The Pitfalls of Being the Most Wise Person in the World (Guest Speaker: Jazmin Miller)
I Kings 3:1-15
Jazmin Miller is a healthcare chaplain, thriving childless cat lady, and a Portland enthusiast. She has been part of Camas Friends since 2018 and is grateful to have a spiritual home that is supportive of her interfaith work. Jazmin enjoys trying out new things, like karaoke and Pickleball, and also enjoys hiking and reading. Her favorite book is East of Eden and she’s reading it again this summer.
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I Kings 3:1-15 (NRSV):
1 Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt; he took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.
3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”
15 Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem, where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being and provided a feast for all his servants.
Queries:
What roles or dynamics in your life make it hard to accept from others what you are used to offering to them (help, support, leadership, advice, parenting)?
What is your own relationship to wisdom? Is it a bridge or barrier to others?
Are you embracing or resisting the role of timing in your own life?
What ‘time’ is it for you now? What do you need to give or receive?