2 Chronicles 1:11
God said to Solomon, "Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies--and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king--
Sermons
The Splendid BeginningJames Wolfendale.2 Chronicles 1:1-12
A Young King's ChoiceT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Divine Wisdom NeededJ. Parker, D.D.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
God's Overflowing GiftSunday Companion2 Chronicles 1:7-12
How to Get the Best BlessingR. A. Griffin.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Importance of Knowledge2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Solomon's ChoiceE. Payson, D.D.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Solomon's ChoiceN. Wiseman.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Solomon's Desire for Wisdom and the Use He Made of ItA. K. Cherrill, M.A.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Solomon's OpportunityJ. Parker, D.D.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Solomon's WisdomDean Stanley.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
The Best Motives to Action UnselfishGreat Thoughts2 Chronicles 1:7-12
The Divine Responsiveness, EtcW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
The Folly of Relying on Our Own Wisdom in the Conduct OfExperience.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
The Fruits of PrayerJ. Nicoll.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
The Prayer for WisdomJ. Van Oosterzee, D.D.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
The Prayer of King Solomon for Wisdom to Govern His PeoplE. I. Hamilton, D.D.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
The Responsibility of a Sovereign2 Chronicles 1:7-12
What Shall I Ask?Dean Vaughan.2 Chronicles 1:7-12
WisdomWatson, Thomas2 Chronicles 1:7-12














From the interesting scene described in these verses (more fully in 1 Kings 3.) we may glean some lasting truths.

I. THAT WE MAY CONFIDENTLY RECKON ON THE DIVINE RESPONSIVENESS. Solomon went to Gibeon with "all the congregation," in very great state, to seek the Lord there, and there he offered abundant sacrifices (ver. 6). And God responded to his act of piety by seeking him, by coming to him and making him a gracious and generous offer. Without any state, in lowliest obscurity, we may repair to the quiet and solitary place, and there seek God; and there, too, he will seek us and manifest himself to us, and he will bless and enrich us also. There is an unfailing and a large responsiveness in "him with whom we have to do."

II. THAT GOD HAS MANY WAYS OF ACCESS TO HIS CHILDREN. (Ver. 7.) In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon "in a dream by night" (1 Kings 3:5). At other times he appeared to his servants in a vision in their wakeful hours (Exodus 3:2; Isaiah 6:1). Our Lord was seen by the Apostle Paul under circumstances that were unique (Acts 9.), and subsequently he manifested himself in other ways to his servant. God has access to us - his children - in many ways. At any time he may "lay his hand upon us;" he may make known his will to us. It is our wisdom to expect it; it is our duty to pray and to look for it. Ill. THAT SOLOMON SHOWED A DEEPER WISDOM THAN ANY HE ASKED GOD TO GIVE HIM. He asked for "wisdom and knowledge" (ver. 10); and the wisdom he asked for was cleverness, penetration, political sagacity, subtlety of mind to read the thoughts of men, readiness to see at once what was the expedient policy to adopt, range of human learning. All this was valuable, and much to be desired; but all of this together was not wisdom of so deep and precious a kind as that shown by Solomon in making the choice he made. To ask for that gift which would enable him to fill well the sphere in which Divine providence had placed him, - this was better than all possible intellectual equipments. No learning, no talent, no genius, is of such value and importance as the spirit of fidelity. Everything else without that will leave life a failure and make man a guilty being. But to be possessed with the spirit of faithfulness, to be supremely desirous of taking the part and doing the work to which God has called us, - this is the true success, and this will end in well-being of a pure and lasting kind.

IV. THAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED TO MAINTAIN AND EVEN TO ENLARGE THE HERITAGE WE HAVE RECEIVED. (Ver. 8.) Solomon evidently felt deeply impressed, if not oppressed, with the thought that his father, David, had left a very great and serious charge in his hands, and he was rightly anxious that it should be well maintained. It becomes us, as members of. a family, as citizens of the nation, to consider what we have inherited from those who have gone before us - from their labours and sufferings and prayers, and to ask ourselves what we are about to do to guard and to strengthen, and, if it may be so, to enlarge and enrich that precious legacy.

V. THAT IF WE SEEK THE BEST WE SHALL FIND MORE THAN WE SEEK. (Vers. 11, 12.) Solomon's happy experience of God's graciousness is very far indeed from being singular. We may all participate here. If we seek rightness of soul with him we shall find it, end not only that, but a profound and most blessed peace of mind as well. If we seek purity of heart, we shall find what we seek, and happiness beside. If we seek the good of others we shall secure that end, and we shall at the same time be building up our own Christian character. Pursue the very best. and with the best of all will come that which is good, that which is not the highest, but which we shall be very glad to have and to enjoy. - C.

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom.
I. SOLOMON'S SUCCESSION TO THE THRONE WAS PROVIDENTIALLY SECURED: "The Lord his God was with him."

II. SOLOMON'S CLAIMS TO THE THRONE WERE SANCTIONED BY A REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY.

III. SOLOMON'S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE WAS SIGNALISD BY SOLEMN ACTS OF WORSHIP.

1. In obedience to Divine law.

2. In appropriate magnificence.

IV. SOLOMON'S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE WAS IN A SPIRIT OF DEVOUT SUPPLICATION. When Victoria learned that she was about to become Queen of England, her first words to the Archbishop of Canterbury were, "I beg your grace to pray for me." Together they knelt, and the new reign began with prayer.

V. SOLOMON'S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE WAS UNEQUALLED IN SPLENDOUR (ver. 12).

1. Outward splendour: "Riches and wealth and honour."

2. Moral splendour: "Wisdom and knowledge."

(James Wolfendale.)

People
Aram, Bezaleel, David, Gibeon, Hittites, Hur, Solomon, Uri
Places
Egypt, Gibeon, Jerusalem, Kiriath-jearim, Kue, Shephelah, Syria
Topics
Caused, Death, Desire, Destruction, Enemies, Govern, Hast, Hate, Haters, Hating, Heart, Heart's, Honor, Honour, Judge, Mayest, Mind, Money, Possessions, Property, Reign, Request, Riches, Rule, Solomon, Thyself, Wealth, Wisdom, Yet
Outline
1. The solemn offering of Solomon at Gibeon
7. Solomon's choice of wisdom is blessed by God
13. Solomon's forces and wealth

Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 1:7-12

     5832   desire

2 Chronicles 1:8-12

     5120   Solomon, character

2 Chronicles 1:10-12

     5028   knowledge, God source of human

2 Chronicles 1:11-12

     1180   God, wisdom of
     5787   ambition, positive
     8811   riches, attitudes to

Library
Commerce
The remarkable change which we have noticed in the views of Jewish authorities, from contempt to almost affectation of manual labour, could certainly not have been arbitrary. But as we fail to discover here any religious motive, we can only account for it on the score of altered political and social circumstances. So long as the people were, at least nominally, independent, and in possession of their own land, constant engagement in a trade would probably mark an inferior social stage, and imply
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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