February 21, 2023

WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

2 Chronicles 1:10-12

“Give me wisdom and understanding, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

And God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor did you ask for long life, but you asked for wisdom and understanding for yourself, that you might judge My people over whom I made you king, now I will give you this wisdom and understanding. I will also give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings before you possessed, nor shall any after you possess.”

Personal Challenge

We are all familiar with the story of the genie in the bottle and the dilemma of being given a finite number of wishes. Our God is not a genie. He is the Lord Almighty, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, who is now, has ever been, and ever will be. And yet, in this occasion, He gave Solomon the opportunity to request one thing from Him. Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding. This is not knowledge or learning that is deemed wisdom in today's world. We live in an age of information abundance and overload with very little wisdom and understanding to use that information in a godly way. As I continue my reading journey through the the wisdom books of the Old Testament, Proverbs, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Sirach, etc., I am reminded that the early church fathers believed and taught that whenever wisdom was referred to in the Old Testament, the referral was about Jesus, the bearer of all wisdom. We need to become Solomons in our lives, seeking for the only gift of value, Wisdom, Jesus Christ, to drive and control our lives. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!