Solomon, Who Asked for Wisdom

Open Your Bible

1 Kings 1:32-40, 1 Kings 3:1-15, 1 Kings 4:29-31, 1 Kings 8:32-34, 1 Kings 8:35-40, 1 Kings 8:51-61, 1 Kings 9:1-7, 1 Kings 11:1-4, 1 Kings 11:9-13, 1 Kings 11:26-43

Start each day by reading the passages listed above. Then use the summary and reflection provided here to guide discussion around the daily reading.


Solomon was the last king to reign over the united nation of Israel. Early in his reign, he asked God for wisdom. He later led the construction of the first temple. Yet he compromised his faithfulness to God by marrying hundreds of women who did not worship God, personally committing idolatry, and oppressing the people. 


Consider the details of Solomon’s story. What aspects are surprising or unexpected?

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38 thoughts on "Solomon, Who Asked for Wisdom"

  1. Kaylee Mahoney says:

    Even someone as wise as Solomon can get caught up and loose sight. Completely lost.

  2. Terri Honeycutt says:

    It surprised me that he had wisdom but couldn’t see his own foolishness with women and idolatry.

  3. Tasha Adams says:

    Solomon loved the Lord so much as stated in 1 Kings 3:3, but then he sinned by bringing wives from the other nations that God told Solomon and the entire nation of Israel not to associate with.

  4. Terri Baldwin says:

    Solomon was not a puppet king. God did not force him to do what was right. Rather, God laid out His will, blessed Solomon with wisdom, and expected the king to obey. In his later years, Solomon chose to disobey, and he was held accountable for his decisions.

  5. Terri Baldwin says:

    Yes, Solomon’s prayer reminds us that right and wrong are real; good and evil exist. And some things are right or wrong for everyone. Solomon’s prayer also reminds us that we often need wisdom to discern what they are; we often need wisdom to discern the difference between right and wrong, good and evil.

  6. Aimee D-R says:

    It shows me that satan will never stop tempting and I have to stand firmly planted in authority and in the Word with my eyes on Jesus

  7. Adrianne says:

    I think it’s always surprising how whenever us humans get an ounce of good fortune and pride that we inevitably fall down the rabbit hole of bad influences. God gave Solomon everything he needed to be fruitful in his position as King, but he ended up succumbing to worshipping other beings. It’s always sad to see that outcome especially since we can look back and understand the issue.

  8. Mercy says:

    Happy Monday she’s.
    What a privileged life we read about today. Though what drew my attention was his father’s legacy. God honors king David’s faithfulness so much that He pardons Solomon’s sin and deals graciously with him still. (1 Kings 11:34: ” … I will not take the whole kingdom from him but will let him be ruler all the days of his life for the sake of my servant David”). This encourages me so much as a parent to serve God wholeheartedly, like king David as a parent did, so the Lord will be merciful to my children even in their going astray. The story of wives leading Solomon’s heart away to other gods prompted me to pray for godly and virtuous wives into the sons of our family and for sons in future generations in our family line. May our children never give in to lust and outward appearance and marry an unequally yoked spouse to bear grief later… and worse to cause God’s anger to arise (1 Kings 11:9). May they seek inward beauty which is the woman who fears the Lord and that woman is worthy to be praised.
    @KATHY: praise God you are back and what an incredible turnout.
    @ERB: lovely to see you dear friend!
    Be blessed dear sisters.

  9. Alayna P. says:

    What surprised me how far he turned from God in the end. He started off asking for wisdom, being greatly blessed, building the temple but then he just kept falling further and further away until he got to the point where he thought he could actually defeat God’s will (when he tried to have Jeroboam killed). It’s such a sad, cautionary story.

  10. Rhonda J says:

    It always confused me that Solomon had great wisdom…FROM GOD…yet, failed. If he had so much wisdom…how did he go his own way, and marry lots of women? (That is stupidity :))
    I guess now I understand it better now that I have more wisdom! :) We are all still sinners, and need a Saviour!! Hallelujah, we have God’s mercy and grace!

    @Kathy…thanks for sharing, that sounds amazing!! (I could not do a hard floor or the non-hot shower!!) It’s wonderful that so many kids went to help and crews!! I hope we keep shining God’s love to all!! Thank you for leading!!

  11. Kimberly Z says:

    3 And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. – 1 Kings 9:3 what a great reminder to walk in line with our savior. I often get overwhelmed by sin. What if I sin too much and I will be punished not getting things I want in life? I know that not to true but it is a fear of mine.

  12. Nora Lowrey says:

    Thank you God for filling me with Jesus so I am not depending on the wisdom of man as we can see by Solomon will always let us fall short. At the end of each day, please let me repent for my weakness and turn to Jesus for the only healing to make me acceptable in your eyes. Amen.

  13. Tricia Cavanaugh says:

    Amen Sharon! Thank you for the prayer for all of us Sisters.

  14. Erica Chiarelli says:

    I am always sad when I read of Solomons heart turning from God b/c of all the women he married…it’s important that any of our relationships we enter in be equally yoked, especially marriage! If not, we may be tempted to turn from our 1st love! Also, we must ask for wisdom in this life, James tells us God will be glad to give it to us generously!

  15. Kathy Stansell says:

    Thank you to everyone who prayed for our mission trip to Westfield, IN. It was an incredible week. There were 175 campers representing 11 churches and 9 states. We had 30 crews and worked on 23 sites and completed 100% of the work. My crew tore off a porch that was rotted and built a 6×8′ porch and stairs.
    The theme for this camp was “Forged” and we looked at Romans 5:1-4. We focused on verses 3 and 4. “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
    This was such a timely theme given what we’ve all been through over the last 3 years. It was so good for those students to be given the truth that we may belong to God, but that doesn’t make us immune from suffering. But, if we continue to put our trust in God He will help us persevere, and push through to the other side. We came full circle back to hope by the end of the week.
    It was an incredible week. I am still exhausted, but I wouldn’t trade a minute of sleeping on the floor and taking lukewarm showers.
    Thank you again for your prayers.

  16. Allison Bentley says:

    Also on another note it’s always the women who are pulling the men away from following g Gods ways. I feel God is tugging on my heart to remind me that I AM a Woman of God and my role is to continue to pull my family closer to God!

  17. Allison Bentley says:

    Thanks you Kelly (Neo) for pointing out this foreshadowing. Never noticed it before. Also what stood out the most to me is the God KEEPS HIS PROMISES!!!! “For the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem that I chose”. What a beautiful reminder that God will prevail!!! In todays times I am sometimes overwhelmed by fear (the ways of the world) and this right here reminds me of who is in control and who has already won!!! Lord may you forgive, act, and give to everyone according to all their ways, since you know each heart and please Lord give me your servant a receptive heart to discern between good and evil!!!

  18. Stacey E says:

    This is why it’s so important to be equally yoked. The Lord gave Solomon a receptive heart, duscernment, and more wisdom than all of Egypt, but yet his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods.

  19. Cheryl Blow says:

    I don’t think it is surprising that after all Solomon did and how the Lord blessed him, that when started doing what God had told him not to do that he was less away from God. We as believers have to constantly be on guard against idolatry. It is so easy to go along with what the world is doing. Praying, reading God’s word, and asking God to search our hearts. Then humbling ourselves before God in repentance.

    Staying faithful to God is work but our lives will be blessed. Search my heart, O God and see if there is any wicked way within me.

  20. Sharon, Jersey Girl says:

    What’s surprising to me is that Solomon who was the wisest man that ever lived – could forsake God, disobeying His command on intermarrying and fall for Satan’s tactics – which led him to worship false gods! We are all human, we all sin – Solomon himself said it. (1 Kings 8:46) But Solomon, so wise, so discerning – you would expect more. I guess that goes to show that no matter how wise or discerning we are, we are not exempt from Satan’s traps and snares and we need to be extra cautious and always be prepared for battle. Spending time in the Word and in prayer daily, is a great starting point but we need to be consciously aware every minute of every day, that we need the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in us so that we do not fall. (Galatians 5:16) Recently I was listening to a sermon by Chuck Swindoll and he made the statement that we can go days, weeks even without sinning – if we are daily walking in the Spirit and aware of His presence. Wow! I thought – because I didn’t think I could go a day without sinning. It is not the temptation that’s the sin – it’s yielding to the temptation.
    It’s truly sad how Solomon started out with such determination to live for God but ended his life so far from him…take heed lest we fall.

    Father God, help me to daily walk in your presence. Help each one of my SRT sisters to do the same. We are often weak, please make us strong in You. May we seek You daily, with all our heart, soul and mind – and may You be glorified in all that we say or do. In Your Name, Amen.

    Blessings to you all today – lifting you up in prayer!

  21. Ashley Banks says:

    ❤️

  22. Cee Gee says:

    Surprising or unexpected: the fact that not only was Solomon disobedient in marrying a foreign wife he blatantly took 700+ to himself. How could he thumb his nose at God after entering the covenant with God and the blessings heaped on him? May God guard my heart and soul against such blatant disobedience. Against any disobedience, but especially such that would lead others astray.

    Reading a little on Jeroboam, I saw a reference to Galatians 6:7 –
    “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” NLT

    REA QUEEN – great verse!

    Have a blessed week, ladies! Looking forward to hearing about your mission trip, KATHY STANSELL!

  23. Audren Phalen says:

    It just surprises me that he remembered that he had so many wives and who he had etc…. And he was the wisest person at the time! And still fell short! It really shows how weak we really can be at any given moment.

  24. Maria Baer says:

    Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

  25. Maria Baer says:

    Salomon’s complacency once he built the altar and grew older seemed to have been his downfall. And it makes you wonder if that complacency clouded his God given wisdom. Interestingly to me is that in other stories about Kings, usually a prophet warns the King before it’s too late. But I do not see it here. Instead God himself appears to Salomon with his verdict. Imagine having God come to you to condemn you. The topic of his wives and how they led his astray to worship other gods, reminds me of Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, where Paul advises God’s people to be aware that yoking with people who serve other gods or who follow lawlessness, darkness, and idol worship only leads to darkness and distancing from God.

  26. Michelle Patire says:

    It’s funny, the other day I was at a friend’s house and I was talking about how messed up it was that God allowed these kings to have all these wives. How did I skip over the consequence of this last time I read 1 Kings? It says that because of this choice, the kingdom was ripped out of Solomon’s son’s hands. All they had was a small portion of Israel. Obedience is the key to success in the eyes of the Lord. He repeats Himself over and over- to “do what is right in My sight, to keep My statues and My commandments” (1 Kings 11:38) – yet our flesh fights so hard against the will of God.

  27. Maria Baer says:

    Salomon’s complacency once he built the altar and grew older seemed to have been his downfall. Having 700 hundred wives. How?

  28. Jeanie Mclellan says:

    Amen

  29. Kristine Loughman says:

    Here is Solomon, who asked God for wisdom and became renowned in all the land for his knowledge. He lived in a time of unprecedented peace and thus had time to build a magnificent temple from resources gathered from the kingdoms around him. And yet, for all his wisdom and blessings, he still found himself astray. It’s a good reminder to remain aware, remain vigilant. Even in times of peace, it’s possible to wander off the path.

  30. Rea Queen says:

    Train me, God, to walk straight; then I’ll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear. (Psalm 86:11 MSG)

  31. Erica Christian says:

    I am just as guilty as solomon. I may not burn incense or make sacrifices on altars but i do elevate or idolize other things in my life. God, search my heart and fill me with your wisdom so that I never place anything above your glorious name. Thank you for your Son, who through Him, I can know and receive your amazing Grace! In Jesus name!

  32. Danielle B says:

    What surprised me was as a man of wisdom, he must have turned aside from it to have so many wives of various nations. Did Solomon know and choose his own desires anyway? How often do I know the wise choice but choose my own desires?

  33. Kelly (NEO) says:

    ERB❤️

  34. ERB says:

    May we always put God first and always put His will and Way before our own. Thank You Father for Your faithfulness and for Your promises fulfilled!! Amen.

  35. Lois East says:

    Lord, help me to always be mindful of where you brought me from and all the good thing you have done.

  36. Lexy May says:

    May we always seek wisdom and discernment when we ask for God to move in our situations.

    May we remember that our choices matter…big and small.

  37. Lexy May says:

    As Solomon did, may we always ask for wisdom and discernment when we seek God’s hand to move in our situations.

    And may we always be reminded that our choices

  38. Kelly (NEO) says:

    Benaiah asked that the Lord confirm Solomon as the next king. God did by splitting open the earth (1Kgs1:40) during the celebration of Solomon’s anointing as king.

    There is not a record of God’s Spirit coming on to Solomon like it was recorded as happening with David.

    KATHY STANSELL – hope your missions trip went well