plenty and abundance.

Milk and honey and figs. 

And Psalm 72.  Of Solomon.

Do you love the blessing words here?  

Of the reign of a good king?

Ps 72:6 “He will be like rain falling on a mown field,

Like showers watering the earth.

7 In his days the righteous will flourish;

Prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.

8 He will rule from sea to sea

16 Let grain abound throughout the land;

On the tops of the hills may it sway.

Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;

Let it thrive like the grass of the field.

17May is name endure forever;

May it continue as long as the sun. “

Flourish, sway, thrive, abound.

How plentiful and abundant.

God’s promise of provision

And the milk and the honey gushes.

This people has come such a long, long way.