The wisdom of Solomon

1 Kings 3:7-12

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 

I have always incorrectly understood that the Young Solomon, has received supernatural wisdom and information from God, and since the incident, his mind just miraculously changed, and instead of having an average IQ, since God has blessed him, went on to have Steroid IQ from that day forth.

However, when studying upon the word of God, We find that it was actually not so. If you look in Chapter 2, when David was passing on the kingdom to him. David said twice (vs 6 and 8) in the short 8 verses that was recorded, that Solomon you are a wise man, and do it according to your wisdom. So Solomon has demonstrated that he was wise prior to God’s promise.

So what did Solomon ask for exactly? give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.

discerning, in the Hebrew is “Shama H8085”, it was to “hear, consider, discern, give ear, understand” and the particular focus was to govern the people, knowing what is right and wrong in God’s eyes. And the Lord responded by giving him that HEART. not mind. It was the HEART, it was a wise heart and an understanding heart, it was a mindset to seek the perspectives of God, and be observant of all the things around him.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 

What God gave Solomon was NOT exceedingly great knowledge, or supernatural knowledge into things, but it was an observant heart, and a heart that is able to see in context those information and be able to apply to the situation, actions from which God would do. So in contrary to what I used to belief. Solomon’s wisdom was not a sudden access to knowledge, or a download of things that he would not have known in the natural, but was an observant heart to hear and apply the ways of God. Solomon acquired knowledge like anyone today acquires knowledge. He studied and learned them, and made knowledge available to him. Check out 1 Kings 4:33.

33 Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.

Solomon was a zealous learner. He even studied the hyssop that grew out of the wall. Looked at the way ants lived, observed birds can fly even thought they are heavier than air.

So how does Solomon’s wisdom applies to us today? We need to know “wisdom” spoken of was NOT a supernatural download of “information”, but it is an ability to be observant, one that seeks God on how he would do things?

So Godly Wisdom is the ability given to process the information in God’s perspective. HOWEVER we need to be seeking Knowledge in order to have information for the wisdom of God inside us to process them to make good judgement.

Proverbs: 18:15 the heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.

Proverbs 15:14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

As children of God, we must be avid learners. Because the discerning heart is limited by the knowledge that he has to discern. Now learning is not just about reading a book or gathering information (it does include that), but it is about being observant.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and it will be given to him.

The wisdom of Solomon, the discerning heart is available to all of us, who are in Christ. We have the mind of Christ, and knows all things, we have this in our spirit, and for us to manifest this, it is expressed through the building blocks of our knowledge. Without those building blocks. The discerning heart is ineffective.

Jesus preach the law, and the law preached fully. (Matthew 5:17-30)

 

I was doing a bible study this week with my home group, and we were doing Matt 5. Here Jesus taught on the Law. I would like to unpack a little bit of what Jesus is saying, by contrasting what he is saying and what he is not saying.

Matt 5:17-18

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.         

The reason why Jesus is saying this, is because in his days on earth, according to the perspective of the Jews, he was breaking a lot of the Mosaic laws, such as working on the Sabbath, touching lepers, associating with prostitutes and sinners,  as he was doing this constantly, some people were with the misunderstanding that he was here to demolish and put away the law. However Jesus is saying, no, the law is not going away, and I am here not to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law. (meaning he was here to fulfill the prophecy of the prophets that he is the messiah, the savior, and he came to fully fill the requirements of the law on your behalf)

The correct standard of the Law

Then he preached what the standard of the law should be, and that is, to even think of something, you have already committed the crime.

So the question is why did Jesus tell us this? When you read that passage what do you think Jesus is saying to you?

Some people belief that, God wants to show you his standard, so that you know what it is, and by the holy spirit, you go and keep the law.  If you are of this belief, then you must also read how Jesus suggests you to fulfill this.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.  Matt 5:29-30

Jesus is telling you, in order to avoid committing sin per God’s standard; the easiest way is to cut out the body part so that you cannot be tempted. If we were truly to do that, basically we need to kill ourselves! As all parts of our body will be susceptible to sin. Jesus can’t be saying that right!!? This has to be hyperbola!?  Well he did say it. And He means exactly that.

You may say; “nobody can do this!” It is impossible to live life this way, because before the end of the day, you would have chopped up your body.

If you feel that it is impossible to do this, then you have gotten to the conclusion that Jesus wanted you to get to. Jesus is saying, no one can be made righteous by the law. People have totally misunderstood the purpose of the law. The law was not given so that we can be close to God by being a good or better person. The law’s main purpose was to show us our inability to keep the law, and we need a savior. It was not given so that we can have a relationship with God through the law.

Romans 7:13

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 

If you are to try and relate to God through adhering to the law, you will find that sin will take that opportunity and through the law become exceedingly sinful in your life. For without the law, sin was dead, however because of the law, sin has taken the opportunity and was made a live.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. Gal 3:21

Further reading on Romans 7, Romans 3, Galatians 3, will further elaborate the point for the reason of the Law.

So is Jesus saying we don’t need to obey the law?

Jesus is saying you have NO ability to obey the law in you flesh. You are not able to have a relationship with God based on your ability to obey the law. It is a dead end. The law is given to you not for the reason so you can keep it, It was given to tell you “You cannot keep it. This cannot be done! You need a savior!”  Jesus summarizes later on in the chapter, God wants you to be Perfect, his kind of perfect (Matt 5:48). You are not able to attain this by keeping the law. You can see this is the same message that he spoke to the rich young ruler, when he responded to the questions of “ What must I DO to inherit eternal life?” Luke 18:13-23.  Jesus is demanding the impossible. Because it is impossible to do this. The righteousness of God, needs to be imputed. Relationship with the Father comes through one thing. And that is belief in the Son. Faith in Jesus is the only way to the father, and that way is 100% sufficient.

It is not believing in the Son, so that by the holy spirit, you can do good, and according to the level of goodness, you increase your relationship with God.   It is Jesus, and his Righteousness alone, that is the ONLY basis of your relationship with God. It is JESUS plus NOTHING. Not Jesus sets you up so you can be a better man. Jesus didn’t come to help you to be more righteous in order to relate to God. Jesus came so that He can put his righteous in those whom believes.  This is what believing Jesus is about, it is to belief that he has imputed his righteousness in you. You are forever perfect in front of God. Now and forever. Even if you sin along the way. Because you appear in front of the father not because of your performance, but because of Jesus’s performance imputed on to you. This is the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

So we don’t need to obey the law?

YES! (but wait, there is more). We don’t need to obey the law to RELATE to God, for we are no longer under the law of sin and death, as we are under the law of the spirit of life ( Rom 8:2). God and the Holy Spirit doesn’t condemn you when you commit sin, because Jesus has removed your sins, however your consciousness will condemn you, and it will make you want to be further away from God. But wait read on.

So we don’t need to obey the law?

NO! Whilst God will not judge you by your obedience to the Law, however the people around you will. For you to function in the world, if you do not obey the law, you won’t be able to relate to people correctly in this world. If you think you can stay in adultery and still be able to have a good relationship with your wife, you are deceived, God still sees you perfect, because he relates to you based on the imputed righteousness of God , and not your performance. However your wife relates to you based on your performance, and so does your boss, your neighbour, the police, and the tax man. 

 

 

John 9:1-4 Born Blind for the Glory!

 

John 9:1-3

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

 

Without context, people see these verses and incorrectly concludes that God being sovereign does stuff in incomprehensible way, so that it brings glory to him. This all derives from a wrong understanding of who God is, and the nature of God.

A lot of people understands the above verse as saying, God made this man blind from birth so that when Jesus walks by, and sees him, will then heal him to demonstrate the power of God, to bring glory to God and make people believe.

The problem with this interpretation which is, Whilst in the grand scheme of things, God has a master plan that fulfils an ultimate purpose, and in that ultimate purpose there are people who are more lucky than others and there will be some that is less fortunate.  All these events just completes the grand screenplay that God has written. This sounds all of for story, however if you are that blind man, or his parents, that must have been the most unfortunate thing that could happen, and what is worst you can do nothing about it, because God has made it that way.

I used to think, I am having the life I am having because God somehow has a will for me, or a destiny for me to go through trials, for a greater purpose. When misfortune happens, I accounted it to God, like I would account this blind man being blind to the plans of God. This leaves us in a passive state of accepting lack and infirmity as part of a greater purpose, part of God’s master plan. And more specific God’s will for your life.

However when we say this, we are saying God the father will willingly allow his kids to be blind, then later fix him to show people how great and powerful he is. Try changing the narrative, hypothetically let us say in today’s world there is a Dad that has invented a medicine that can heal blindness. In order to show the world how great this medicine can work. He takes his just born child and plugs his eyes out. Lets him live for 30 years blind, so that people know that his son is blind and makes no mistakes of it. Then heals his son, so that the world could witness how great an inventor he is. This definitely demonstrates the power of his medicine, but it also demonstrates how evil his heart is.

When we say God made the man blind, in order to manifest his glory. We are saying God is all powerful and heals, but at the same time we are speaking so much underneath, that God is unjust and a cold hearted God. This is not our God, God didn’t make the man blind to show us his glory. Let us explore what the scripture actually says.

The disciples asked, “is it this man’s sin or his parents sins that made this man born blind?” And Jesus answered “NEITHER!” It was not his sinful action or thoughts (he was blind when he was born), nor was it his parents personal sin. Jesus didn’t address in this instance what was the cause, but we know from the Old Testament that death came because of sin, and the world was cursed with it. So if one was to chase back to the defects, sickness and infirmities that are in this world, Adam’s incorrect decision was the cause. So what does “ but that the works of God should be made manifest in him”? It is not saying the God made the person blind from birth, so that today God can manifest his power in Jesus to show the world.

Lets read further

John 9:4-5

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 

It is saying BECAUSE this man IS blind, the sozo works of God must be done on this man. Vs 4, I (jesus) must work the works of him (the FATHER, and his will) who sent me. I must heal this man.  While it is day, (whilst I am here) The night cometh (when I won’t be here) and no man can work in those days (his death and burial). Vs 5, As long as I am in the world, I am the light that manifests the will and the power of the father.

God didn’t design this man to be blind, this man was born blind because of the fallen world, however Jesus demonstrated the will of the father, and that is to heal the blind, not to make them blind. Jesus is saying, when we see people who are oppressed by sickness, we are to set them free.

With Jesus being away, Who now is the light of the world? We need to manifest not just the power of God, which is so necessary, but we are to manifest the heart of the loving father, it is with the goodness of God that people change their heart. This is the message, it is about God loving us, and wanting us to be well, and abundant, in this life and the one to come.