Podcast Introduction

Today is history Tuesday and we’ll begin the book of 2 Chronicles with chapters 1-5. After the reading I’ll have some comments. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “The Best Request."

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Corey Agopian on Unsplash

Comments on 2 Chronicles 1

Solomon now begins his reign as king. It seems that his first order of business was to strengthen his hold on the kingdom. In 1 Kings, chapter 2, we read that shortly before his father David died, he gave Solomon instructions on what he should do to accomplish this. And it looks like Solomon wasted no time.

Also, we're told in 2 Chronicles 1 that God was with him and highly exalted him. God seems to be pleased with how Solomon began his reign.

Then he brought all Israel together to make a very special sacrifice of 1,000 burnt offerings to God. This seems to have been to show that he would seek God as the leader of the nation.

That night God came to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask. What should I give you?"

Of course, the implication is that He would have given Solomon anything that he asked for, isn't it?

Can you imagine? Anything! Wow. Wouldn't it be great if God made that kind of offer to you? What would you ask for? 

But wait! He has made that offer! Don't believe me?

· Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).

· If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7).

· Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14).

Those promises apply to every believer, beloved. The question is, have we availed ourselves of them?

We all know what Solomon's request was. He asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead Israel. Please note that he asked for *both* wisdom *and* knowledge. Knowledge without wisdom can be a very dangerous thing. For instance, it's one thing know how to use a gun, but if I don't have the wisdom to know when to use it, great harm could not be far away.

And God said, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king, 12wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, wealth, and glory, unlike what was given to the kings who were before you, or will be given to those after you.”

So Solomon had made a good request, don't you agree? 

But did he make the *best* request? Let's think about this.

Did he ask for a deep and abiding love for God and the desire to follow Him, and lead the people in how to be devoted to God, as his father had? Would this have been even better? Surely, as we've seen David was a flawed man, but his love of God never waned. David ended his life still in love with God. As we shall see, this was not how Solomon ended his days.

Solomon is thought to have been between twenty and twenty-five years old when he took the throne. What generally happens to young people when they attain great wealth? It ruins them. Not always, but quite often.

Perhaps it would have been better if Solomon had asked for a heart devoted to God, it would have been the best request.

Adam Clarke, who lived from 1762 to 1832, was a Methodist theologian and Bible scholar, wrote these words about Solomon: “Instead of being the wisest of men, did he not become more brutish than any man? Did he not even lose the knowledge of his Creator, and worship the abominations of the Moabites, Zidonians, and [so forth]? And was not such idolatry a proof of the grossest stupidity? How few proofs does his life give that the gracious purpose of God was fulfilled in him!