June 1 — Wisdom That Begins at the Altar

SCRIPTURE READING:

2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 72

SCRIPTURE:

Passage: 2 Chronicles 1

¹ And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

² Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.

³ So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.

⁴ But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.

⁵ Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.

⁶ And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

⁷ In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

⁸ And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.

⁹ Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

¹⁰ Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

¹¹ And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

¹² Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

¹³ Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.

¹⁴ And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.

¹⁵ And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.

¹⁶ And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.

¹⁷ And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.

Passage: Psalm 72

A Psalm for Solomon.

¹ Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

² He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

³ The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.

⁴ He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

⁵ They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

⁶ He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

⁷ In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

⁸ He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

⁹ They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

¹⁰ The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

¹¹ Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

¹² For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

¹³ He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.

¹⁴ He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

¹⁵ And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.

¹⁶ There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

¹⁷ His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

¹⁸ Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

¹⁹ And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

²⁰ The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

DEVOTIONAL:

Solomon’s first public steps as king are strangely quiet: he goes to Gibeon to worship. In 2 Chronicles 1 the ark is in Jerusalem, yet the tabernacle Moses made and the bronze altar are at Gibeon, so Israel is living in a holy “in between” moment. The kingdom is established, but the worship life of the nation is still being gathered into one place. Solomon does not treat that tension like a shortcut problem. He meets God where God has appointed, and he offers costly sacrifices before he asks for anything at all.

When the LORD invites Solomon, “Ask what I shall give thee,” Solomon answers by remembering covenant mercy. He speaks of what God has already done for David, and he feels the weight of governing a people “like the dust of the earth.” His request is not for a private advantage, but for wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before the congregation. In the Old Testament, wisdom is not a clever trick; it is skill for faithful living under God’s rule. That fits the Torah’s picture of a king who must learn God’s law and lead with justice rather than appetite.

God’s response is both gift and warning. The LORD delights to grant wisdom, and He adds riches and honour besides, showing that He is no stingy God. Yet the story of Solomon as a whole will later reveal how blessings can become weighty tests. The same hands that receive gold can start to cling to it. The same mind that sees clearly can begin to rationalize sin. Scripture is honest: God’s generosity is real, and so is the danger of drifting once we have what we prayed for.

Psalm 72 reads like a prayer that stretches beyond any merely human reign. It asks for judgments, righteousness, peace, and rescue for the poor. It pictures a king whose dominion reaches “from sea to sea,” and whose name becomes a blessing to all nations. Solomon may have tasted moments of such wisdom, but no son of David finally carried this Psalm to its full height. The Psalm sets our hopes on the promised King who will rule with righteousness without ever bending toward vanity or idolatry.

Jesus the Messiah is the greater Solomon and the truer fulfillment of Psalm 72. He does not begin His kingdom by grasping power; He begins by obeying the Father, loving the lowly, and giving Himself as a sacrifice. In Him, wisdom is not a trophy for the strong but bread for the needy. When we ask for wisdom, we come through the One who is “made unto us wisdom” and who teaches His disciples to seek first the kingdom of God.

In daily life, Solomon’s night at Gibeon teaches us to move the altar before the agenda. Bring decisions to God before you bring them to your friends, your feed, or your fears. Ask for wisdom that serves your spouse, your children, your co-workers, and your church, not wisdom that merely makes you look impressive. Let Scripture shape what you want, and let prayer humble what you think you deserve.

In U.S. civic life, the virtue of prudence joined to justice fits this reading: leaders need wisdom that protects the poor and judges honestly. Pray for presidents, governors, mayors, judges, and all who carry authority to fear the LORD more than polls or pressure. Christians should show up as steady, thoughtful neighbors who speak truth without swagger and who keep interceding even when the public square feels noisy.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

What does Solomon’s choice to worship before he asks reveal about what he believes God deserves?

Where do you most feel the weight of responsibility right now, and how could godly wisdom reshape the way you carry it?

How does Psalm 72 expand your expectations for what righteous leadership should look like?

What would it mean for you to seek wisdom through Jesus rather than seeking control through your own strength?

PRAYER:

ADORATION:

Holy LORD, You are the Giver of wisdom, the Judge of all the earth, and the Shepherd who defends the needy. Your righteousness is not borrowed, and Your mercy is not fragile.

CONFESSION:

Father, I confess how quickly I ask for results instead of asking for wisdom, and how often I want blessings that would make my name larger rather than Your name honored. Forgive my pride and my impatience.

THANKSGIVING:

Thank You for Your covenant faithfulness to David and for the way You keep Your promises through generations. Thank You most of all for Jesus the Messiah, the King who is righteous and gentle.

SUPPLICATION – GENERAL:

Give me wisdom and knowledge for the duties You have placed in my hands. Teach me to lead with humility in my home, to listen well, to speak carefully, and to love the people You call me to serve.

SUPPLICATION – U.S. / CIVIC:

Grant prudence and justice to those who govern in our land, especially those who make laws and render judgments. Turn our leaders from vanity, protect the vulnerable, and make Your people a praying people who pursue the common good with integrity.

SCRIPTURE: Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? 2 Chronicles 1:10