Frank C. Raccioppi III †

Solomon's Prayer:

"you have shown great lovingkindness to your servant, David, my father,
according as he walked before you in truth & righteousness
& uprightness of heart toward you.

And you have reserved for him this great lovingkindness,
that you have given him a son to sit on his thrown, as it is this day.

Now, O Lord my God,
you have made your servant king in place of my father David,
yet I am but a little child;

I do not know how to go out or come in.
Your servant is in the mist of your people which you have chosen,
a great people who are too many
to be numbered or counted.

So give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people,
to discern between good & evil.

For who is able to judge this great people of yours?"



GOD's answer:

"Because you have asked this thing
& have not asked for yourself long life,
nor have asked for riches for yourself,
nor have you asked for the life of your enemies,

but have asked for yourself
discernment to understand justice...

Behold I have done according to your words.

Behold I have given you a wise and discerning heart,
so that there has been no one like you before you,
nor shall one like you arise after you.

I have also given you what you have not asked,
both riches and honor,
so that there will not be any among the kings
like you all your days.

If you walk in My ways,
keeping My statutes & commandments,
as your father David walked in,
then I will prolong your days."


***then Solomon awoke, it was a dream......

God gave Soloman wisdom & very great discernment & breadth of mind,
like the sand that is on the seashore.
Solomon's wisdom of all the sons of the East
& all the wisdom of Egypt,
for he was wiser than all men.


Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Soloman,
from all the kings of Earth who had heard of his wisdom.



**Soloman acquired an international reputation for his wisdom.
Many important visitors came from far away places to learn from Solomon's wisdom.



When (king) Hiram heard the words of Soloman,
he rejoiced greatly and said:
"Blessed be the Lord today who has given to David
a wise son over his great people".


The Lord gave wisdom to Soloman,
just as he promised him & there was peace between Hiram & Soloman
& the two of them made a covenant.



Word of the Lord came to Soloman saying;

"Concerning this house which you are building,
if you will walk in My statutes & execute My ordinances
& keep all my commandments by walking in them,
then I will carry out My word
with you which I spoke to David your father.
I will dwell among the sons of Israel
& will not forsake My people Israel."




**During the construction of the temple, the Lord spoke to Soloman,
probably through a prophet,
& reiterated that the fulfillment of His Word to David through his son
was contingent on Solomon's obedience to His commands.

**The Lord forewarned Soloman & Israel that the temple
was no guarantee of His presence,
only their continued obedience would assure that.

Solomon stood before the alter of the Lord & spread his hands toward heavan:


O Lord the God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heavan above or on or on earth beneath,
keeping covenant & showing lovingkindness
to your servants who walk before You with all their heart.

O Lord God of Israel,
keep with Your servant David, my father,
that which You have promised him, saying,
you shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel,
if only your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me as you have walked.

O Lord my God
listen to the cry
& to the prayer which your servant prays before you today.

When Your people go out to battle against their enemy,
by whatever way You shall send them
& they pray to the Lord,
then hear in heavan their prayer
& their supplication & maintain their cause.

when Your people Israel are defeated before and enemy,
because they have sinned against You,
if they turn to You again & confess
& pray & make supplication to You,
bring them back to their land which You gave their fathers