Eccl 1:12-13 “I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven.”
When Solomon became king over Israel stepping into the shoes of his father David, he asked the Lord for wisdom. “That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Solomon answered God, "You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 2 Chron. 1:7-10
This wisdom did not come to Solomon all at once, but as he studied, listened, observed, reflected, meditated, asked questions, etc. he grew in wisdom. When we read the Proverbs often we are admonished to gain in knowledge, understanding and to seek wisdom with all of our heart. This is what Solomon did when he became king. The reason that he asked God for wisdom was so that he could be the ruler that would govern the people wisely.
God had anointed Solomon to take over from his father -King David- the throne and Solomon asked for wisdom to do the job ordained for him. How true this is for us as well. God has given to us a job to do, a task to perform and we too need wisdom to fulfill His will for our lives.
The Psalmist tell us that the beginning of wisdom is ‘the fear of the Lord.’ “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” Ps.111:10 Like everything else in life, wisdom starts with God. ‘In the beginning God..’ Gen.1:1. Not only do we start with God, but we end with God. Paul said in the end when Jesus lifts the Kingdom up to the Father and He submits Himself to the Father then we read that “God may be all in all.” 1 Cor.15:28
The beginning of wisdom starts with God, but we are to carry on in study, meditating, reflecting, observing, etc. to gain in wisdom with God being in the center of our thoughts. T.M. Moore says: “But the acquisition of wisdom requires a lifetime of living and working in relationship to God by grace through faith”. If God is not in the center then our wisdom becomes warped, darkened like Paul brings out in Romans when men rejected God: “their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.” Rom 1:21-22.
We have talked a lot about a Biblical worldview and, I believe, this is what Solomon is bringing out here. When it comes to the issues of life we need to learn, study, reflect, meditate, etc. on what God says. When we are confronted with problems in our daily life we need to take the time to study, reflects, etc. to see what God says about it. It could be that we go to other professionals for help (and they might be God’s way to help us), but we are first to seek God and His enlightment.
Another phrase that Solomon uses is ‘under heaven.’ This is a phrase that would seem to refer to life as under the tutelage of God and His will. This is especially important for us today in our postmodern culture where we see things in bits and pieces, not the big picture. Because we see things in bits and pieces life often does not make any sense. It is only when we see the overall plan of God that our time in the here and now makes sense and we discover that we have a purpose.
Our Heavenly Father wants us to understand life the way He does and He has made it possible for us to know through study, reflection, etc. Paul tells us that we are to have the ‘mind of Christ’. He has given us His Spirit to lead us into all truth. We are without excuse. We are to ask, seek and knock and the door to wisdom will be opened to us so that we can have a greater understanding of what God is doing in this world and throughout all of eternity.
