The Wisdom of Solomon; Chapter 9

[Seeker]

Chapter Nine

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom

 1  "O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,
     who have made all things by your word,

 2  and by your wisdom have formed humankind
     to have dominion over the creatures you have made,

 3  and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
     and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,

 4  give me the wisdom that sits by your throne,
     and do not reject me from among your servants.

 5  For I am your servant[a] the son of your serving girl,
     a man who is weak and short-lived,
     with little understanding of judgment and laws;

 6  for even one who is perfect among human beings
     will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.

 7  You have chosen me to be king of your people
     and to be judge over your sons and daughters.

 8  You have given command to build a temple on your holy mountain,
     and an altar in the city of your habitation,
     a copy of the holy tent that you prepared from the beginning.

 9  With you is wisdom, she who knows your works
     and was present when you made the world;
     she understands what is pleasing in your sight
     and what is right according to your commandments.

 10  Send her forth from the holy heavens,
     and from the throne of your glory send her,
     that she may labor at my side,
     and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.

 11  For she knows and understands all things,
     and she will guide me wisely in my actions
     and guard me with her glory.

 12  Then my works will be acceptable,
     and I shall judge your people justly,
     and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

 13  For who can learn the counsel of God?
     Or who can discern what the Lord wills?

 14  For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,
     and our designs are likely to fail;

 15  for a perishable body weighs down the soul,
     and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful[c] mind.

 16  We can hardly guess at what is on earth,
     and what is at hand we find with labor;
     but who has traced out what is in the heavens?

 17  Who has learned your counsel,
     unless you have given wisdom
     and sent your holy spirit from on high?

 18  And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,
     and people were taught what pleases you,
     and were saved by wisdom."

[a] Gk slave   Gk thrones  [c] Or anxious  


(NSRV)

"The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1965, 1966 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

[Melody]

One thing strikes me in reading this chapter after chapter 8.

In Chpt 8 we see King Solomon:
(01) Loves Wisdom (vs 2 -8)
(02) Realises it is indispensable (vs 9 onwards).

It ends with this [Chpt 8:21]

But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me-- and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was-- so I appealed to the Lord and implored him, and with my whole heart I said:

After this 'realisation' dawns upon King Solomon, he proceeds to ask the Lord for Wisdom (this chpt) with his "whole heart"

This tells me that if we are to ask for Wisdom using this as our Scripture Based Prayer, we should do so like Solomon - with our whole hearts.

Not only that, his prayer shows his Humility:

5 For I am your servant[a] the son of your serving girl, a man who is weak and short-lived, with little understanding of judgment and laws; 6 for even one who is perfect among human beings will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.

And his understanding that it is with the Wisdom of God that we will be fruitful in our ministry:

10 Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labor at my side, and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.
11 For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her glory.
12 Then my works will be acceptable, and I shall judge your people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

May we all be filled with His Wisdom,

Melody