Wisdom Amidst the Noise

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I should give you” [1 Kings 3:5].

While some—perhaps many—might not recall the specifics of how Solomon came to be gifted with wisdom, few within our Judeo-Christian society would be unaware of that important Solomonic characteristic. Indeed, politicians, church and business leaders, educators, and others are often invited to exercise “the wisdom of Solomon.” And, of course, who can forget Solomon’s wise solution to the question as to which of two women was the mother of one baby [1 Kings 3:16-28]?

This week’s OT reading [1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, RCL, Year B] provides us with the holy context surrounding Solomon’s wisdom. The unnamed author of First and Second Kings—many have concluded it was the prophet, Jeremiah—relates that King David sleeps now with his ancestors and is buried in Bethlehem [2:10], having reigned as king for 40 years.

Solomon’s succession to the throne is not a done deal. While God had promised David that after his death, God would raise up David’s “offspring” and would also establish his kingdom [2 Samuel 7:12], Solomon hadn’t been mentioned by name. Sifting through the scriptures, it appears that David sired 19 sons. While some predeceased David, there were still plenty around who could be considered as rivals to Solomon.

Solomon’s ascension was largely due to the efforts of his mother Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan, who convinced David to name Solomon officially as his successor (1 Kings 1:11-31). The newly anointed king seems unsure of himself. He has a second throne brought it and placed to his right. It is a throne for his mama [2:19].

This week’s lesson begins with the young king being attentive to Yahweh. Solomon has offered burnt offerings in the city of Gibeon. The relationship between Israel and this city is important. Those in Gibeon had been the only Canaanites to negotiate peace with the Israelites. Gibeon was also the site of the battle in which Yahweh stood the sun still in the sky while Joshua and the Israelite soldiers fought against the Amorites [see Joshua 10].

There in Gibeon, in recognition of Solomon’s devotion, and to fulfill Yahweh’s promise, the LORD comes to Solomon in a dream and asks the young man what Yahweh should give him. Solomon’s famous answer: wisdom.

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this [1 Kings 3:10].

Scripture teaches that Solomon was the wisest man ever. He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1005 songs [1 Kings 4:31-32]. Leaders from all the surrounding nations came seeking his counsel. And yet, if one digs deeper, despite Solomon’s wisdom, not all his decisions were sound. There was, for example, his insatiable taste for women. He had 700 wives from foreign territories and 300 concubines, “and his wives turned away his heart” so that he was not true to Yahweh [1 Kings 11:3-4]. He taxed his people heavily and, emulating the Egyptians before the time of Moses, utilized forced labor [1 Kings 12:4]. Some of his critics cogently argued that his many political alliances came with dangerous conflicts of interest. Perhaps worst of all, his practice of continuing to sacrifice in places like Gibeon went against the centralized worship that Yahweh had intended and established.

It seems it is one thing to have wisdom and quite another to utilize it effectively. Ah, thank Goodness, we’ve made great strides in gaining and utilizing wisdom since the time of Solomon—Not.

Solomon’s story reveals a profound truth about wisdom: it’s not a simple gift that, once received, solves all problems. Rather, wisdom is a complex attribute that requires constant cultivation, application, and vigilance. Even the wisest among us can falter if we become complacent or allow other influences to override our better judgment.

In our own time, we see countless examples of intelligent, educated individuals making poor decisions. From business leaders engaging in unethical practices to politicians prioritizing short-term gains over long-term consequences, it’s clear that knowledge alone doesn’t prevent missteps. Like Solomon, we too can fall prey to our desires, biases, and external pressures, even when we know better.

Today, we face an additional challenge that Solomon never encountered. We live in an age of unprecedented access to information. One might think this abundance would make us all as wise as Solomon. One can quickly consult the Internet with a query: “How many sons did King David have?” The search engine quickly returns: “19” [I confirmed that number by checking the always reliable, The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (vol. 1, A-D, p. 772]. I’d certainly sound smart if I added, “Six were born in Hebron, while 13, including Solomon, were born in Jerusalem.” Such knowledge—assuming that I can remember it—does not make me wise. Indeed, all too often, like the Ancient Mariner in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem, we often find ourselves surrounded by an ocean of data but parched for true wisdom. As Coleridge wrote:

Water, water, every where,

Nor any drop to drink.

Our digital culture often encourages quick, surface-level engagement with ideas. It devises denominational seminars offering “Six Steps to Church Vitality.” It offers manuals entitled, “Church Growth 101.” However, wisdom typically requires deep reflection and contemplation. The constant notifications and stimuli from our digital devices make it hard to focus and reflect. During the past half hour, as I’ve worked on this paragraph, I’ve received seven emails, plus two other notifications. And I have my iPhone silenced. Data, data everywhere, but where is the wisdom?

This digital deluge stands in stark contrast to the life of my close friend, Luke Bell. Luke has no Internet connection. He doesn’t need one, since he has no computer. For two hours the other day, I lost my connection and had to hurry off to a coffee shop to get my fix of data and caffeine. Luke chuckles when he allows that he does have a “not-so-smartphone.” Since he has no email address, a “dumb” phone is all he needs.

I’ve laughed with him, “You don’t have an iPhone, but you do have the LORD.” He does, indeed. All the while, I’m trying to incorporate generative A.I. into my world, and Luke still writes his sermons with pen and ink. Go figure!

While digital technology connects us in unprecedented ways, wisdom often grows in moments of solitude and deep thought. How can we strike a balance? Should we strike a balance? Our digital world often prioritizes speed and instant gratification. Wisdom, however, often requires patience and a long-term perspective.

In seeking wisdom, we’re called to emulate Solomon’s initial approach—turning to God. This may seem counterintuitive or impractical in our fast-paced world, but it’s essential for cultivating true wisdom. The Internet doesn’t point us toward truth. We can only encounter truth when we encounter Jesus Christ, since He, after all, is the Truth.

You might consider incorporating practices that may seem out of step with our digital age, but which align with our faith:

1. A semi-weekly Digital Sabbath: Set aside one day each fortnight to disconnect entirely from digital devices, creating space for prayer, reflection, and direct engagement with God and others.
2. Lectio Divina: This ancient practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer encourages us to engage deeply with God’s word, moving beyond mere information to transformation.
3. Examen: A prayerful reflection at the end of the day to discern God’s presence and guidance, helping us develop the habit of seeking wisdom in our daily experiences.

These practices aren’t about being practical; they’re about being faithful. They ask us to slow down in a world that constantly urges us to speed up, to seek depth in a culture that often prioritizes breadth—to follow Luke’s example of “seeking the vertical, instead of the horizontal.”

Solomon’s story reminds us that wisdom isn’t just about what we know, but about how we apply that knowledge in faithful obedience to God. In our information-saturated world, perhaps the most valuable form of wisdom is the ability to discern—to separate eternal truths from fleeting data, meaningful insights from mere noise, and faithful choices from worldly expediencies.

Like Solomon, we’re called to seek wisdom not for our own benefit, but to better serve God and others. This pursuit may often lead us down paths that seem impractical or even foolish to the world. Yet, as the Apostle Paul reminds us, “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom” [1 Corinthians 1:25].

In a world awash with information, may we have the courage to seek true wisdom, not through endless accumulation of data, but through faithful seeking of God’s presence and will in our lives.