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Wise King Solomon 1 King 1, 3, 8
David rules in Israel for forty years. Before he died, he made his son Solomon the king. The lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. “Ask me for whatever you want,” the Lord said. “You were faithful to my father and you have been kind to me. Give me an understanding heart, so I can know right from wrong. I want the wisdom to govern my people well!”
“You could have asked for wealth or power or for
victory over your enemies,” the Lord replied. “Since you did not, I will
make you more wise than any other person. Never has there been and never
will there be a person like you. I will also give you wealth and power
because you did not ask for them.” Solomon went to Jerusalem and made a sacrifice to the Lord. The Lord was faithful to Solomon. He made Solomon wiser than anyone else. People came from all around to ask his advice. The Queen of Sheba traveled to see if the rumors she had heard about Solomon were true, and was amazed by his wisdom and wealth. The Lord fulfilled the promise he made to David. He allowed Solomon to build the temple. The temple of the Lord was beautiful. Solomon placed the Ark of the Covenant inside it. He assembled all the people of Israel to dedicate the temple to the Lord. “O Lord, you are the one God,” Solomon said in front of all the people gathered to see the temple. “You are faithful. You kept your promise to my father David. We know that this temple cannot contain you. You fill the heavens and beyond! But please watch over us here and listen to the prayers we make to you from this temple.” Solomon offered sacrifices to God and worshiped him. Many of the wise sayings of Solomon were written down in the book of Proverbs. He ruled in Israel for forty years.
(From Classic Bible
Stories, A Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard
Publishing. Used by permission. This book may be purchased at your local
Christian Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301).
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