2Ch 1:11-12 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD appears to Solomon. He says to him that he may ask what he wants. This is an inviting question, with no restrictions. This question also comes to us when the Lord Jesus says: “Ask, and it will be given to you; … For everyone who asks receives” ( ). What do we answer to the Lord’s question? Solomon prays for wisdom and knowledge ( ). That is the measure by which to build. Both can be found in Christ ( ). The standard for church building is Christ. There are many forms of church building that arise from our ideas about how it seems best to us, but the only standard for the church and the coming together of the church is Christ. There must, so to speak, first be reflection at Gibeon, in order to see what the standard is to come together as a church, to be a ‘temple’. Solomon here is not only a picture of Christ, but also a picture of the Spirit of Christ in the believer. This Spirit characterizes Paul when he prays for the Ephesians for the “a spirit of wisdom … in the knowledge of Him” ( ). The answer from Solomon’s mouth is beautiful. He assigns a special value to the people of Israel, not because they are his people, but because they are God’s people. That he sees the people not as his people, but as God’s people, is of great importance, also in our day. The church is not the possession of people, but of God. Whoever is aware of this will treat the other members of that people with great care, while acknowledging that each member belongs to the Lord and has his own unique task. God praises Solomon for his request. Kings of the nations ask their gods for everything Solomon does not ask for. Solomon gets it because he only has God’s interests in mind in his prayer. We can learn a lot from the content of this prayer. Solomon does not start by asking anything, but he first reminds God of what He has done in the past and what He does at the present. Whatever task we get to do, we can always be confident that God’s support is there for us as it was for those who served Him before us. We may appeal to the “great lovingkindness” that has been proven to them, as Solomon does in relation to his father David, whose task he now gets ( ). Then Solomon appeals to all the promises given by God. There is no better plea in prayer than to refer to God’s promises ( ). The best way to achieve what we wish is to ask for wisdom and knowledge for our task ( ). Just like Moses ( ), David ( ) and Jeremiah ( ), also Solomon recognizes his incompetence for this great task and asks for “wisdom and knowledge”. “Wisdom” refers to the right assessment at the right time in distinguishing between good and evil. ‘Knowledge’ (or ‘understanding’) relates to the knowledge and understanding of the circumstances to make the right choice for the way to go. Solomon speaks about his ‘going out and coming in’ before the people. This may involve going out to the gate to speak justice there and going in to the LORD to seek advice from Him about the trials. In a broader sense, ‘going out and coming in’ refers to Solomon’s entire life’s walk, in order to devote himself as king to his people. God gives him what he has asked for, because he has asked for it. He gives him what he did not ask for, because he did not ask for it ( ). God explains in detail why Solomon gets what he has asked for and why he gets what he has not asked for. God gives according to the riches of His grace what is in His heart. It is an illustration of Paul’s word that God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” ( ; cf. ). After his meeting and conversation with God, Solomon can start reigning ( ). This is the correct order: first the tabernacle and the altar and then the throne.

‏ 2 Chronicles 1:11-12

Solomon Asks Wisdom and Knowledge

The LORD appears to Solomon. He says to him that he may ask what he wants. This is an inviting question, with no restrictions. This question also comes to us when the Lord Jesus says: “Ask, and it will be given to you; … For everyone who asks receives” (Mt 7:7-8). What do we answer to the Lord’s question?

Solomon prays for wisdom and knowledge (Pro 2:6). That is the measure by which to build. Both can be found in Christ (Col 2:3). The standard for church building is Christ. There are many forms of church building that arise from our ideas about how it seems best to us, but the only standard for the church and the coming together of the church is Christ.

There must, so to speak, first be reflection at Gibeon, in order to see what the standard is to come together as a church, to be a ‘temple’. Solomon here is not only a picture of Christ, but also a picture of the Spirit of Christ in the believer. This Spirit characterizes Paul when he prays for the Ephesians for the “a spirit of wisdom … in the knowledge of Him” (Eph 1:17).

The answer from Solomon’s mouth is beautiful. He assigns a special value to the people of Israel, not because they are his people, but because they are God’s people. That he sees the people not as his people, but as God’s people, is of great importance, also in our day. The church is not the possession of people, but of God. Whoever is aware of this will treat the other members of that people with great care, while acknowledging that each member belongs to the Lord and has his own unique task.

God praises Solomon for his request. Kings of the nations ask their gods for everything Solomon does not ask for. Solomon gets it because he only has God’s interests in mind in his prayer. We can learn a lot from the content of this prayer. Solomon does not start by asking anything, but he first reminds God of what He has done in the past and what He does at the present.

Whatever task we get to do, we can always be confident that God’s support is there for us as it was for those who served Him before us. We may appeal to the “great lovingkindness” that has been proven to them, as Solomon does in relation to his father David, whose task he now gets (2Chr 1:8). Then Solomon appeals to all the promises given by God. There is no better plea in prayer than to refer to God’s promises (2Chr 1:9).

The best way to achieve what we wish is to ask for wisdom and knowledge for our task (2Chr 1:10). Just like Moses (Exo 3:11), David (1Sam 18:18) and Jeremiah (Jer 1:6), also Solomon recognizes his incompetence for this great task and asks for “wisdom and knowledge”. “Wisdom” refers to the right assessment at the right time in distinguishing between good and evil. ‘Knowledge’ (or ‘understanding’) relates to the knowledge and understanding of the circumstances to make the right choice for the way to go.

Solomon speaks about his ‘going out and coming in’ before the people. This may involve going out to the gate to speak justice there and going in to the LORD to seek advice from Him about the trials. In a broader sense, ‘going out and coming in’ refers to Solomon’s entire life’s walk, in order to devote himself as king to his people.

God gives him what he has asked for, because he has asked for it. He gives him what he did not ask for, because he did not ask for it (2Chr 1:11-12). God explains in detail why Solomon gets what he has asked for and why he gets what he has not asked for. God gives according to the riches of His grace what is in His heart. It is an illustration of Paul’s word that God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20; cf. Mt 6:33).

After his meeting and conversation with God, Solomon can start reigning (2Chr 1:13). This is the correct order: first the tabernacle and the altar and then the throne.