Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.879 --> 00:00:07.309
Few remain standing. Let's turn to
second chronicles, Chapter One, and we
2
00:00:07.469 --> 00:00:23.420
will hear God's words to night.
Second Chronicles, Chapter One, Solomon,
3
00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:28.059
the son of David, established himself
in his kingdom, and the Lord,
4
00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:32.899
his God, was with him and
made him exceedingly great. Solomon spoke to
5
00:00:33.060 --> 00:00:38.009
all Israel, to the commanders of
thousands and of hundreds, to the judges
6
00:00:38.130 --> 00:00:42.450
and to all the leaders in all
Israel, the heads of father's houses,
7
00:00:43.570 --> 00:00:48.090
and Solomon and all the assembly with
him, went to the high place that
8
00:00:48.210 --> 00:00:52.600
was in Gibeon, for the tent
of the meeting of God, which Moses,
9
00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:56.560
The Servant of the Lord, had
made in the wilderness was there.
10
00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:02.359
But David had brought the Ark Up, brought up the Ark of God from
11
00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:06.870
Kiriof Jereim to the place that David
had prepared for it, for he had
12
00:01:06.950 --> 00:01:11.750
pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezzleel,
13
00:01:11.870 --> 00:01:15.430
the son of Uri, son of
her had made was there before the
14
00:01:15.549 --> 00:01:19.900
Tabernacle of the Lord, and Solomon
and the assembly sought it out, and
15
00:01:21.099 --> 00:01:25.299
Solomon went up there to the bronze
altar before the Lord, which was at
16
00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:30.700
the tent of meeting and offered a
thousand and burnt offerings on it. Verse
17
00:01:30.819 --> 00:01:36.049
Seven. In that night, God
appeared to Solomon and said to him,
18
00:01:37.129 --> 00:01:41.810
ask what I shall give you,
and Solomon said to God, you have
19
00:01:41.969 --> 00:01:46.409
shown great and steadfast love to David
my father, and I made me king
20
00:01:46.530 --> 00:01:49.920
in his place. Oh Lord God, Let your Word to David my father
21
00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:56.280
be now fulfilled, for you have
made me king over a people as numerous
22
00:01:56.319 --> 00:02:00.719
as the dust of the earth.
Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go
23
00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.150
out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of
24
00:02:05.230 --> 00:02:10.550
yours, which is so great?
God answered Solomon, because this was in
25
00:02:10.669 --> 00:02:17.219
your heart, and you have not
asked possessions, wealth, honor or the
26
00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:22.139
life of those who hate you,
and have not even asked long life,
27
00:02:22.819 --> 00:02:25.419
but have asked wisdom and knowledge for
yourself that you may govern my people,
28
00:02:25.659 --> 00:02:30.210
over whom I have made you king. Wisdom and knowledge are granted to you.
29
00:02:31.289 --> 00:02:36.009
I will also give you riches,
possessions and honor, such as none
30
00:02:36.050 --> 00:02:39.169
of the Kings had, but who
were before you and none after you shall
31
00:02:39.250 --> 00:02:45.199
have the like. So Solomon came
from the high place of Gibbeon, from
32
00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:51.319
before the tent of the meeting to
Jerusalem and he reigned over Israel. Solomon
33
00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:57.840
gathered together chariots and horsemen. He
had fourteen hundred chariots twelvezero horsemen whom he
34
00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:01.909
stationed in the chariot cities and with
the king in Jerusalem. And the king
35
00:03:02.069 --> 00:03:07.870
made silver and gold as common in
Jerusalem as stone, and he made Cedar
36
00:03:07.949 --> 00:03:14.419
as plentiful as the Sycamore in the
SHEPPELA. And Solomon's import of horses was
37
00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:17.620
from Egypt and coup, and the
king's traitors would buy them from coup or
38
00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:23.180
a price. They imported a chariot
from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver
39
00:03:23.740 --> 00:03:27.770
and a horse for a hundred and
fifty. Likewise through them. These were
40
00:03:27.810 --> 00:03:32.810
exported to all the kings of the
Hittites and the Kings of Syria. You
41
00:03:32.889 --> 00:03:52.199
may be seated. Well, as
we come to this second half of chronicles,
42
00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:57.870
or second chronicles is it is called, we come to something more of
43
00:03:57.909 --> 00:04:04.110
a speedier tail and we read in
first chronicles the account of mostly of two
44
00:04:04.229 --> 00:04:10.699
kings, after the genealogies at the
beginning of first chronicles. First we read
45
00:04:10.740 --> 00:04:14.780
of Solomon, or I'm sorry,
Saul, a rather quick story, and
46
00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:17.860
then the rest of the chapters.
For the most part, we're devoted to
47
00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:25.050
David has ascension to power and his
reign. And second chronicles. We're going
48
00:04:25.129 --> 00:04:30.089
to move through about four hundred years
of history there. It's full of these
49
00:04:30.569 --> 00:04:35.329
many biographies, the King after King, after King after King, and over
50
00:04:35.449 --> 00:04:40.759
this over this period of time,
over these four hundred years, through these
51
00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:47.279
little king biographies, we come to
learn several things. First, we have
52
00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:53.470
a lot of examples good kings and
bad kings. We see what it is
53
00:04:53.750 --> 00:04:57.990
to rule in God's name and to
rule well, what it is to rule
54
00:04:58.189 --> 00:05:02.870
poorly and against God and the things
that he desires. We also come to
55
00:05:02.910 --> 00:05:11.180
see how the history of Israel develops
through these accounts of these kings. And
56
00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:15.579
in all of this we see God's
promises being fulfilled. The beginning of that
57
00:05:15.939 --> 00:05:21.930
testimony, Solomon himself says, remember
how he begins his prayer in Verse Eight.
58
00:05:23.170 --> 00:05:26.689
You have shown great and steadfast love
to David, my father, and
59
00:05:26.730 --> 00:05:30.250
have made me king in his place. The fact that Solomon is king is
60
00:05:30.329 --> 00:05:35.680
no accident. God told him Solomon
would be king. God promised things to
61
00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:41.920
Solomon. He's fulfilling that promise and
we'll see how God continues to work through
62
00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:47.800
these people well as we do.
So what will have is this rather indepth
63
00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:53.949
study on the Kingship of Christ.
In all these various ways in which these
64
00:05:53.990 --> 00:05:58.110
kings act and fail to act,
will see how our will see, in
65
00:05:58.230 --> 00:06:03.189
comparison to our Lord, how he
was much better than even the best and
66
00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:10.259
how he saves us from the worst. Well him to come to understand King
67
00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:15.420
Jesus in his glory, in his
power, in his wisdom, in his
68
00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:21.569
might. And so we begin with
Solomon and in this chapter, in this
69
00:06:21.970 --> 00:06:28.649
beginning account of Solomon's reign, we
get this, essentially this big idea about
70
00:06:28.889 --> 00:06:34.519
godliness. And it's this that Godly
people seek wisdom. God people, Godly
71
00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:40.439
people, seek wisdom first in their
service to God, because they understand how
72
00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:46.399
important their call is and they also
understand the limits of their own minds and
73
00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:50.790
hearts, understanding the call that God
has placed on our lives, understanding the
74
00:06:50.990 --> 00:06:56.990
limits and our ability to fulfill that
call. A Christian is one who will
75
00:06:57.750 --> 00:07:01.220
recognize that, not fight against it, but recognize it and go to God
76
00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:08.899
and seek wisdom, even as Solomon
did. So let's think about Solomon's example
77
00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:14.620
and how other chronicler puts it here
and has US understand Solomon in his reign.
78
00:07:15.129 --> 00:07:21.769
Solomon, we see, did very
well. His reign is summarized here
79
00:07:21.889 --> 00:07:26.290
and then in the following chapters it's
going to focus in in particular on his
80
00:07:26.370 --> 00:07:30.040
work on the temple. But what
do we see here? First, we
81
00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:35.079
see that Solomon is obedient. He
worships. You notice at the tent of
82
00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:41.279
meeting which Moses sets up. At
this particular time in history, there's really
83
00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:46.069
only two places you could worship a
Gibbeon, where he mentions, or in
84
00:07:46.149 --> 00:07:49.829
Jerusalem where David had brought the ARC. Eventually that will all shift over to
85
00:07:49.870 --> 00:07:55.069
Jerusalem, but at this particular time
the altar was in Gibbeon, and so
86
00:07:55.189 --> 00:08:01.180
that's where Solomon goes and he offers
a thousand burnt offerings on it. Now.
87
00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:05.939
Second, chronicles doesn't highlight the failures
of Solomon, as some of the
88
00:08:07.019 --> 00:08:13.649
other historical books do. We don't
read about how Solomon failed to keep the
89
00:08:13.689 --> 00:08:18.490
high places, other centers of worship, from being set up because the Lord
90
00:08:18.529 --> 00:08:24.370
had only commanded worship in his particular
and chosen place. But here we see
91
00:08:24.449 --> 00:08:30.279
Solomon doing what he should do,
worshiping God where he had called worship,
92
00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:35.679
worshiping God in the way that he
had called it. We also see that
93
00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:43.990
Solomon understands something about his task.
Solomon is a King Who has vision,
94
00:08:43.190 --> 00:08:48.909
we might say, in leadership terms
today. He knows what he is called
95
00:08:48.029 --> 00:08:52.789
to do. You hear it in
his prayer, he says, for you
96
00:08:52.870 --> 00:08:56.700
have made me king over a people
as numerous as the dust of the earth.
97
00:08:56.779 --> 00:09:01.220
He understands who he is and how
he got that power. And then
98
00:09:01.299 --> 00:09:05.659
in his request in verse ten,
we see what he asks for and why.
99
00:09:07.899 --> 00:09:11.490
He asks give me now wisdom and
knowledge to go out and come in
100
00:09:11.610 --> 00:09:16.809
before this people, for who can
govern this people of yours, which is
101
00:09:16.970 --> 00:09:22.570
so great? Solomon understands that he
is to govern, he is to rule
102
00:09:22.690 --> 00:09:28.600
and he is to rule in wisdom
and fair of fairness. He's to take
103
00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:33.879
God's law that has been given to
his people and apply it in particular ways
104
00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:39.629
and all the complicated situations that come
up in life. And he he knows
105
00:09:39.750 --> 00:09:43.789
that, he understands what he is
supposed to do. He understands that people
106
00:09:43.789 --> 00:09:48.669
are depending on him and that the
loving thing to do in service to them
107
00:09:48.870 --> 00:09:56.539
is to govern, and govern well. This might seem kind of obvious,
108
00:09:56.139 --> 00:10:01.340
isn't this, of course, what
King is supposed to do? Perhaps you
109
00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:03.019
can feel the weight of it a
little more if you compare it to what
110
00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:09.289
many kings have done. Instead,
not every king recognizes that he is called
111
00:10:09.330 --> 00:10:15.929
to serve his people, to rule
them and govern them and justice and fairness
112
00:10:16.529 --> 00:10:22.759
according to a moral lawn, and
even under the authority of God. Now,
113
00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:24.879
many kings throughout history and even,
as we'll see, some of Israels
114
00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:31.120
and kings, think that kingship is
really all about them. They set up
115
00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:35.710
their kingdoms as if there are these
kind of autonomous realms in which they rule
116
00:10:35.909 --> 00:10:39.509
and can do whatever they want.
They don't seek obedience and service to God
117
00:10:39.750 --> 00:10:46.509
and service to his kingdom. They
seek wealth, riches, honor, glory,
118
00:10:46.750 --> 00:10:50.299
Long Life and pretty much at whatever
cost. It is not so with
119
00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:56.820
Solomon. Solomon, is his father
before him, sees his rule as one
120
00:10:56.940 --> 00:11:01.860
that's conducted in service to God.
God is the one who made him king.
121
00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:05.289
God is the one who made the
people as numerous as they are.
122
00:11:07.090 --> 00:11:11.210
It is God who can give wisdom, and so it is to God that
123
00:11:11.409 --> 00:11:18.490
Solomon Goes. This is a good
example to follow. Each of us in
124
00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:22.039
our lives are kind of like little
kings. Now, you and I might
125
00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:28.360
be very, very little kings.
Most of us don't have people under us
126
00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:31.919
as numerous as the dust of the
sea, which we are called to govern
127
00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:35.309
and control, and most of us
would praise God for that. That is
128
00:11:35.350 --> 00:11:41.470
a very hard task, but it's
true that if we think about our lives,
129
00:11:41.509 --> 00:11:46.389
even those of you who are kind
of young, you'll think that there
130
00:11:46.429 --> 00:11:50.299
are certain things that you are in
charge of, responsibilities that you have,
131
00:11:52.100 --> 00:11:58.379
gifts that God has given you to
use and to use in service to him.
132
00:11:58.820 --> 00:12:03.529
Each of us are citizens, after
all, of the Kingdom of God,
133
00:12:03.850 --> 00:12:07.370
just as Solomon was a citizen of
that kingdom, and each of us,
134
00:12:07.450 --> 00:12:11.529
in our own particular little realms,
as small as they may be,
135
00:12:11.570 --> 00:12:16.399
are nevertheless ours. There are as
to care for. The gifts that we
136
00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:20.000
have, big get been given are
the gifts that we are called to be
137
00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:26.120
stewards of. So, whether you
find that you are in charge of just
138
00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:31.389
a few chores at home and maybe
a few animals, or maybe you run
139
00:12:31.590 --> 00:12:35.350
a big corporation and have many people
under you, or maybe you're a political
140
00:12:35.429 --> 00:12:41.509
ruler, or all kinds of things, we are all called to consider these
141
00:12:41.710 --> 00:12:48.100
callings and to act in accordance with
God's will. We have people who depend
142
00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:52.980
on us. We are called to
serve God as he has given to us,
143
00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:56.299
and so Solomon is a very good
example of how we are to act.
144
00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:03.889
Solomon was a man like we are. He understand he and he understood
145
00:13:03.929 --> 00:13:07.009
this and he acted well. You
see this in his obedience and in the
146
00:13:07.090 --> 00:13:11.529
worship that he offers, and you
see this in the des is are he
147
00:13:11.649 --> 00:13:16.840
has for future obedience in his prayer. Solomon obeys when he goes and he
148
00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:20.840
worships in the way that he does, but he understands that there are difficult
149
00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:31.909
tasks ahead of him, complicated situations
which will require as king wisdom, and
150
00:13:31.070 --> 00:13:37.990
so that's what he prays for.
In praying for these things, Solomon does
151
00:13:39.110 --> 00:13:46.179
something else that we should pay attention
to. He recognized his limits. The
152
00:13:46.299 --> 00:13:48.899
proverb say it, and it's true, that the wiser always seem to be
153
00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:54.620
the ones who get wiser. You
notice that in life that it's to the
154
00:13:54.730 --> 00:14:00.210
wise that wisdom is added, and
you see that here in examp Solomon's example.
155
00:14:00.289 --> 00:14:03.769
Even as he's on his knees praying
for wisdom, he seems to have
156
00:14:03.850 --> 00:14:09.480
enough wisdom to ask for that very
thing right. He recognizes his limits,
157
00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:16.960
he recognizes his needs. It's the
fool king who doesn't do this right.
158
00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:20.840
It's the foolish person who says I
can do whatever I want, I have
159
00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:26.190
all resources at my command, I
I do as I choose, I pick
160
00:14:26.350 --> 00:14:35.389
my own ways. Wisdom is the
careful, skillful application of God's Law to
161
00:14:35.549 --> 00:14:39.899
our lives. It's navigating all of
the challenges that we have in this world
162
00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:45.659
in a skin skillful way. But
there's all kinds of things that get in
163
00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:48.899
the way. These are the things
that Solomon recognized. They are the things
164
00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:52.129
that get in your way, the
things that get in my way, things
165
00:14:52.250 --> 00:14:58.049
like sin, for example, our
own sins, our own blindness. We
166
00:14:58.370 --> 00:15:03.210
go after a good thing, but
then all of a sudden we find temptations
167
00:15:03.370 --> 00:15:07.679
in US desiring an evil thing and
it keeps us from the thing, the
168
00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:13.320
good things that we want. Sin
Gets in the way. Another thing that
169
00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:16.480
gets in the way of wisdom is
ignorance, simply not knowing the right thing
170
00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:20.279
to do, not not doing the
right thing because you don't know it.
171
00:15:22.149 --> 00:15:26.429
Maybe it's because of youthfulness, maybe
it's because of not paying attention, but
172
00:15:26.549 --> 00:15:31.669
either way, ignorance is a problem. Solomon knows that. You remember what
173
00:15:31.750 --> 00:15:35.139
David said to the rulers and the
leaders. He says he's young, is
174
00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:39.820
he's a he's a he's inexperienced.
That's what David says about his son.
175
00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:45.259
And Solomon doesn't say Gee, Dad, what are you talking about? I
176
00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:50.450
know what I'm doing. No,
he says, Lord, please give me
177
00:15:50.649 --> 00:15:56.169
wisdom and knowledge. He recognizes his
ignorance. In addition to sin and ignorance,
178
00:15:56.210 --> 00:16:02.649
of course, lack of skill,
ability practice. If Solomon is young
179
00:16:02.730 --> 00:16:07.360
and inexperience, he knows that wisdom
takes time. Now, of course,
180
00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:11.399
God gives him this wisdom, and
it seems like he gave a great deal
181
00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:15.200
of it all at once to Solomon. But, as we learn in the
182
00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:19.710
proverbs, wisdom is not something that's
simply dumped on you and then you have
183
00:16:19.990 --> 00:16:26.110
it. It's something that's learned through
practice and skill and seeking and paying attention
184
00:16:26.350 --> 00:16:33.779
and observing, and this Solomon did. As I said when I started here,
185
00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:37.860
the wise often seemed to be the
ones who get wiser. It's a
186
00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:41.860
thing to pray for, it's a
thing to seek after, and Solomn in
187
00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:47.019
seeking this, in this great example
that we have before us, we should
188
00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:51.649
follow it. God's word calls us
to it. It says to seek wisdom
189
00:16:51.690 --> 00:16:56.690
even more than we would seek gold
or silver, more than wealth or honor.
190
00:16:56.169 --> 00:17:03.559
It is priceless, and Solomon understood
that. He could have been presumptive
191
00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:07.920
upon God's promises. Well, God
said he'd give me the kingdom. So
192
00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:11.880
there I have it. He could
have been prideful and seeking to set his
193
00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:18.190
kingdom up outpart from God, but
instead he humbled himself and went before God
194
00:17:18.470 --> 00:17:25.029
and sought wisdom and knowledge, not
for himself, not so that he could
195
00:17:25.029 --> 00:17:27.910
have a fancy degree on his wall, as if that would mean anything to
196
00:17:29.029 --> 00:17:33.980
anyone. He sought it so that
he could serve. He sought wisdom them
197
00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:38.420
so that he could love, so
that he could take care of the people
198
00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:48.369
that God had given him. There's
one more aspect of Solomon's wisdom in seeking
199
00:17:48.450 --> 00:17:53.410
wisdom that I want to point or
your attention to. Solomon's Godliness in seeking
200
00:17:53.490 --> 00:18:02.079
wisdom wasn't merely recognizing his limits and
seeking wisdom. It was also in seeking
201
00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:08.960
it from God in particular. Many
people, perhaps even all people, have
202
00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:15.670
some sense of these obstacles I mentioned
a moment ago. Have a sense of
203
00:18:15.710 --> 00:18:18.630
their sins, of their ignorance,
of their lack of skill. Now may
204
00:18:18.710 --> 00:18:25.670
not always seem that the fool is
often quite blinded to these things and parades
205
00:18:25.750 --> 00:18:32.420
himself forward as though nothing could possibly
stop him. But I think even fools
206
00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:37.059
from time to time will meet up
against these walls. The problem is they
207
00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:41.410
don't recognize them or admit them as
such. But many people have a sense
208
00:18:41.529 --> 00:18:45.890
of these things, they have a
sense of their sins, their ignorance,
209
00:18:45.009 --> 00:18:52.930
their lack of ability, but they
seek them and all kinds of other places
210
00:18:53.170 --> 00:19:00.720
other than from God. Solomon didn't
do this. He sensed his inabilities,
211
00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:04.519
he sensed his wisdoms and he his
limits and he went to the one who
212
00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:11.029
could provide these things. Solomon didn't
sit in his ignorance and say, well,
213
00:19:11.109 --> 00:19:14.789
I guess this is just the way
it's going to be. Solomon didn't
214
00:19:14.789 --> 00:19:18.109
sit in his ignorance and in his
youthfulness and his lack of skill and say,
215
00:19:18.190 --> 00:19:23.740
well, I guess I'll just try
my best. No, he pursued
216
00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:30.420
it and he started by seeking it
from God. Well, why God?
217
00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:34.099
Well, first of all, God
said, ask what I shall give you.
218
00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:38.609
That's a pretty good start. God
offered to him a gift, and
219
00:19:38.849 --> 00:19:45.130
Solomon said, I will ask this
one. James Five, I hope you
220
00:19:45.250 --> 00:19:49.970
remember, says that if anyone seeks
wisdom, let him ask God. In
221
00:19:51.130 --> 00:19:56.039
case you doubt that, and I
think probably all of us have remember Solomon,
222
00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:00.640
it's kind of simple. He asked
God for wisdom and God gave it
223
00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:06.519
to him. God gives him permission
to ask, and he gives us permission
224
00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:11.069
to ask. On this issue in
particular, he says in James, if
225
00:20:11.150 --> 00:20:17.950
any of you lacks wisdom, ask
for it, seek God and he will
226
00:20:17.950 --> 00:20:25.220
grant these things. He seeks it
from God because God offers it to him.
227
00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:30.779
He's also wise to seek it from
God because, I hope you know,
228
00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:34.809
God is the source of all wisdom. Where else would you go?
229
00:20:37.210 --> 00:20:41.769
Sure, there are wise friends and
good counsel, you can read books and
230
00:20:41.849 --> 00:20:45.529
learn all kinds of things, but
ultimately, where does all that come from?
231
00:20:47.529 --> 00:20:52.160
Where is the source of all knowledge
and all wisdom? It's God.
232
00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:56.119
If you want to understand how you're
the plumbing in your house works well,
233
00:20:56.279 --> 00:21:02.160
probably good idea to talk to a
plumber who maybe even the one who designed
234
00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.829
the system. If you want to
understand the world and how it works,
235
00:21:04.869 --> 00:21:10.029
if you want to understand the Kingdom
of God and how it functions. Do
236
00:21:10.069 --> 00:21:14.069
you think it be a good idea
to go to God, the one who
237
00:21:14.069 --> 00:21:17.589
made it, the one who rules
over at, the one who knows all
238
00:21:17.710 --> 00:21:22.380
things in it? God is wise
himself. He is the source of all
239
00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:27.220
wisdom. He's also the end of
all wisdom. If wisdom is the application
240
00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:36.450
of law towards love and goodness,
towards holiness and all good things, what
241
00:21:36.569 --> 00:21:41.730
are we describing when we say things
like that? We're describing God, in
242
00:21:41.930 --> 00:21:48.519
His Holiness and his wisdom and his
goodness. Our final goal, the end
243
00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:55.200
of wisdom, is to be close
to God, and so it makes sense
244
00:21:55.240 --> 00:22:02.750
that in seeking wisdom, Solomon saw
God. So, as I say,
245
00:22:02.829 --> 00:22:07.230
we can learn a great deal from
all of this. A little foolish man
246
00:22:07.549 --> 00:22:11.829
seeks his own will, seeks his
own wisdom, but a wise man sees
247
00:22:11.910 --> 00:22:18.339
what he does in service to God
and he pursues that wisdom and that service.
248
00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:25.059
By pursuing the all wise God.
He seeks God's blessing and all that
249
00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:30.809
he does, instead of setting up
his own little fiefdom, he serves in
250
00:22:30.049 --> 00:22:36.930
God's instead of trying to be an
autonomous ruler separate from all creatures and all
251
00:22:37.089 --> 00:22:42.170
and and God himself. He sees
himself as a servant, and we should
252
00:22:42.170 --> 00:22:48.519
do that and whatever area of responsibility
and authority we have been given, whatever
253
00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:55.960
calling God has placed on your life, seek God. He's the one who's
254
00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:59.269
called you to it, he's the
one who's granted you these gifts. He
255
00:22:59.950 --> 00:23:03.549
is the one who is all wise
and knows all things, and he is
256
00:23:03.670 --> 00:23:11.109
the one who invites you explicitly to
ask for wisdom, not just so that
257
00:23:11.269 --> 00:23:17.579
you can do a better job,
but so that you can serve him and
258
00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:25.619
draw closer to him in that service. To truly do that, however,
259
00:23:26.170 --> 00:23:33.170
we cannot merely look to Solomon,
but we have to look to Solomon's God.
260
00:23:33.569 --> 00:23:37.890
It's not enough to simply go to
examples, human examples, and say
261
00:23:37.930 --> 00:23:41.759
well, here is a good example
of wisdom, and try to follow that
262
00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:45.880
as best we can. Now we
have to go to the Lord himself,
263
00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:52.440
and even Jesus. To put it
another way, it's not Solomon's wisdom we're
264
00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:57.430
seeking, but it's the wisdom of
Solomon's God. That also means that,
265
00:23:57.589 --> 00:24:02.789
in true humility, we don't just
ask, but we ask in faith that
266
00:24:02.910 --> 00:24:07.910
he will grant these things we can
do that because we are his children,
267
00:24:07.710 --> 00:24:11.900
we are his chosen servants, we
are the ones whom God has called us
268
00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:18.900
to these things. Once we were
enemies of God, once we were rebellious
269
00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:22.259
people, setting up our own kingdoms
in our own particular ways, doing as
270
00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:27.890
we saw fit, but not any
more. As those who have died in
271
00:24:29.009 --> 00:24:34.210
Jesus Christ, having this these particular
sins of pride and presumption, crucified on
272
00:24:34.289 --> 00:24:40.440
the Cross and having been risen with
him, we now belong to God,
273
00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:45.279
not as enemy kings trying to rule
over him, but we belong to him
274
00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:52.559
as servants, as people that are
in his kingdom seeking after his things.
275
00:24:53.349 --> 00:24:57.990
And so when we go to God
and we seek for wisdom, we come
276
00:24:59.190 --> 00:25:03.109
in faith that he has granted these
things to us. We don't have to
277
00:25:03.430 --> 00:25:07.900
demand them from God, we don't
have to shake it out of him,
278
00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:11.099
we don't have to manipulate him.
HMM, maybe if I ask for wisdom,
279
00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:17.980
I can get wealth too. Right. We simply go to him and
280
00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:22.650
ask for what we need. If
you need wealth, ask him for that
281
00:25:22.849 --> 00:25:26.289
too. If you need long life
and honor, ask him for that too.
282
00:25:26.650 --> 00:25:29.730
He's a good God. If that's
what you really need. He'll give
283
00:25:29.769 --> 00:25:36.000
it to you. But in this
life, more than all these other things
284
00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:40.160
which will be granted to us and
be land our wildest dreams, in the
285
00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:45.400
glories and the kingdom to come.
Right now, what we need is wisdom
286
00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:51.750
for moving forward through this life and
service to our king who has died for
287
00:25:51.789 --> 00:25:56.789
us, who has forgiven us,
who has called us into his servants.
288
00:25:56.869 --> 00:26:02.349
And as we ask that, we
know that God will be faithful. He
289
00:26:02.670 --> 00:26:07.059
was faithful to Solomon and his promises
to David. How much more faithful,
290
00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:14.380
to speak in that way, will
he be to Christ? How much more
291
00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:17.700
faithful will the bother be to his
son? As if he could be more
292
00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:22.690
faithful? He's infinitely so. But
when g Jesus comes into the world to
293
00:26:22.809 --> 00:26:29.730
rule and reign as our king,
there's not a single moment where wisdom is
294
00:26:29.970 --> 00:26:36.359
lost or not exercised. There's not
a single aspect of God's kingdom which lacks
295
00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:41.839
wealth in some way. All that
we see in God's blessing on Solomon is
296
00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:48.630
a small thing in comparison to the
father's blessing on his son, our king,
297
00:26:48.069 --> 00:26:55.509
our ruler, Tick Solomon. He
gave great wealth, a thousand four
298
00:26:55.509 --> 00:27:00.980
hundred chariots, twelve thousand horsemen.
We have archeological evidence of some of these
299
00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:08.660
things. I read about a stable
that was excavated at negudo housed about four
300
00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:15.140
hundred horses. That is a big
stable. I think the biggest one I've
301
00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:19.289
ever seen is maybe eight horses,
four hundred. The thing was made out
302
00:27:19.329 --> 00:27:23.450
of stone. SOLOMN has these cities
set up. They're called, what does
303
00:27:23.490 --> 00:27:30.319
he call them? City chariot cities, these particular places that are devoted to
304
00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:36.079
housing his wealth and power. You
remember what he says there, that the
305
00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:45.109
gold and silver were so common they're
like stones. That's amazing. Do you
306
00:27:45.150 --> 00:27:48.710
think the son of God, our
Savior, has anything less than that?
307
00:27:48.630 --> 00:27:52.549
Of course us not, because all
the wealth in the world, and not
308
00:27:52.750 --> 00:27:57.660
just precious stones but even your souls, this is part of his wealth,
309
00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:03.339
it's part of his glory, part
of his honor. These are the things
310
00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:07.980
that the sun has, and so
when we go to the sun, when
311
00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:11.259
we go to him, we don't
just go to a human king and say,
312
00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:17.170
Jesus, I'd like you to help
me resolve this case. We go
313
00:28:17.369 --> 00:28:22.809
to our king and our God,
who is the all wise God and who
314
00:28:22.890 --> 00:28:27.680
promises to give us wisdom for this
life that we might live it in service
315
00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:34.319
to him. And you know,
when we don't, he's also faithful to
316
00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:41.589
forgive us. He not only provides
us the wisdom we lack, but he
317
00:28:41.789 --> 00:28:47.150
forgives us for when we lack it. In all this, we find that
318
00:28:47.230 --> 00:28:52.630
we have a great God and a
great king in Jesus, and so let
319
00:28:52.630 --> 00:28:57.980
us serve him as such. Let
us go into our world and whatever positions
320
00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:03.140
that we have been given and do
as Solomon did, to go to God
321
00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:06.900
in faith, to seek the things
that he has and the things that he
322
00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:11.529
desires to give us, so that
he might be pleased and others might be
323
00:29:11.690 --> 00:29:15.410
served in love. Let us pray
