Wisdom (Part 1): Week 1, Day 1

Welcome to our study of wisdom!  This study is going to be fantastic, and I am so glad that you are here with me.  As we go through this study together, we will be using the inductive method of Bible study.  For more information on this type of study, read My Purpose post.

Today we are going to OBSERVE the text of 1 Kings 3:3-15.  Start by reading this passage slowly, absorbing each word as your read.

3 Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

6 Then Solomon said, “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13 I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. 14 If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

15 Then 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 burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. 

Now read through the text again, and use the following markings:

• Mark every reference to God and Lord using a purple triangle colored yellow, and color all pronouns yellow
• Mark every location by coloring them green and underlining them brown
• Mark Jerusalem, Israel, and any reference to God's people with a blue star of David
• Mark time phrases with a green clock
• Mark the word yet by circling it in blue
• Mark wise and wisdom with a blue cloud colored yellow
• Mark understand and discern by coloring them green
• Mark that, so that, and because by circling them in red

Read back through the text again slowly, and see if these markings bring any more clarity to what you have already read.  Write in your notebook one take-away from today's reading.

Tomorrow, we will INTERPRET this passage of Scripture.  I can't wait for you to gain even more understanding of what we have already read!