1 Kings 3:12

AN UNSPEAKABLE GIFT

‘Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart.’

1 Kings 3:12

As He is wont, God gave Solomon more than he asked. There is a difference between the favour that was sought and the boon which was granted. ‘The heart’ is the affections; ‘the understanding’ is the intelligent knowledge of any subject; ‘wisdom’ is the sensible and right use both of the knowledge and the affections.

I. Wisdom is the only thing of which God has said that He gives it liberally and never upbraids.—No man need be afraid to ask for wisdom, however often or however much. Solomon’s wisdom went higher than all natural history, higher than political economy, higher than moral science. It went up to essential truth, to the Truth of truths, to Christ Himself. Read the eighth chapter of Proverbs, and you will see, beyond a cavil, what and who was the ‘the Wisdom’ that God gave to Solomon. All this was the result of one good choice, and the answer to one simple, humble prayer in early life.

II. There is a very solemn lesson in the fact that Solomon afterwards abused that vast gift, that that very heart went wrong.—No one prayer can secure continuance; one period of life is no guarantee for another period of life; the intellect may be darkened, and the heart may go wrong, and the wisest man become the worst.

III. The triple band of wisdom, intellect, and love is a ‘three fold cord, which shall not be quickly broken.’—Affections are the springs of life, without which the man lies dormant and useless. Affections are the seat of faith, and the heaven of this present life. And intellect is strength. Intellect takes in all truth, and is the characteristic of man. But wisdom takes us higher. Wisdom teaches us that the affections and the intellect have a far end beyond; that we must live up to our immortality; that we must be like God. Wisdom blends and sanctifies the heart and the understanding, gives unity, completes our being, moulds nature into grace, and turns the man into a saint.

Illustration

‘Solomon’s choice pleased God, and He gave him his request—a wise and an understanding heart, that he might be a good king. Then He gave also more, new riches and honour. Riches are a blessing when one has the wisdom to use them well. Honour is a blessing when one knows how to wear it for Christ. When one’s heart is right God loves to give this world’s good things to add to one’s power for doing good. As we read these words of God to Solomon we think of the words of the Great Teacher: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.” These are not the first things—the first things must always be God and good. Then if we put God and His kingdom first, He loves to add the blessings of His grace and providence to meet all our needs and to fill our hands for all service.’