2CH 1-2Mamma. Here we read that the Lord was with Solomon and magnified him exceedingly. The first thing that Solomon did was to go up with all the chief people in Israel, to sacrifice to God at the brazen altar that was at Gibeon.
Sophy. Was that the altar that Moses made for the tabernacle?
M. Yes; the tabernacle was still standing at Gibeon. But David had brought up the ark of God to Jerusalem; there it remained in a tent, while Solomon was building the house of God. Solomon offered a thousand burnt-offerings upon the altar. It was an expression on the part of the king and his people that they were a people redeemed out of Egypt, and brought near to God in blessing; because, I hope you remember, that burnt-offerings were always offerings of a sweet savor to God, as we read in the Book of Leviticus.
S. I remember; you said the offerer put his hand on the burnt-offering, and it was accepted for him.
M. Just so. And that night God appeared to Solomon, and asked him a wonderful question. It was a question that we should all like to be asked by the great God, who is able to do for us far more exceeding abundantly than we have asked or thought.
S. I know. God said, What shall I give thee?
M. Yes; and Solomon's answer shewed what is the deepest desire in the heart of man, ever since-Eve ate of the fruit of the tree, because she believed it would make her wise. Solomon longed for true wisdom and knowledge. Solomon felt the great place that God had given him as David's son to rule over so great a people as God's people; and he felt that he wanted wisdom to go in and out before them, and to judge them truly according to God. God was pleased with the king's answer, it showed his sense of his own nothingness and his dependence upon God, and so His gave him wisdom and knowledge above any other man; and a great deal more besides, riches and honor such as no other king had before or after him.
S. Does God ever ask people what they would like now?
M. Not in that way, but I think God often tests His children by setting before them what He means to give them, and then trying whether they understand or value it. God likes His gifts to be valued, and when we choose one thing more than another it shows that we value it. Solomon valued the wisdom of God; he said, all the things to be desired are not to be compared to it; that it is much better to get wisdom than gold or silver. Solomon had more gold and silver and precious stones and beautiful things than any other man ever had, and yet he says: Wisdom is the best thing of all, wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore he says to every one: Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.
S. Does God give wisdom to a little child?
M. Oh, yes; for we read in the Bible of a child who knew the holy scriptures, which are able to make "wise unto salvation," and it is of wisdom that it is written, They that seek me early shall find me, A little child may know Jesus, and He invites little children to love Him. Jesus is made unto us wisdom, and even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. When Jesus was a little child He was "filled with wisdom," and when He was only twelve years old, all that heard Him speak, were astonished at His understanding. One thing it is very important to remember; that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And people who try to be wise without the true beginning, are like the child who takes up a book and thinks he is reading it when he does not even know his letters. In all God's teaching there is first an alphabet-the first letters to the lesson He sets us to learn; and those who learn the first letters well, get to understand His teaching and the wisdom of His ways of love.
S. What is His first lesson? I know my alphabet.
M. God's alphabet, or first lesson, is to fear Him. Even a little child may fear Him, and may try to please Him and to avoid evil because God hates it. God is light and God is love, that is His alphabet. Solomon called every one a "fool" who did not know God.
As soon as Solomon had worshipped at Gibeon, he came back to Jerusalem and reigned over Israel. And he gathered chariots and horses, and silver and precious stones in great abundance.
S. Did Solomon begin to build the house at once?
M. Yes. He built a house for the name of the Lord, and a house for his kingdom. He called upon the king of Tire to help him by sending him cedar and fir trees out of Lebanon. And Solomon counted the people and set them all to work. The house was to be wonderfully great, because it was the type of the Lord's kingdom, and the house was to be connected with the glory of His name. It took some time to collect all the beautiful things that the house was to be made of; but he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
The tabernacle which Moses set up in the wilderness, was set up on the first day of the first month. The month that they came out of Egypt and when the Lamb was killed for the Passover.
The place where Solomon built the house was on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David at the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David had prepared to build there, because it was there the plague was stayed when He prayed to the Lord for Israel.