AT Gibeon King Solomon offered a huge sacrifice of a thousand cattle.
That great sacrifice stirred up the heart of God, as the soul which offered it pleased Him much.
So there in the smoking clouds, God appeared to Solomon—and it was a breathtaking moment to hear Him speak.
For He asked a man to make a wish: He asked Solomon to state his need.
‘I have seen your heart and your offering, and I am pleased with you this day.
‘Therefore Son of David, ask of Me anything you please, and I shall give you whatever you say.’
Right there where the mortal man bowed, he knew this was a mighty offer.
But his needs weren’t so many to place in a giant offer.
He wanted to ask one thing that is mightier than power and riches. He wanted to own one thing that is chief among so many.
So He answered, ‘O God of Israel, You have loved David and blessed him in his days.
‘And this grace, You have extended to me his son: You have set me on his throne.
‘Still here I am in the midst of the many people you have made me lead – people as many as the stars of heaven.
‘But I am young and greatly lacking. So, please, give to me wisdom and an understanding of heart to lead the people.
‘For how can I lead so great a people of Yours, when I cannot tell between what is right or wrong, what is good or bad!’
Now to this request, the Most High answered:
‘You have asked a good thing, Beloved. For you could have asked for the life of your enemies. Or for riches and wealth, and longevity of days.
‘You could have asked all these things that men seek.
‘But because you have not asked these things, but have asked wisdom and understanding to lead My people—
‘Then wisdom and understanding are yours like the sea sand in abundance.
‘And there will be no one as wise as you among the children of men, either before you or ever after.
‘Also, I will give you fame and riches and affluence, such as no king nor ruler has ever had or will ever again.
‘Now if you obey Me as your father David, then I will lengthen your days also.’
With this words Solomon opened his eyes; and it was a dream, a night dream.
So there he realized that God had visited him in his sleep after he worshipped with sacrifices that day.
Thus the young king was overwhelmed by the words of that dream. He was dazed and completely astonished.
He was at loss at how those things would happen.
◙ ◙ ◙
King Solomon grew and became really great, and he surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
The Israel king gained dominion over the foes whom David his father had conquered in his lifetime. And those peoples paid tributes to the son of David.
They slaved for him through his lifetime.
Then as Solomon reigned over the foes, his own people in Israel multiplied like the sand of seashore. For they prospered in the monarch’s time.
There was peace and safety for as long as Solomon ruled in Israel. And every nation around was either an ally or subject.
King Solomon of Israel became the supreme ruler of all the kings in his territory – from the River Euphrates to Philistia, to the regions of Arabia.
Then the kings of great kingdoms far and near sought the counsel of Solomon, each one bringing presents in silver and gold, robes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
They also brought to him much livestock—hundreds of cattle and sheep, deer and gazelle, fowl and roebucks, and even more.
So they paid tribute by these things every passing year.
King Solomon became so wealthy and affluent that in his reign silver was counted as dung.
For the ruler would tread no passage if his walking path wasn’t paved in gold. Nor would he ride if the chariot wheels were brass.
And he made pure gold as common as the stones on the ground.
Now the Most High gave the monarch wisdom and insight, and knowledge too great to be measured...
As he became wiser than all the men of the East, as well as those of Egypt and Chaldea.
So profound was his wisdom that he spoke of the changing seasons in tandem with the cycle of the moon and the sun, the constellation of stars, and the reasoning power of men.
He composed three thousand proverbs, wrote more than one thousand songs. He made books in art and discovery, in reasoning and religion.
King Solomon spoke of trees and plants, from the Lebanon cedars to the hyssop that grows on walls. He spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.
So the man surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and honour...
And no man had ever prospered with wisdom as the Most High made Solomon do.
Epilogue
After the Fire, came the Wind and after the Wind, the Water.
But Water rose and fell like the Fire and Wind before him. For the one who was known to fear, gave in to the sins he’d feared to love. And he grew to live for nothing more than pleasures.
There were Fire and Wind and Water—three sons of the throne called Flaming. But there came the Fourth Man in that fire: He was born to raise sons to glory.
They call Him the Seed of David, the Sun of Righteousness. And Fire, Wind and Water: for He was born to raise heirs to glory.
They call Him Master, Lord and King. And of His Kingdom there shall be no end.
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