We Need a King (A Wise One): 1 Kings 3 & 4

I read: 1 Kings 3 & 4

Up until this point in Israel’s history things have been pretty hard and difficult because they keep resisting or forgetting about God their King. In the book of Judges the people repeatedly fall into chaos and sin, doing whatever they esteem is right, which leads to big problems.

Israel has always done its best with a leader. God is supposed to be enough, and He is, but the people are too sinful and need a mediator like Moses or a leader like Joshua to Shepard and keep them.

It is fitting that when Israel cries out for a King God sends a shepard. This shepard boy, David, was also a talented musician and later wrote a Psalm about the true Shepard of Christ:

The LORD is my Shepard; I shall
not want.
He makes me lie down in green
pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3)

From what I’ve heard sheep are dumb animals. They need a Shepard. They need someone to guide them away from stupid decisions, from danger, from things that destroy. It’s surprising how sheep-like humans can be. In Judges we see a people that repeatedly do dumb, sheep-like things and it’s easy to condemn them but it’s important to remember we are just like them. We do incredibly stupid things. We need a Shepard, a King, to guide us, and that is Christ. Thankfully God also blesses us with types of Christs throughout history who Shepard and save their people from harm. But the ultimate fulfillment of that role is Jesus. The Christian life enjoys pastors who Shepard and guide their people towards Christ.

So we need a King, a good King. It is much better than a democracy. Look at America. Half of America hates the other half because their ideas about policies are wrong. So the more we talk about things the more we can discuss and agree to disagree and blah blah blah a lot of people argue with each other about who is right. I’m not saying it’s horrible, I like America, but can you imagine if the Kingdom of God was a democracy? Look at church boards, nothing would ever get done. The people would split over the decision of what color everyone’s robes should be. No, Jesus says “white” for the way He’s purified us. That’s that. We need an authoritative leader to grab us and guide us, one in whom we can always put our trust.

Our Shepard and King was born 2,000 years ago, and although in His lifetime He does not “compare” (in worldly terms) with King Solomon, that is, the life King Solomon led; we can see in Solomon the type of Christ to come. There are many parallels. Ultimately Christ would be the better Solomon because He alone would walk in faithfulness, righteousness, and in uprightness of heart before God (qualities of David in 1 Kings 3:6).

Solomon became king as a young man and he is humble enough to admit his youth and inexperience. God gives Him the incredible invitation to ask for anything, anything at all. Even in his naïveté God gives Solomon the wisdom to realize that what he doesn’t need is a long life, or to have his enemies crushed (1 Kings 3:11). No, if enemies are removed there will be more enemies. Rather, those things like how to deal with enemies are a result of knowing and discerning between good and evil. Solomon says to God:

“And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in…
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:7, 9)

This is great, and in it we can already see God’s gift of wisdom for Solomon to realize he needs more wisdom. It’s similar that in order to ask for grace you already need to have it! Because it is only by God’s grace and the wonderful Holy Spirit that we realize our need for grace.

Here we see the importance of wisdom, a theme of scripture because it is an attribute of Jesus. He is wise and like the famous story in 1 Kings 3:16-28 (where two women claim to be the mother of a baby) Jesus can see through our lies and stories and can cut to the heart of the matter and justice. Justice is so frustrating in this world because we aren’t all-knowing and can’t always discern who did right and who did wrong. Thankfully Jesus can and will never make a mistake. In fact in His perfect justice we see a great paradox, that while He is all-knowing and will never declare the guilty innocent, He will by His blood on the cross declare that very thing! The criminal’s punishment is taken by the judge, if we accept that and ask for Him to do so. What wisdom beyond worldly wisdom.

This section of Solomon’s early life parallels Jesus’ early life, particularly in Luke 2:52:

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

The effects of a good king are many, and in Solomon’s kingdom we get a tiny portrait of Jesus’ eternal kingdom. Here are some verse from chapters 3 and 4 that describe the kingdom under Solomon that stuck out to me:

Judah and Israel were as many as the sand of the sea. (1 Kings 4:20a)

Children are a blessing, and so is population. God wants His kingdom to be crowded.

They ate and drank and were happy. (1 Kings 4:20b)

They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. (1 Kings 4:21b)

But Christ will never die again, so His kingdom is without end, and if He raises us with Him, we will serve Him forever.

They let nothing be lacking. (1 Kings 4:27)

I’m guessing there will be no room anywhere in heaven that has cheap carpet and crappy wallpaper, something God hasn’t gotten around to cleaning up. There’s something to be said for flair and design for kings. Every kingdom in the history of the world has done it. It’s a way of somehow capturing and physically manifesting the glory of the leader. America’s got the White House, Egypt built pyramids (for its dead leaders).

I’m studying in London right now and yesterday I went down to Buckingham palace with some friends. When you get to the palace, things begin to change. The streets begin to look a little nicer, there are huge walls, iron fences with gold symbols, all this stuff that declares Britain’s glory. The Queen’s house is different than the houses down the street. We came in from the side and didn’t realize that in front of the palace is a long road called the Mall which leads to a huge gate in Trafalgar square. That gate declares to the crazy taxi driver going through it that he is entering an important area.

I am confident that Christ’s reign will have the most pomp and glory of any king ever. Seeing Buckingham palace yesterday prompts me to wonder what Christ’s kingdom will be like.

And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:34)

All peoples flock to Christ and will hear His wisdom and worship His glory, from the poorest of the poor to the richest king, they are all subjects of the true King.

Me praying:

God, thank You that You are in charge and rule from Your throne in perfect righteousness and love. You have never made a bad decision and have never done wrong. For You are perfect. Even evil in this world You turn to good. Help me to pay tribute and submit to You daily. Help me to practically live as Your servant. Christ make me obedient like You. God may I not be a bad servant. Here in London I feel like Solomon – I see work to do, so much ministry and I feel overwhelmed. Please bless me with Your wisdom and Your grace that I may glorify You. Thank You Jesus for Your humble submission to the Father and for Your pursuit of His will. Help me and anyone who is reading this to reveal a bit of Your kingdom through love, patience, and joy. Holy Spirit work in us and help us to abide in Christ. I love You and bow down in awe of You, my King. AMEN.