Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for June 5, 2022

A Hearing Heart

1 Kings 3:1-28

1. Introduction

• 1-2 Kings: selective history covering 400 years with 50,000 words
• succession (1), security (2) and sufficiency (3)

2. Supplication for Wisdom 4-15

• preliminary connections (verses 1-3): marriage, sacrifice, house, love
• Yahweh’s appearance to Solomon in a dream
• Yahweh’s invitation to Solomon: “Ask…”
• Solomon’s request
• incentive of generosity
• foundation of faithfulness
• priority on the people of God
• principle of the Lord’s pleasure

3. Verification of Wisdom 16-28

• proof from a court case
• two prostitutes and two babies
• Solomon calls for a sword!
• identification of the real mother
• confirming testimony in Israel

4. Personification of Wisdom

• vocabulary of 1 Kings 3 and Isaiah 11:1-4
• how Solomon’s wisdom points beyond itself (1 Cor. 1:30, Col. 2:3)

5. So What?

• Because God is the source and standard of wisdom, ask for a hearing heart that enables growing conformity to Christ.
• Analyze your “asking.” What do you want most?
• Take James 1:5 seriously!
• “Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise; Thou mine inheritance now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, high King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.” (“Be Thou My Vision,” M. Byrne)