Monday 28 July 2008

Background

The terms 'wise' and 'wisdom' in the Old Testament are variouslyapplied to a range of people and professions - the artist,craftsman, musician, singer and even the sailor. In Rabbinic Hebrewthe midwife is referred to as 'wise'. Yet, when it comes to Solomonand "the wisdom of God", we seem to have made a quantum leap - hiswisdom was literally awesome.

So what - or who - made Solomon so wise? For that we have to goback to the beginning of 1 Kings 3 andthe dream Solomon had when succeeding his father David to thethrone. In the dream, God asks Solomon what he wants God to givehim. Solomon does not ask for the death of his enemies or for greatwealth or fame. Instead he asks for an "understanding mind" inorder to take on the task of governing Israel. God not only honoursSolomon's request, God makes him wiser than anyone who came beforeor after him.

Apart from the proverbs that are attributed to him, Solomon'sencounter with the two prostitutes is the only other example wehave of his wisdom in canonical Scripture - and the only account ofhis wisdom 'in action'. Nevertheless, Solomon's name has become abyword for wisdom. We would do well to remember the source of hiswisdom.

To Ponder

In our 'post-Christian' society, how do youattune yourself to God's wisdom?

When you hear true wisdom, how do you value itand draw attention to it?

Would you trust your dreams to be a vehicle forGod's communication with you? (And who could you tell if you trulybelieved God had spoken to you in a dream?)