Wise Old King Solomon
- 2 Chronicles begins where 1 Chronicles left off—King David has just died and left his son Solomon in charge of Israel.
- The Chronicler lets us know that God is happy with Solomon and that everyone in Israel is faithful to him. After all, they adored his father, so they're ready to be crazy about their new king.
- Solomon's first act as king is to sacrifice burnt offerings at the bronze altar in Gibeon. A thousand burnt offerings to be exact. That's quite the barbecue.
- God is so pleased with Solomon that he tells the new king to go ahead and ask him for anything. Anything at all.
- Solomon resists the urge to wish for more wishes and instead praises God for his goodness and love. He then asks the Almighty to make him wise. That's the only thing that can help him lead God's people. Smart move.
- God's definitely impressed. Solomon could have asked him for money or power, or for the slow and painful death of his enemies. Instead he asks for wisdom.
- So God gives him wisdom and, as a bonus for being so darn humble, he also promises to give Solomon riches beyond his wildest dreams.
- Sure enough, Solomon goes to work establishing Israel as a military and commercial powerhouse. This nation's got armies and chariots and gold, oh my.