Yesterday, we saw how God’s wisdom qualified Solomon to compose Proverbs. Today, we’ll examine the second of his credentials.
2. God’s Promise.
The Lord himself promised to build up and sustain Solomon in his wisdom. First, he promised him a kingdom. Speaking to Solomon’s father David, God said, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:12, ESV). Second, he promised to have a special relationship with Solomon: “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him” (2 Samuel 7:14, ESV). Third, he promised to love him to the end: “My steadfast love will not depart from him” (2 Samuel 7:15, ESV).
Notice how these first two resources (God’s wisdom and God’s promise) are connected. Solomon could have all the wisdom in the world, but without the promise of God to sustain him, it would all be for naught. Imagine studying for a test. You can learn every fact and formula. You could even memorize a transcript of every word your teacher spoke in class. These actions might impart wisdom to you. But if you get no sleep the night before the exam, you will have no power or ability to recall and apply everything you learned. So God’s wisdom gave Solomon the raw insight he needed, and God’s promise gave Solomon the beautiful power of follow-through.
Jake Swink says
The power/wisdom corollary that you pointed out Peter, greatly shows the work of an infinitely involved creator. This amazes myself. It shows up again and again in Bible study, how does an infinite God care about people as such a limited level.