Solomon’s Wisdom and Wisdom’s Purpose

The book of Proverbs begins by attributing this vast collection of sayings to Solomon, the Son of David, king of Israel. This doesn’t mean they were all written by Solomon (though a good number of them were). Rather, it suggests this collection represents the body of wisdom to which Solomon subscribed. This was his playlist for living well in God’s world and leading well as God’s king, under God’s rule. In reading Proverbs, we gain insight into how one of the wisest people in history operated.

Solomon was renowned for his wisdom. At the beginning of his reign over Israel, when God prompts him to ask for whatever he wants, Solomon famously asks for wisdom before anything else. (1 Kings 3:4) Humbly aware of his incapacity to rule an entire nation, Solomon requested a “listening heart to govern God’s people”. His life as king over God’s people would primarily be characterised by the choices he would have to make. His legacy would be determined by his ability to “make good choices”.

Solomon’s request for wisdom demonstrates some fundamental principles for anyone aspiring to serve God and his people well. Three things, in particular, are worth recognising.

First is Solomon’s humility. He knew he was outweighed by the task before him. He knew he did not have the answers to all the role would ask of him. To serve God’s people well, he would need insight from outside of himself.

This leads, secondly, to Solomon’s desire to listen. True humility is demonstrated in a person’s willingness to listen before anything else. Solomon longed for a “listening heart”. In the first instance, this means listening to God: sitting under his word and allowing his eternal perspective to shape and guide you. But it also involves listening to others: understanding and considering their point of view. As a product of humility, listening is a marker of true leadership and should always precede action. Listen before you leap.

Thirdly, Solomon’s request for wisdom was motivated by a desire to serve God’s people. Solomon didn’t consider these people to be his own. They belonged to God. Solomon was merely a caretaker. And taking care of them was his mandate. The wisdom Solomon sought was not to serve his own fame or glory. It was to serve the people of God.

These three things teach us fundamental principles about the need for wisdom, the source of wisdom, and the purpose of wisdom. Without outside help, we make choices from a very limited perspective. We need to humbly recognise that God sees things that we can’t, and has power over things that we don’t. We need wisdom to be granted to us, because without it we are unable to make the best choices, and in our limitations, we don’t naturally have it. Thankfully, God in his goodness can provide it, and so we should constantly ask him for it. But we shouldn’t ask merely to advance our own agenda or to serve our selfish purposes. Wisdom is about making good choices for the sake of God’s people. As one of those people, you will personally benefit from wisdom’s application. But the end purpose, and the driving force for attaining wisdom, ought always to be for the benefit it brings to all God’s people.