Thursday, January 9, 2020
Wisdom 9: Solomon’s Prayer
![SolomonsPrayer[1]](https://thenoontimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/solomonsprayer1.jpg?w=300&h=134)
Solomon is a well-known figure in scripture. At a fairly young age he is given a unified kingdom by his father, David. When asked what he wishes to have in this world he asks for Wisdom. We are told that he receives this and more . . . all the wealth, power and status he had not asked for. He seems destined for greatness and so he is.
Rulers from all parts journey to visit him, to see the beautiful palace and temple he builds, and to experience at close range how this singular king loves and is loved by his singular God. Even the remarkable Queen of Sheba requests and is granted a special visit. Later in his story, we are told that he loved many foreign women and married several. It is likely that in this way he meant to secure alliances with potential enemies; yet these enemies defeat him in a quiet and insidious way. The writer of 1 Kings tells us: When Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to strange gods, and his heart was not entirely with the Lord, his God, as the heart of his father David had been. (1 Kings 11:4) After this, the kingdom comes tumbling down.
Today we spend time with Solomon’s Prayer which can also read in 1 Kings 8 and we speculate what it was that drew him away from God into the world. We picture what lured him to foreign gods and extravagant women. We can imagine what and who convinced him that authority and influence were more important than fidelity to Yahweh. When we reflect on Solomon’s Prayer, we might want to make it our own and pray it often . . . resisting the lure of self-deceit and warding off the siren song of the material world. And so we pray to the God of Solomon, the Living God.
Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your throne . . . For alone I cannot manage my days and nights sensibly.
Reject me not from among your children . . . I will make mistakes and I know that you will pardon me.
You have bid me build a temple on your holy mountain, an altar in the city that is your dwelling place, a copy of the holy tabernacle you had established of old . . . I will do my best to act as you ask, to answer as you call, to praise as you create.
Send forth Wisdom from your holy heavens that she may be with me and work with me . . . I really cannot do this without your voice in my ear.
For who knows God’s counsel, who can conceive what the Lord intends? I cannot conceive of that you see, all that you know, all that you do. I only understand that your are goodness and therefore do only good.
Thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and we learned what was your pleasure, and were saved by Wisdom. So abide with me that you might bring goodness out of any action I take may harm another. Remain with me that I might remain in you. Love me always that I might always love others.
Amen.
A re-post from January 9, 2013.
Read more about Solomon in 1 Kings and in 1 Chronicles. www.Biblegateway.com
To read more about Solomon’s Prayer, click on the image above or go to: http://www.hedua.com/blog/solomons-prayer/
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