(4) The King's Dream

Narrator: Chris Genthree

NEBUCHADNEZZAR went to bed one night in Babylon with the might and majesty of his Empire upon his mind, and wondering what would be the development of it. God graciously answered the poor pagan’s thoughts by showing him in vision Gentile Imperialism as a whole and its ultimate destruction by the superior power of the Kingdom of God (Dan. 2). This was intended to act upon his conscience for his blessing, but no such effect was produced at that time. He was blessed later (Dan. 4).

Solomon went to bed in Gibeon with very different thoughts exercising his mind. He had become the most exalted person on earth, head of God’s chosen people, now triumphant over every foe. He felt the seriousness of his position, and the great responsibilities connected with it (he was scarcely out of his teens), and his heart turned to God. Happy would it have been for the nations throughout the centuries if rulers everywhere had felt as Solomon did that night in Gibeon (1 Kings 3:5-15⁵In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. ⁶And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. ⁸And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. ⁹Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? ¹⁰And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; ¹²Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. ¹³And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. ¹⁴And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. ¹⁵And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. (1 Kings 3:5‑15)).

“Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” A dream is not God’s most intimate way of communicating with men, as He Himself told Aaron and Miriam in Numbers 12:6-8⁶And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. ⁷My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. ⁸With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:6‑8); but it seems certain that Solomon never knew God as his father knew him. He lacked David’s deep spiritual experience, never having suffered as he suffered. David’s years of affliction gave him a knowledge of God from which we all benefit at this day as readers of his Psalms. David could have said like a later poet:

“Deep waters crossed life’s pathway,

The hedge of thorns was sharp.”

Such language would be foreign to Solomon. With reference to the Temple, although denied the honor of building it, it was to David that Jehovah gave all the necessary instructions, which he passed on to Solomon (1 Chron. 28:1-12¹And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem. ²Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: ³But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. ⁴Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel: ⁵And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. ⁷Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day. ⁸Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. ⁹And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. ¹⁰Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it. ¹¹Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, ¹²And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: (1 Chronicles 28:1‑12)). It is also noticeable that David is named in God’s list of men of faith (Heb. 11:32³²And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (Hebrews 11:32)), but not Solomon.

It was after a busy day in Gibeon when a thousand burnt-offerings were offered upon the altar that “Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said. Ask what I shall give thee.” The young king’s answer delighted the heart of God. First, he acknowledged His loving-kindness in giving David a son to sit upon his throne. Then he confessed his own insufficiency for the heavy responsibilities which now lay upon him. Jehovah’s people were a great people, distinguished as His chosen. To guide and direct them aright in their unique relation to God was beyond his power. “I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.” The spirit of the little child―humble, confiding, and teachable―is becoming in us all. The Lord Jesus lays this down in Matthew 18. The concluding verses of chapter 17 give us a wonderful setting for this instruction. Peter made himself foolish with the tax-collector in Capernaum, but the Lord took occasion by it to declare the exalted position in which Peter and every other believer stands in relationship with Himself through grace. We are sons of the Sovereign of the universe in association with the Firstborn! (Heb. 2:10¹⁰For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10)).

The believer in Jesus is thus a very dignified person, according to grace. Note the sequel. “In the same hour (the correct rendering of Matt. 18:1¹At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1)) came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Thus we have to become very small in order to enter into blessing. The next verse teaches us to continue small. “Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 17:24-27²⁴And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? ²⁵He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? ²⁶Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. ²⁷Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (Matthew 17:24‑27) shows us the dignity of grace; Matthew 18 follows suitably, instructing us to keep small and insignificant in our own esteem. Even King Saul was little in his own sight to begin with (1 Sam. 15:17¹⁷And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel? (1 Samuel 15:17)); exaltation and power drew out his inherent pride and stubbornness, to his ruin. A later king―Uzziah―walked well “till he became strong. And when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction” (2 Chron. 26:16¹⁶But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense. (2 Chronicles 26:16)).

Self-importance was the plague of the apostolic band. Even at the Last Supper “there was strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest” (Luke 22:24²⁴And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. (Luke 22:24)). The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to take charge of the Assembly for Christ should have made this impossible in the new order, but flesh is ever restless. The Apostle’s plain injunction in Romans 12:3³For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3) has been but little heeded: “I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” The vastness of the divine immensities that he ministered made Paul feel personally very small— “less than the least of all saints” (Eph. 3:8⁸Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (Ephesians 3:8)). In 1 Corinthians 14:20²⁰Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. (1 Corinthians 14:20) we find a truly impressive appeal: “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye babes, but in understanding be men.” He had no desire that his readers should be childish, but he longed that they might be childlike. “I am among you as He that serveth,” said the Lord to His self-important followers (Luke 22:27²⁷For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luke 22:27)). Did He not wash their feet that very night? (John 13).

Solomon felt that he was “but a little child”; accordingly he seized the golden opportunity divinely given to ask for “an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great people?” His speech pleased Jehovah well. He might have asked for long life or riches, or the life of his enemies; instead he asked for an understanding heart that he might rule well the people of God. Our blessed Lord once said: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” On this principle Jehovah dealt with Solomon. “Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor: so that there shall not be any amongst the kings like unto thee all thy days” (1 Kings 3:11-13¹¹And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; ¹²Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. ¹³And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. (1 Kings 3:11‑13)). This seemed to make the blessing of Israel secure; but God went on to say, “If thou wilt walk in My ways, and keep My statutes.” The priesthood having been in a secondary place since the breakdown of Eli and his sons, everything depended upon the fidelity of the king. The “if” to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:54 was as fatal as the “if” to Israel in Exodus 19:5⁵Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:5), for poor flesh can never be trusted, and Solomon’s failure was truly catastrophic. Blessed be God, all that has been lost by the unfaithfulness of men will be taken up by the Lord Jesus, God’s faithful Second Man, on the principle of grace, and on the ground of redemption. This makes all things sure forever.

Ere we pass from Gibeon, let us ask our own hearts what reply we would give if God were to say to us, “Ask what I shall give thee.” It would be a testing moment assuredly, yea, it would be the turning-point of our lives. Elisha had a moment of testing in 1 Kings 19:19-21¹⁹So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. ²⁰And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? ²¹And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. (1 Kings 19:19‑21), and he responded well to it. He left his farm and forthwith shared the path of the persecuted prophet. Matthew was similarly tested and he abandoned a lucrative calling and followed the rejected Jesus (Matt. 9:9⁹And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)). What do we desire more than anything earth can give? Is it to “know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death?” (Phil. 3:10¹⁰That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)).

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