列王记上3:4-15

恩惠、平安从父神和救主耶稣基督归于你们。阿们。

所罗门王大家应该都听说过，他是大卫王之后接续作王的，神赐给他极大的聪明智慧，甚至有作箴言三千句，诗歌一千零五首。这是列王记上第四章接着记载的。我们知道圣经里面的箴言以及传道书都是所罗门著作的。

今天我们读的这一段旧约经文啊，是所罗门的国位刚刚稳固下来。前面几年，其实并不那么顺利，第二章给了我们两件大事，第一，他的同父异母兄弟亚多尼雅暗度陈仓，拉拢了祭司，以及大卫的老臣大将约押，想要夺取王位，就连所罗门的母亲拔示巴也被蒙骗利用了，替亚多尼雅说好话。所罗门处理了这个事情，杀死亚多尼雅和约押。随后，还需解决一个后患，那就是小人示每。这也是他父亲大卫去世时亲自交代的后事，说自己死了以后，所罗门一定要想办法把他杀了。处理完这两件事，圣经说，“这样，便坚定了所罗门的国位。”（列上2:46）

所罗门一边平定了国内的局势，另一方面也对外联姻，向周边各国示好，第三章甚至记载说他娶了法老的女儿，按照人的智慧，他已经有了一个好的局势，好的开始。但是，所罗门心里知道，自己缺乏智慧来治理这么一个大国。神也知道所罗门的真正需要，所罗门虽然有胆识和魄力，甚至也“爱耶和华，遵行他父亲大卫的律例”（列上3:3），他仍然在“邱坛献祭烧香……因为基遍那里有极大的邱坛”。他有爱主耶和华的心，但他在对神的敬拜大事上仍然不是很清楚，这也导致他在信仰上并不是非常专一，从他与埃及法老联姻，娶了外邦女子为妻就可以看出来，后面他还娶了许多拜别神的女子，这也导致他信仰上的腐败。

这个信仰敬拜上的专一性或者说限定性，大卫王是遵守了的，我们知道士师时代，人人都任意而行，随自己的心意，想怎么敬拜神就怎么敬拜。但摩西律法，申命记12章早已经赐下了这个原则，“你们要将所赶出的国民侍奉神的各地方，无论是在高山、在小山、在各青翠树下，都毁坏了。也要拆毁他们的祭坛……你们不可照他们那样侍奉耶和华你们的神。”（申命记12:2-4）那应该到哪里去敬拜献祭呢？就是神所选择的居所，简单地说，也就是帐幕和约柜所在的地方。今天的经文最后面我们也看到一个细节，所罗门在耶和华神向他显现这番对话之后，就赶紧怎么样？回耶路撒冷，而不是待在基遍继续在邱坛上献祭敬拜神。“所罗门醒了，不料是个梦。他就回到耶路撒冷，站在耶和华的约柜前，献燔祭和平安祭。”（列上3:15）

所以，我们看到，主耶和华第一次亲自向所罗门在梦中显现所带来的信仰转变和更新，所罗门并没有得到敬拜之事上的直接指示甚或任何提醒，而是因着主的造访和同在，信心得到坚固，不再随大流，不再顺从百姓的意思；他或许去基遍邱坛献祭之前就已经知道这是不合适的，因为约柜和献祭系统是在耶路撒冷，只是百姓都这样做，第二节记载说，“当那些日子，百姓仍在邱坛献祭”，寻找最高的山、最大的邱坛去献祭，也是顺从了外邦的恶习。

我们看耶和华这第一次向所罗门显现的一些细节。主耶和华“向所罗门显现，对他说：‘你愿我赐你什么？你可以求。’”（列上3:5）弟兄姐妹们，我们前面提了所罗门的处境、软弱以及他真正的需要。这里我们看到，主是如何坚固他的信心和更新他的信仰与敬拜。主总是藉着非常好的问题来启发我们。他不是问，“你的愿望、心愿是什么？我给你”，而是“你愿我赐你什么？”这个不一样，弟兄姐妹们，英文翻译更直观一些，“ask what I shall give you.（向我要，我给你的东西。）”

所罗门这个时候是真正谦卑，也是敬畏神，把神放在首位的。他并没有按照世人的期待去求，我们想想自己，我们会不会早已列了一个清单给神看，甚至早已经酝酿好了在心里存着，又或者常常在祷告中提醒上帝，要赐给我这个、赐给我那个，赐给我工作、赐给我身体健康等等。但是，所罗门因着信心知道，这些都是神加添给他的，他要先求神的国，神的义，这也是神所喜悦的祷告，把神家中的事情而不是自己的吃穿住用放在首位。

所罗门怎么回答？首先是感谢赞美，我今天能到这个地步，都是不配得的，都是恩典，你恩待我的父亲大卫，如今恩待仆人坐在王位上。这不是自表谦卑，装假说大话啊，而是真正认识到自己在神面前的位置。人也只有这个时候才能看见自己真正的需要，不然都是眼瞎的，所罗门接着说， “我是幼童，不知道应当怎样出入。仆人住在你所拣选的民中，这民多得不可胜数。”（列上3:7-8）他知道，自己接续父亲大卫作王，不是凭着血统，不是凭着个人能力或威望，而是凭着神的应许作王，因此他是没有半点儿可以自夸的。

其次呢？这个王位所涉及的分量可不是为了自己享受尊位啊。所罗门知道这事关重大啊。因为百姓可不是一般的百姓啊，是“你所拣选的民”。所罗门透过信心，看明自己作王的本质，是给神打工来着，他是真正意义上的“打工皇帝”，因为上面有主耶和华。因此，明白了自己的位份，就知道真正的职责所在，也是自己真正的需要。“所以求你赐我智慧，可以判断你的民，能辨别是非。”（列上3:9）正是这次神亲自显现，让所罗门更加清醒地认识到，自己的职责是要带领以色列民重整信仰，将人心拉回到神那里。这一点，他一直没有忘记，我们从箴言和传道书可以看到所罗门是如何履行自己的教导和治理职责。他也知道，这帮百姓不好带，是，他们是神所拣选的百姓，但个个也都“任意而为”，不受约束，就像他们当初恶待神的仆人摩西那样，出埃及旅程他们那是天天抱怨，甚至还要群起攻击耶和华的仆人。所罗门知道，他需要智慧，来引导神的百姓走在正直和敬虔的道路上。

弟兄姐妹们，我们虽然不是像所罗门那样作王，有这样重大的担子在身上，但是，我们有没有以这样的认识来审视过自己生活中的各种角色呢？尤其是作为父母这个角色，我们是只关心儿女的吃穿住用、技能的训练和知识的积累，还是将他们的信仰栽培放在第一位，高于其他一切的需要？我们培养儿女是为了给自己赚面子，让自己人前有光，还是看重孩子们的灵魂在神面前永恒的价值？我们当中作丈夫或妻子的，是时刻为了满足自己的需要，还是说，神啊，你要我怎样履行自己的天职呼召，荣耀你的名，也能以自己的好行为品格感化自己的配偶呢？我们也需要求智慧，雅各书不也说，“你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐与众人、也不斥责人的神，主就必赐给他。”（雅1:5）

所罗门明白神的心意，也按照神的心意去求，所以也就蒙了悦纳。“所罗门因为求这事，就蒙主喜悦。”（列上3:10）神说，你没有按照人的想法去妄求，“求寿、求富、或求自己仇敌被灭”，而是求智慧治理神的百姓，“我就应允你所求的，赐你聪明智慧……你所没有求的，我也赐给你，就是富足、尊荣……以及长寿。”（列上3:12-14）主耶稣在马太福音6:33教导说，“你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些（吃喝的）东西都要加给你们了。”

弟兄姐妹们，我们读圣经，听主的道，与神相遇是寻找什么？是要求“得救的智慧，神国的义，教会的福祉”，还是地上人间的荣华舒适生活？我们不能天天祷告，还是围绕着柴米油盐、身体健康、吃吃喝喝，我们是否清楚主真正要我们寻求祂赐给我们的东西？我们要像这个时候灵命复兴、信仰更新的所罗门学习怎样寻求我们真正的需要、真正的智慧。自从这次神向所罗门显现，他就致力于敬拜生活的重建，也立志要把圣殿建造好，结果用了七年把神的殿建造完毕，而且他并没有着急为自己建造王宫；当然，后面我们知道，他花了十三年，将近两倍的时间，为自己建造宫室（列上7章）。

从此我们也可以看出，所罗门作为王，他有好的起点，有信心和敬畏，但到最后还是失败了，箴言和传道书有很多自省的话，规劝少年人应该怎样，规劝人当如何敬畏神过于一切。我们也知道，所罗门妻妾成群，娶外邦女子，为她们建造宫殿和拜假神的庙宇，到最后也在信仰上混乱，给百姓也带来了糟糕的影响。列王记上11:1-4“所罗门王在法老的女儿之外，又宠爱许多外邦女子，就是摩押女子、亚扪女子、以东女子、西顿女子、赫人女子。论到这些国的人，耶和华曾晓谕以色列人说：‘你们不可与他们往来相通，因为她们必诱惑你们的心随从她们的神。’所罗门却恋慕这些女子……所罗门年老的时候，他的妃嫔诱惑他的心去随从别神，不效法他父亲大卫诚诚实实地顺服耶和华——他的神。”

最后，以色列人需要，全人类也一样需要，一位完美的、真正的敬畏神的君王到来，那就是智慧本身，道成肉身的救主耶稣基督。他充满智慧，有神的恩在他身上，他本就是智慧，所罗门在自己的箴言书中所讲论和预言的那智慧：“智慧在街市上呼喊，在宽阔处发声……智慧必使你行善人的道，守义人的路……不可离弃智慧，智慧就护卫你；要爱她，她就保守你。”（箴言1:20；2:20；4:6）耶稣基督不仅是我们的榜样，更是我们的“智慧、公义、圣洁、救赎”（林前1:30）。他来了，在父母约瑟和马利亚身边长大，但他常常以父上帝的家，就是教会为念，常常学道，“坐在教师中间，一面听，一面问。”

最终，他以自己完美纯洁、无罪的生命代替我们有罪的，让我们脱离一切的情欲败坏，让我们脱离虚假敬拜和假神的捆绑，所罗门所渴望的这智慧，只是在预言中瞥见，他是带着盼望离世的，并没有见到智慧本身，但这智慧是真真实实成为我们的了，住在我们里面，引领我们行走在公义光明的道路上。求主引领我们，让我们紧紧抓住我们的智慧，就是救主耶稣基督他自己——他也是我们需要的大君王，一位永不失败的君王。奉耶稣的名。阿们。

1 Kings 3:4-15

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

We have all likely heard of King Solomon. He succeeded King David as king, and God bestowed upon him immense wisdom—so much so that he spoke 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs, as recorded in 1 Kings chapter 4. We know that the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in the Bible were authored by Solomon.

In the Old Testament passage we read today, Solomon’s kingdom has just been established. The preceding years were not actually that smooth. Chapter 2 gives us two major events. First, his half-brother Adonijah plotted in secret, winning over the priests and David’s old general Joab to seize the throne. Even Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, was deceived and used by him to speak in his favor. Solomon dealt with this by putting Adonijah and Joab to death. Afterward, he had to resolve a lingering threat: the wicked man Shimei. This was a final instruction given by his father David before his death—that after he passed, Solomon must find a way to put him to death. After dealing with these two matters, the Scripture says, "So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon" (1 Kings 2:46).

While Solomon was stabilizing the internal situation, he also formed foreign alliances through marriage to show goodwill to neighboring nations. Chapter 3 even records that he married Pharaoh’s daughter. According to human wisdom, he had a good situation and a strong start. However, Solomon knew in his heart that he lacked the wisdom to govern such a great nation. God also knew Solomon’s true need. Although Solomon had courage and resolve, and even "loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father" (1 Kings 3:3), he still "sacrificed and made offerings at the high places... for that was the great high place" at Gibeon. He had a heart for the Lord Jehovah, but he was not yet clear regarding the great matter of worship. This also led to a lack of total devotion in his faith, as seen in his marriage alliance with Pharaoh and his taking of foreign wives. Later, he married many women who worshiped other gods, which eventually led to the corruption of his faith.

King David had observed this principle of exclusivity or limitation in worship. We know that during the time of the Judges, everyone did what was right in their own eyes, worshiping God however they pleased. But the Mosaic Law, in Deuteronomy 12, had long ago established this principle: "You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. You shall tear down their altars... You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way" (Deuteronomy 12:2-4). Where then should they worship and sacrifice? At the dwelling place chosen by God—simply put, where the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were located. At the end of today’s text, we see a detail: after this dialogue where the Lord appeared to him, what did Solomon do? He hurried back to Jerusalem instead of staying at Gibeon to continue sacrificing at the high place. "And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings" (1 Kings 3:15).

Thus, we see that the faith transformation and renewal brought about by the Lord’s first personal appearance to Solomon in a dream did not involve direct instructions or reminders regarding worship. Rather, because of the Lord’s visitation and presence, his faith was strengthened. He no longer followed the crowd or yielded to the people’s whims. He perhaps already knew before going to Gibeon that it was inappropriate—since the Ark and the sacrificial system were in Jerusalem—but the people were all doing it. Verse 2 records, "The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord." Searching for the highest mountain or the largest high place to sacrifice was an imitation of pagan customs.

Let’s look at the details of this first appearance of the Lord to Solomon. The Lord "appeared to Solomon... and God said, 'Ask what I shall give you'" (1 Kings 3:5). Brothers and sisters, we previously mentioned Solomon’s circumstances, his weaknesses, and his true needs. Here we see how the Lord strengthens his faith and renews his worship. The Lord always inspires us through excellent questions. He didn't ask, "What is your wish? I’ll give it to you," but rather, "Ask what I shall give you." This is different.

At this moment, Solomon is truly humble, fearing God and putting Him first. He did not ask according to worldly expectations. Think about ourselves—would we have already prepared a list for God, perhaps even rehearsing it in our hearts or constantly reminding Him in prayer to give us this or that, a job, health, and so on? But Solomon, through faith, knew that these things are added by God. He sought first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is a prayer that pleases God—placing the affairs of God's house above one's own food, clothing, and shelter.

How did Solomon answer? First, with thanksgiving and praise: "That I have reached this position today is undeserved; it is all grace. You showed great steadfast love to my father David, and now You have shown favor to Your servant by setting him on the throne." This wasn't false humility or empty talk; it was a genuine recognition of his position before God. Only then can a person see their true need; otherwise, they are blind. Solomon continued, "I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude" (1 Kings 3:7-8). He knew that succeeding David as king was not based on bloodline, personal ability, or prestige, but on God’s promise. Therefore, he had nothing to boast about.

Secondly, he realized the weight of this throne was not for personal enjoyment. Solomon knew this was a grave matter because the people were no ordinary people; they were "the people whom You have chosen." Through faith, Solomon saw the essence of his kingship: he was working for God. He was, in a true sense, a "hired king" because the Lord Jehovah was over him. Having understood his position, he knew his true duty and his true need: "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil" (1 Kings 3:9). It was this personal appearance of God that made Solomon realize more clearly that his duty was to lead the Israelites in reforming their faith and bringing their hearts back to God. He never forgot this, as we can see from Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. He also knew these people were difficult to lead. Yes, they were God's chosen people, but they were also prone to doing "what was right in their own eyes," just as they had mistreated Moses, complaining daily and even attacking the Lord’s servant. Solomon knew he needed wisdom to guide God’s people on the path of uprightness and godliness.

Brothers and sisters, although we are not kings like Solomon with such heavy burdens, have we examined our various roles in life with this same understanding? Especially as parents—are we only concerned with our children’s physical needs, skill training, and knowledge, or do we put their spiritual cultivation above all else? Do we raise children to earn "face" for ourselves, or do we value the eternal worth of their souls before God? For those of us who are husbands or wives, are we constantly seeking to satisfy our own needs, or are we saying, "Lord, how do You want me to fulfill my calling, glorify Your name, and influence my spouse through good conduct and character?" We also need to ask for wisdom. Does not James say, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5)?

Solomon understood God’s heart and asked according to His will, and so he was accepted. "It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this" (1 Kings 3:10). God said that because he did not ask selfishly for "long life or riches or the life of your enemies," but for understanding to discern what is right, "Behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind... I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor... And if you will walk in my ways... then I will lengthen your days" (1 Kings 3:12-14). The Lord Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Brothers and sisters, when we read the Bible, hear the Word, and encounter God, what are we looking for? Are we seeking "the wisdom that leads to salvation, the righteousness of God's kingdom, and the well-being of the Church," or are we seeking a life of worldly glory and comfort? We cannot let our daily prayers revolve only around daily necessities, health, and consumption. Are we clear about what the Lord truly wants us to seek from Him? We should learn from Solomon—at this time of spiritual revival and renewed faith—how to seek our true needs and true wisdom. After this appearance of God, Solomon dedicated himself to rebuilding the life of worship and determined to build the Temple. He finished it in seven years and did not rush to build his own palace; though later we know he spent thirteen years—nearly double the time—building his own house (1 Kings 7).

From this, we can also see that Solomon, as a king, had a good start with faith and awe, but in the end, he failed. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes contain many words of self-reflection, advising young people how to live and urging people to fear God above all else. We know Solomon had many wives and concubines, took foreign women, and built palaces and temples for their false gods. In the end, his faith became compromised, which had a terrible influence on the people. 1 Kings 11:1-4 says, "Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women... For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father."

Ultimately, the Israelites—and all of humanity—needed a perfect, truly God-fearing King to come: Wisdom Himself, the incarnate Savior, Jesus Christ. He is full of wisdom, with the grace of God upon Him. He is Wisdom, the very Wisdom Solomon spoke of and prophesied in Proverbs: "Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice... So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous... Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you" (Proverbs 1:20; 2:20; 4:6). Jesus Christ is not only our example but has become for us "wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). He came and grew up with His parents, Joseph and Mary, but He was always concerned with His Father’s house—the Church—and was found "sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions."

In the end, He substituted His perfect, pure, and sinless life for our sinful ones, to deliver us from all corrupt desires and the bondage of false worship and idols. The wisdom Solomon yearned for was only glimpsed in prophecy; he departed this world in hope, having not seen Wisdom Himself. But this Wisdom has truly become ours, dwelling within us and leading us on the path of righteousness and light. May the Lord lead us to hold fast to our Wisdom, our Savior Jesus Christ Himself—He is the Great King we need, a King who never fails. In Jesus' name, Amen.