Understanding I Kings 3:1-15

Solomon before Understanding Treaty with Pharaoh Treaty with Pharaoh Married Pharaoh’s daughter Married Pharaoh’s daughter A Nation sacrificing at “High places” A Nation sacrificing at “High places” Himself sacrificing at “High places” Himself sacrificing at “High places” Youth – without understanding Youth – without understanding Loved God Loved God Walked in His statutes Walked in His statutes

What Solomon Saw His father David’s righteous heart His father David’s righteous heart His Father’s sins His Father’s sins God’s mercy to his father God’s mercy to his father God fulfilling His promise God fulfilling His promise His responsibility His responsibility His own shortfall for his task His own shortfall for his task God’s ability to help him God’s ability to help him The difference between Good & Evil The difference between Good & Evil

What Solomon Received Understanding Heart Understanding Heart To Discern Justice To Discern Justice Judge between Good & Evil Judge between Good & Evil Long life Long life Riches for himself Riches for himself Honor Honor The life of his enemies The life of his enemies Not another king like him in his day Not another king like him in his day Wisest ever to live Wisest ever to live

Our Understanding

Before Understanding Futility of mind Futility of mind Understanding darkened Understanding darkened Alienated from life of God Alienated from life of God Because of ignorance Because of ignorance Hardening of heart Hardening of heart Claiming to see when you do not Claiming to see when you do not Sin blinds – we don’t see Sin blinds – we don’t see Self Righteousness Self Righteousness

About Understanding It is hidden It is hidden It is difficult to find It is difficult to find It is findable It is findable There is only one source for it There is only one source for it The Jot & Title matter The Jot & Title matter God gives without partiality God gives without partiality It is for the “Simple” It is for the “Simple”

Why is Understanding important? Without faith it is impossible to please God Without faith it is impossible to please God Faith comes from hearing the Word of God Faith comes from hearing the Word of God Faith is based on truth Faith is based on truth Blind faith is not what pleases God Blind faith is not what pleases God Hearing and not understanding is vain Hearing and not understanding is vain Understanding is essential to our Faith Understanding is essential to our Faith It is the link between Truth & Faith It is the link between Truth & Faith

How do we get it? Ask, Seek, Knock – Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, Seek, Knock – Matthew 7:7-8 Find the Jots & Titles Find the Jots & Titles Read - Proverbs 2:1-11 Read - Proverbs 2:1-11 Incline your ear Incline your ear Beg Beg Lift up your voice Lift up your voice Go in your closet Go in your closet Cry out Cry out Be with your family (Spiritual) Be with your family (Spiritual)

Understanding God In all things – II Timothy 2:7, II Pet. 1:3 In all things – II Timothy 2:7, II Pet. 1:3 All things are plain – Proverbs 8:1-11 All things are plain – Proverbs 8:1-11 Words of the Kingdom – Matthew 13:19 Words of the Kingdom – Matthew 13:19 It builds up – I Corinthians 14:11-17 It builds up – I Corinthians 14:11-17 Love is greater – I Cor. 13:2, Eph. 3:19 Love is greater – I Cor. 13:2, Eph. 3:19 Peace passes it – Philippians 4:17 Peace passes it – Philippians 4:17

Discerning Good from Evil In life’s most important decisions In life’s most important decisions In life’s everyday decisions In life’s everyday decisions Avoiding the pitfalls Avoiding the pitfalls Thinking we have U when we do not Thinking we have U when we do not Knowing we don’t and pretending we do Knowing we don’t and pretending we do Having U, but not confidence to use it Having U, but not confidence to use it Having some U and thinking it is enough Having some U and thinking it is enough

Discerning God’s Justice It is not based on our righteous deeds It is not based on our righteous deeds It IS based on Jesus’ gospel It IS based on Jesus’ gospel The words Jesus spoke WILL judge us The words Jesus spoke WILL judge us The Jot & Title’s matter The Jot & Title’s matter Justification is for the Simple Justification is for the Simple Contact with the blood comes with Adult Baptism Contact with the blood comes with Adult Baptism

Our Condition? Without understanding

Our Task? Greater than our ability

Our sacrifices? In “High Places?”

Our Love? For God & His statutes

Our Request? Understanding

Discernment

Truth

Open our hearts to see the Truth

God’s response? “I have spoken to you”

God’s response? “I will give it to you”

God’s response? “You will get more than you asked for”

What will you ask for?

What will you do with it?