“And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 30 Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations.32 He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. 33 Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. 34 And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.”
1 Kings 4:29-34 NKJV
“So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. 23 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 24 Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year.” 2 Chronicles 9:22-24 NKJV
God only wise,
So Solomon became rich and famous anyway because of his wisdom. But every gift comes with temptation because the enemy is jealous of what of Solomon having Your blessing. Not that we want to give the devil any attention but to remember he is a liar and to be forewarned. We have all felt good about something we have done for You and done well. And that is a good feeling. But I know the times that in my heart I gone a step further and have preened myself and thought didn’t I do well.
Solomon must have known, under the weight of all his responsibility, that he could not do it without You, God. I love the verse from 1 Kings 4:29 that Solomon had largeness of heart like the sands on the seashore. Was the writer remembering God’s promise that Abraham’s descendants would be as numberless as the sand on the seashore(Genesis 22:17). His heart was for the people he served. (Sadly later we see the ladies leading him led astray.)
It is hard to have largeness of heart and serve the people around us when they do not always want to know about You, Lord. But like Solomon we see all You have given us in creation, people and the wisdom of knowing You and being loved by You. We seek Your presence, our King, and today is a day of praise.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 26th April 2026
Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before You,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the gloom of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thu art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
The video omits this last verse:-
Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
Lyrics: Henry Van Dyke