The Lord Appeared to Solomon

Solomon was a newly anointed King who recognized his inexperience and his shortcomings. At the same time, Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statues of his father David, except that he burned incense at the high places. (I Kings 3:3 NKJV)

This is one of those amazing verses. God’s law specifically told the Israelites they should not worship at the high places. The high places were remnants of pagan worship that had not been totally removed from the land. And yet, the next verses tell us, Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was great high place . . . At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon. . . . (vs. 4a,5a)

Why would God appear to Solomon at a high place? Why would God be pleased with the young king's request at the high place? Why would God give the young king not only wisdom to overcome inexperience and shortcomings—but material blessings as well? How could that be?

Perhaps it had something to do with the history of Gibeon. At one time the Ark of the Covenant had rested there. Perhaps people worshipped at Gibeon because it was a historic place. Although not the place of God's Presence, it served as a reminder of God's Presence.

But there is another reason. God is more concerned with attitude than form. Solomon loved God and God meets people who have sincere hearts—even if some things are out-of-order. Love for God overrules technical problems.

It is good to get the form right. We could suggest that if Solomon had known better when he was young, he might not have succumbed to the many problems that plagued him later. But God is sovereign. And He responds to humble hearts.

Originally published August 28, 1992.

Wisdom from Above

Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom are not the same. Worldly wisdom is based on self-promotion. People controlled by desire for worldly status or wisdom will try to promote themselves. They cannot be trusted because their motives are warped—and they will use their influence for personal gain. They eventually cause problems, For where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (Jas. 3:16 KJV)

James warned against worldly wisdom when he said, This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (v. 15)

Godly wisdom, on the other hand, is characterized by meekness. James has something to say about it, too: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (v. 17,18)

Lord, help us desire godly wisdom.

Originally published November 28, 1986.
Picture: Viewed from the street, Winona, MN, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Search God's Word

It’s dangerous to build a belief system or doctrine on a single portion of Scripture. Unless we draw from the multi-faceted wisdom of our Bible, we become hard or narrow in our response to life.

For example, on one occasion Jesus supported an open confrontation. He said to His disciples, If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault. . . . (Mt. 18:15a NIV) His teaching was based on Leviticus 19:17, and it applied to settling disputes quietly and peacefully with another believer. Involving others was necessary only if agreement wasn’t reached.

Other Old Testament Scriptures seem to contradict that approach. For example, Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. (Prov. 9:7,8)

There are no pat answers to relationship problems; each circumstance requires individual attention and wisdom. We need to search God’s Word for direction—we need to search our hearts to determine our own error—and we need to be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Originally published September 13, 1985.
Picture: Potted garden plants, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

A New Attitude

By the time the Israelites reached Canaan and prepared to enter the promised land, it was abundantly clear that God did not choose them because they were wonderful people. In fact, God told Moses to tell the Israelites, you are a stiff-necked people. (Ex. 33:5b NKJV)

Moses repeated the phrase again when he gave his farewell to the Israelites: understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. (Deut. 9:6)

Stiff-necked means obstinate—unwilling to receive correction. The Israelites qualified because there were many times when they resisted God—refused to receive His Word. Nevertheless, they were God’s people.

There is a remedy for us when we are stiff-necked. We can ask God to give us wisdom. Wisdom includes bowing our necks before God, it moves us away from being rigid to being pliable. Wisdom brings us into a new attitude.

We will never be happy if we are stiff-necked, but Proverbs tells us, Happy is the man who finds wisdom. (Prov. 3:13a)

Originally published April 11, 1986.
Picture: Viewed from the street, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig

And Moses Listened

Moses communicated directly with God, and God told him to do amazing things. When he did, miracles happened. It would be enough to make a person proud. But the Bible tells us, Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the face of the earth. (Num. 12:3 NKJV)

Moses demonstrated this humble nature more than once. When his father-in-law Jethro came to hear everything that God had done for Moses and the Israelites, Jethro was more than a little impressed. He concluded the God of Israel was the God above all gods.

Nevertheless, the next day Jethro offered advice to Moses after seeing the long line of people waiting for Moses to settle their disputes. He said, you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. (Ex. 18:18)

Moses listened. He didn't think God spoke only to him, and he willingly received from another person. Without a trace of pride he incorporated his father-in-law’s advice by choosing men to help him with the task.

Originally published September 4, 1992.

Markedly Different

True wisdom is rare. For examples, look at politics and science. Many political solutions create new problems. And science, although it offers advances through technology, often causes unforeseen residual effects. And so, while politicians and scientists keep busy, detached intellectuals view our dilemma with little hope.

Against this backdrop, listen to Scripture’s view of man’s attempt at wisdom: Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (I Cor. 1:20 NKJV)

This doesn’t mean God opposes critical thinking or pursuing knowledge. The more we know about creation, the more we appreciate our Creator. And God specifically tells us to pray for political leaders.

Nevertheless, God’s wisdom is markedly different from man’s wisdom. God’s wisdom focuses on the person of Jesus. It creates new lifestyles in those who turn to Him. And that’s godly wisdom.

Originally published April 27, 1990.

Where Is the Wise?

‘Tis the season for graduations.

When people graduate, they receive diplomas or degrees that indicate they’ve acquired a measure of knowledge or wisdom. Knowledge and wisdom are certainly useful. We encourage young and old to seek them. And when people graduate, we applaud their achievement.

The Bible instructs people to study and to seek both knowledge and wisdom. Various leaders throughout the Bible emphasized learning. Moses knew how to read and write, Samuel started a school, David’s court was a learned court. Jewish children during Jesus’ time studied in the synagogues.

But the wisdom of Scripture is not necessarily the same as the wisdom of a society or culture. They might agree, but not always. Sometimes they even oppose each other and sometimes Christians must choose between them. Paul said, Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (I Cor. 1:20 NKJV)

Paul was an educated man himself. His writings are respected by Christians and non-Christians alike. Yet he espoused something greater than wisdom as it is normally understood. He desired the wisdom of God.

Originally published May 29, 1992.
Picture: Apple blossoms, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

A Spiritual Goad

Ecclesiastes tells us, The words of the wise are like goads. . . . (Ecc. 12:11a NKJV)

Goads are sharp pointed sticks used to drive oxen. They look similar to javelins. So here Scripture compares words spoke by wise leaders to sharp or pointed instruments that push willful but slow-witted creatures in the right direction. When we extend the analogy, we realize we’re the slow-witted creatures! Oxen, to be specific!

Who can be excited about an analogy that compares people to oxen. However, if we recognize God as the source of truth, then wisdom makes sense. God’s Word does serve as a goad—and it does, on many occasions, reveal our sin. It jabs against our willful opinions and desires. It performs spiritual surgery by supernaturally identifying and removing offense.

Perhaps we’re not so different from oxen after all.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the division of soul and spirit. . . . (Heb. 4:12a) This kind of penetration can cause pain. Wisdom might even cause a measure of suffering. But wisdom brings us to God.

Originally published June 12, 1987.

Inner Growth

In one of Jesus' parables He says, “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Mt. 13:33 NIV)

Jesus had no doubt seen His mother work with yeast many times. Along with flour, olive oil, and water or milk, she would have added yeast to bread dough, working it in with the other ingredients. Then the dough was stretched thin, left to rise, and baked in outdoor ovens.

Yeast are tiny living plants that grow and multiply when the right environment is provided for them. Then they cause dough to expand or rise when they grow and multiply. That creates the rising process.

God’s Kingdom is also alive. When it’s worked into a person’s life, spiritual truth is revealed and inner growth occurs naturally. Paul wrote about this in his letter to the Colossians when he expressed his desire for them to experience inner growth, that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 2:2b,3 NIV)

Originally published June 17, 1983.
Picture: Loaf of Bread, 2008. Photo by Solveig.