Although chapter 4 is considerably less memorable than the drama at the end of chapter 3, it is no less a demonstration of Solomon’s wisdom.

Solomon has become ruler of a large and prosperous nation. The writer of Kings tells us that the people were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. It would have been incredibly unwise for Solomon to attempt to manage the whole job of ruling the nation by himself. It was just too big for one man.

So, Solomon delegates. He selects capable and faithful individuals to carry out important roles in the kingdom. In doing so, he shows wisdom not only in being willing to delegate these key tasks to others, but also in choosing the right people for each job. After all, Solomon bore the overall responsibility, so he had to make sure that these people who would work in his name were worthy of the trust he was placing in them.

When we study history, we often study the kings and queens, and gloss over the many other individuals whose wisdom and work kept things running smoothly (or not!). In churches, too, we can easily focus on the leaders but if the body is to function smoothly, all its members need to be playing their part.

Solomon appointed religious leaders, administrators, commanders of the troops, advisers, governors and even people to make sure the king’s palace got the supplies it needed. All types of skills and knowledge were needed. The wisdom to lead, the wisdom to delegate, the wisdom to govern and to organise and to manage are all valuable. Has the Lord blessed you with this different type of wisdom? If so, how can you use it for the Kingdom of God?

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH