Was God Really Happy?
It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 1 Kings 3:10 NASB
Was pleasing – Was God happy with Solomon’s choice? Before you answer, consider the circumstances. Solomon is at Gibeon, making a sacrifice. But according to the prior verses, these high places were not simply alternatives waiting for the Temple to be built. The previous verses of this chapter tell us that Solomon loved YHVH and His commandments, except he made sacrifices at the “high places.” We examined the crucial word, raq, in the past, noticing that this seems to be the fatal flaw in Solomon’s life. He simply did not completely turn away from the idolatry of the surrounding nations. In fact, as we discover later, he was responsible for bringing more idolatrous practices into Israel and into his house.
With this context in mind, it’s hard to understand the use of yatab in this verse. The Hebrew verb is used over one hundred times in Scripture. Generally it means, “to be good, to be pleasing.” Most of the time it implies a covenant relationship, as seen in Psalm 51:18 and Genesis 32:9. Although it can describe human prosperity and good relationships, it always assumes that these are the result of God’s promise and benevolence. That makes it particularly difficult to see how God could be pleased when Solomon’s choice occurs while Solomon is involved in idolatrous practices. But maybe we need to broaden our horizon. Isn’t it possible that God could agree with Solomon’s choice in relation to the other possibilities? That is to say, Solomon’s decision to opt for discernment rather than power and wealth was a sign that he was moving in the right direction. God could find this agreeable, even pleasing, provided that Solomon continued on that path. The fact that Solomon wasn’t on the path prior to the decision and that he later fell from the path doesn’t invalidate the choice of the moment. Solomon’s choice was pleasing because it contained the potential for truly godly governance.
But there’s another little problem here. Solomon seems to be asking for something that God forbid Adam, that is, the ability to discern good and evil. There are certainly deliberate overtones of the Garden story in this account. What we discover as we look closely at Solomon’s life is that this kind of knowledge is beyond human capacity. To have it is to undermine what it means to be human. Perhaps God finds Solomon’s decision pleasing because Solomon asks it only in terms of governing the people. In this limited range, discernment is essential—and God acknowledges that. But where does one stop when it comes to knowing good and evil? Are we as human beings capable of resisting the desire to know all that this kind of power would provide? We learn that Solomon’s gift was expanded to many different subjects. Mystical legends tell us that Solomon even had power over demons. According to these sources, he was a master of the black arts. Did Solomon reach too far? Did God grant him the gift of discernment for governing, only to find that Solomon did not keep the gift under control? If we read a verse that said, “And God was displeased that He had granted Solomon the gift of discernment,” would we be surprised?
Perhaps God was happy when Solomon chose the way of humility. And perhaps God’s pleasure was contingent. Solomon changed the circumstances, and God changed His mind. Isn’t that also what happens to us?
Topical Index: was pleased, yatab, raq, except, only, 1 Kings 3:10
(Our) Father Knows Best
Let us “bottom line” this “wisdom” thing!! What is (sumdumguy inquired) the wisest thing (yes, wisdom too is a choice) any man can do? We don’t have to travel very far to “discern,” – it is to obey God. It is to “shema” our Savior. We He speaks — we should “shema!” (God has spoken!) Trust and Obey! How many examples do we need to see? Let’s play “What if?” What if (again, sumdumguy inquires in 20/20 hindsight) Adam would have listened and obeyed the explicit instructions of His Creator and most Intimate Friend? Wisdom (sumdumguy discerned), or the “wise thing to do” is (hello!) to obey the One who has made us. (Yes, for He has made us – and not we ourselves!) “Shema, O Israel!” What is more pleasing to any father than an obedient child?
Gifts and talents are terrifying because to a person to whom “much has been given, much is required”. It takes an enormous amount of humility to walk safely with such a large load, giving all the credit to the Giver. How human of Solomon to want to keep a “ggodly Babylonish garment” or two, for himself.
God’s election is free for all, but we have to hustle to keep up with ours. I can’t help but think that if Solomon would have continued to reinvest the talents, he could have ushered in a Promised Land for all. Instead, he chose to subjugate all and keep the fun for himself, which he was free to do. Large opportunities foster large temptations. I wonder who of us could have resisted and stayed such a course?
“And God was displeased that He had granted Solomon the gift of discernment,” would we be surprised?
1 kings 11:9 and YHWH was angry (incensed) at Solomon because, he turned his heart from people YHWH.
and the rest of the story follows, but YHWH keeps covenant always and the conditions are conditioned on faithful adherence. (not that there isn’t room for repentance and mercy, because there is) It started off about the people and it ended up about the people, Solomon was a conduit, and so are we.
It is fascinating that YHWH focus on Understanding / discernment (binah) and not Knowledge (Da’at).
When Moses appointed his ministers, this is recorded (Deut.1:13&15 – and I paraphrase):
“Choose wise men with understanding and knowledge…”
BUT
“So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men with knowledge …”
Men cannot (should not) have understanding of matters outside the physical universe, outside the box of time, space and matter.
But it seems that men can be given knowledge of meta-physical matters.
Skip — You wrote in this post that YHWH forbade Adam the ability to discern the difference between good and evil. I want to challenge you on this point and request your insight — From what I understand about YHWH so far, it seems that this couldn’t actually be the case. YHWH clearly gave Adam and Eve instructions on what they were to do, and He also forbade them from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, they clearly were made aware that obeying YHWH was good and disobeying Him was evil — they had the ability to discern between good and evil. Could it be possible that the word “knowledge” pertaining to good and evil has more to do with experience than it does discernment or wisdom? In the way that Adam “knew” his wife Eve, is it possible that YHWH doesn’t forbid His children the ability to discern between good and evil (which I think is clearly the case due to the number of Scriptures instructing us to choose wisdom, righteousness, etc. instead of evil), but rather forbids us from experiencing BOTH good and evil? YHWH clearly desires that we experience right living, but hates wrong, destructive living. What does the word “knowledge” in the original Hebrew mean?
Maimonides offers an answer to your question. Adam knew the difference between right and wrong, but that is not the same as discerning what is good and what is evil. Right and wrong are determined by instruction from a higher authority. Discerning what is good and what is evil means that the authority rests in the one making the discernment. So Adam knows what he is supposed to do because God told him, but that does not make him god. Notice that the serpent says that if they eat of the tree and are able to discern what is good and what is evil, they will be like gods.