Atlanta Westside Presbyterian Church
Hear Here and Forgive
The Holy Host
The Prosperity Puzzle
The Sword of Wisdom
A Listening Mind
Still Among Us
Why the Hark
The Risk and Reward of Waiting
Is it Worth It?
by Walter Henegar
Solomon's prayer of dedication and benediction teaches us how to pray. We have to know who we're praying to (a God who speaks, acts, sees, hears and forgives), who we are in relation to him (sinners, sufferers and saints in desperate need of his help), and what he's up to in the world (blessing the whole world by inviting them into relationship with him, too).
Solomon’s temple spared no expense to create a house for God, with at least three purposes: 1. to preach the point of life (communion with God)2. to showcase the character of God (trustworthy, priceless, beautiful, perfect, holy and merciful)3. to situate us in our story (Garden -> tabernacle -> temple -> spiritual house -> body of Christ -> New Jerusalem)Knowing this, we have all the more reason to prioritize gathering together as a church, so that our lives will increasingly showcase his character.
Solomon's wisdom led Israel into an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity, but at no small cost. His expansive "breadth of mind" illustrated the numerous ways we can serve and glorify God today. God even used him to partially fulfill many of his ancient promises to Abraham: for people, place, protection and a program of blessing the nations. Yet Solomon's achievements still fell short of God's full design for human prosperity, which seeks the advantage of all, not just some. Christians today can pursue God's design not by seizing power or angrily decrying injustice, but by applying God's wisdom to the places he has planted us, and then sharing the fruits of that wisdom as generously as possible.
Solomon's famous wisdom was not a clever trick but evidence of a deep attunement to the heart of God. Three marks characterize it: 1) taking people seriously, 2) listening for the heart, and 3) keeping mercy and justice together. All three are embodied most fully by Jesus, whose cross finally explains how God can show us both mercy and justice. By the grace he earned for us, ordinary Christians now have access to that same wisdom by asking God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.
God’s extraordinary offer to Solomon challenges us to consider how we ourselves might respond. Solomon’s bases his answer on three assessments: of God, of his father David, and of himself. Ultimately, his request for wisdom – for, literally, a “hearing heart” – doesn’t prioritize his own needs, but the common good of God’s people whom he is called to lead. This godly choice can only come from a clear vision of God’s generous, patient, forbearing love, which we experience most fully through trust in Jesus.
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We can forget that for God’s people before Jesus came, waiting for the Messiah involved some risk. If God comes in power, is that good for us or bad? When Gabriel visits Mary to announce the Messiah’s birth, we see that God’s mighty power is pointed toward us in love and because of his grace—to save us. What’s more, it’s worth the risk to obey God while we wait for him to come again, even at personal cost, because through us, God is at work saving others.
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