The True and Better Solomon

My family and I enjoy going out to eat, but there is one thing that can ruin the adventure. When I am given the menu, I sense the pressure of picking the right dish. And the more options there are on the menu, the greater the pressure to get it right. There have been many occasions where I had to resort to going online to find out what previous customers have ordered. This one decision can make or break the entire adventure. And so I confess, I will usually order based on security, safety, and selfishness.

In Scripture, Solomon is best known for asking the Lord for wisdom when he could have asked for money, power, or fame. The Lord granted Solomon’s request and, as the story goes, Solomon goes down in history as the wisest man who ever lived.

However, the setup of Solomon’s request for wisdom starts with him making an interesting decision. 1 Kings 3:1 informs us that Solomon intermarried—something that was forbidden. It was forbidden because the Lord knew it would turn Solomon’s heart away from Him and toward other gods. Even after receiving wisdom from the Lord, Solomon continued to intermarry throughout his rule and reign. How can such a wise man be so clueless?

King Solomon’s story points us to the story of King Jesus. It may be that King Solomon was born into great wealth and prestige, while Jesus was born in a manger and known for being a Nazarite (John 1:45-46). But King Jesus remains wiser than Solomon because, from start to finish, Jesus chose to obey His heavenly Father.

The next time my family goes out to eat, another menu will be put in front of me and my decision will turn out to be a hit or miss. In our lives, let us be wise and look to Jesus who made every perfect decision to the glory of God.

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:30–31)