Nebuchadnezzar went to bed in Babylon one night 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 a 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 at this time, but his heart turned to God. It would have been happy for the nations throughout the centuries if rulers everywhere had felt as Solomon did that night in Gibeon.
“The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee." 1 Kings 3:55In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. (1 Kings 3:5). A dream is not God's most intimate way of communicating with men, as He Himself told Aaron and Miriam in Num. 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 in 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.
It was after a busy day in Gibeon when a thousand burnt offerings were offered upon the altar that "The Lord 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. God'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 all of us.
The Lord Jesus puts this before us in Matt. 18. The last part of chapter 17 gives us a wonderful setting for this instruction. Peter did not answer the tax collector wisely. But the Lord took this occasion 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: "At the same time 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." We have to become very small in order to enter into blessing. The next verse teaches us to continue small. "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matt. 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; Matt. 18 follows suitably, instructing us to keep small and insignificant in our own esteem. Even King Saul was little in his own sight in the beginning (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)). But exaltation and power drew out his inherent pride and stubbornness to his ruin. A later king, Uzziah, walked well until he became strong, "But 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 a strife among them who 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 Rom. 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 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. In 1 Cor. 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 children, but in understanding be men." He had no desire that his readers should be childish, but he longed that they might be childlike. "1 am among you as He that serveth," said the Lord to His self-important followers in Luke 22. 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 1 may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people?" His speech pleased God 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 the people of God well. 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 God dealt with Solomon. "Behold, I have done according to thy word: 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 among the kings like unto thee all thy days." 1 Kings 3:12, 1312Behold, 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 3:12‑13). This seemed to make the blessing of Israel secure, but God went on to say, "If thou wilt walk in My ways, to keep My statutes." The priesthood having been in a secondary place since the ruin of Eli and his sons, everything depended upon the fidelity of the king. The "if" to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:1414And 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. (1 Kings 3:14) was as fatal as the "if" to Israel in Ex. 19:5,5Now 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. 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. Before we pass from Gibeon, let us ask our own hearts what reply we would have given if God had said to us, "Ask what I shall give thee." It would be a testing moment assuredly; yes, 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. What do we desire more than anything that earth can give?Is it to know Him and the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings, and being made conformable to 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).)
W. Fereday