#548 I Bet You Think This Song Is About You

Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.

2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers' houses. 3 And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness, was there.4 (But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) 5 Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord. And Solomon and the assembly sought it[a] out. 6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the Lord, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.

Solomon Prays for Wisdom

7 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place.9 O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?”11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” 13 So Solomon came from[b] the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.

Solomon Given Wealth

14 Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 16 And Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king's traders would buy them from Kue for a price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels[c] of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. 2 Chronicles 1 ESV

Sister passage 1 Kings 3

Though the ark is not with them, the old bronze altar is here in this high place, and the king will go to the place of sacrifice to seek God's presence. People are so worldly wise in our day, and this brings a chuckle for them, that a king would ever need to humble himself before God, for we are way past God these days. Solomon is not even sure how to approach or what this will bring about, but he offers a thousand burnt offerings. Look, I have great wealth, but I have it from my father and he has it because of You. Here I come, in my day, not understanding much about God at all, but I am touched in my heart, I know He is there, and that He alone is God, exclusively. It has not changed much from then, men unsure, sinners, having no lasting sacrifice to offer, nothing that they own will ever be enough, but admittance requires a sacrifice and Solomon gives according to his wealth. He will start his kingdom here, and I shall find myself at the foot of the cross. His will be a picture of remission, that God is charging upon the body of His only begotten Son, and mine will be the realization of this sacrifice in Jesus Christ. Solomon is looking forward while I am looking back. He goes to sleep on this, after feasting with the people, showing that he recognized the God of his father, and God comes to him in a dream. He ask God for wisdom, so he could do his job well, and God was pleased by what he asked, but not so pleased as He was with his father. If He asked the same question to David, what would be his reply? None the less, we have not because we ask not and the Bible says if any of you lack wisdom ask of God, Who gives to all men liberally. 

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5: 13-15

Something is amiss though here, for God's word which shall remain, even when heaven and earth pass away, must be held above our reasoning, our position, and must dictate how we conduct ourselves in the handling of our blessings. What did the law of kings say about the accumulation of horses and chariots? What of the amassing of so much gold and silver, and returning to Egypt? Does profit justify behavior? If we get it by ill means, then does the end justify? He is an arms dealer, and so much loves the image of women that he has forgotten the image of God. How many men have squandered genius upon so many shadows, and thinking all along that these were sacrifices fitting to who they are, drank and toasted to their own demise? 

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 23-24