We cannot overestimate the influence Solomon had on this world. The kingdom of Solomon set the pattern that kings of the earth would fol-low for centuries to come. Solomon’s wealth and wis-dom were and remain the envy of human govern-ments. However, Solomon was not a perfect man. In many ways he and his father David were opposites. Sol-omon had great wisdom, but little spirituality. David often made unwise decisions, but his heart always sought after God. It is good also to note that the throne of Israel is referred through the ages as the throne of David, not the throne of Solomon. In this lesson, we will learn about the beginning of the kingdom of Solo-mon.

A. God Appears to Solomon (1 Kings 3:4-5). The record of Solomon’s reign begins with two violations:

1. He married the daughter of Pharaoh. While we are not told who this woman was, we know that based on the law given to them by God, they are not to marry someone who were idolatrous. Solomon ignored the warning. The marriage was made out of political expe-diency, not because of love.

2. He offered in the high places of Gibeon. Alt-hough he loved the Lord and walked in the statutes of David, Solomon sacrificed and burned incense in high places. God had given a specific place and manner of making a sacrifice to him. It is possible to do a good thing in a bad way. For in fact, Solo-mon’s heart “was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father (1 Kings 11:4).” Solomon should have offered first his heart before offering his sacrifices as taught by the law to the people of Israel.

Despite these, God still used him to accom-plish His will. Solomon is an example of God using less than perfect people to accomplish His purpos-es. God appeared to Solomon and asked him a great and consequential question. God was in effect offering Solomon a blank check. Here we find that God can provide anything, and even beyond any-thing that we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20).

B. Solomon Makes a Request (1 Kings 3:6-9).

Solomon recalled the history of the king-dom of his father David, the relationship David has with God, and how God had been the power behind David’s success as king. He acknowledged the fact that he became king only because it was God that made him one in his father’s place.

1. He knew he had a great and important job to do, and he knew he was not prepared to do it (v. 7).

2. He knew the greatness of the nation of Israel and that to lead as king was very important (v.8).

3. He asked for understanding and judgment (v.9).

It is interesting to note that Solomon did not ask for righteousness. Righteousness can only come through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The sacrifices Solomon made were designed to teach him that only the shedding of blood can take away our sins. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were designed to point to the great sacrifice Jesus would make for everyone.

Right at the very start, Solomon missed out on the more fundamental need for a righteous heart, one that David his father had. It is possible to have great wisdom, and yet lack righteousness of heart. This led to Solomon’s downfall in years to come.

Yet Solomon’s example teaches us that inner qualities were more important to bring about outward success. We often notice only the external parts of success and desire them, without realizing that it is in strengthening the inner man that truly determines our success or failure in living.