ONE GREATER THAN SOLOMON

            Most of the words of wisdom recorded in the Book of Proverbs were written by King Solomon.  He authored some 3,000 proverbs (1Kgs.4:32).  Being favorably pleased by his humility, God blessed Solomon immensely.  As a young king, Solomon petitioned God saying:  Give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil (1Kgs.3:9).   Thus, God granted to King Solomon an exceptionally large dosage of wisdom - - a wisdom that out-stripped all who preceded him and all who followed him (1Kgs.3:12).  His wisdom came to be proverbial - - the fount of his fame and honor.  God granted him a breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore (1Kgs.4:29).   Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all of the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.  For he was wiser than all men… and his fame was known in all the surrounding nations (1Kgs.4:30-31).           

            God also saw fit to grant to Solomon that which he did not seek first and foremost - - riches (1Kgs.3:13).  His reign was vast and well-funded (1Kgs.4:21-28).  King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.  cf. 1Kgs.10:23ff.  When the queen of Sheba caught wind of Solomon’s fame, she traveled to Jerusalem to see things for herself.  She confessed to the king, It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.  Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes have seen it.  And behold, the half was not told me.  You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard…Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel (1Kgs.10:6-9). 

            Yet, as one wades into the New Testament Scriptures, it is not long until he or she reads a self-declaration made by Jesus before the Jewish scribes and Pharisees.  He said to them:  The Queen of the South shall rise up with this generation at the judgment and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, SOMETHING GREATER THAN SOLOMON IS HERE (Mt.12:42).  It may sound braggadocio, but being The Son of God, it was fact not fiction.  In Christ we see and hear wisdom incarnate.  Jesus was sent by the Father to show men how to live out the proverbs.  As John recorded, The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn.1:14).

            In a careful reading of Proverbs chapter 8, one can see wisdom personified.  The language reminds us of the prologue of John’s gospel.  cf. Prov.8:22-23 with Jn.1:1.  Regarding God as The Creator, Wisdom declares:  I was beside HIM, as a master workman (Prov.8:30).  John writes, He (Jesus The Word) was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being by Him… (Jn.1:2-3).  In Prov.8:34-35, we hear Wisdom’s appeal - - blessed is the man who listens to me…For he who finds me finds life.  It’s impossible to read that passage and not think of the words of Jesus recorded in Jn.14:6 - - I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.  One can’t help but wonder if the words of wisdom revealed in the proverbs of Solomon were revealed to him by the pre-incarnate Christ!

                                                                               Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ