Okay, let's jump into this. It's really quite
something when you think about it, isn't it?
No matter who you are, King or commoner, we all
share these basic fundamental human things, birth,
death, the whole journey. Right, it's a universal
starting point. Exactly, and our source material
today really leans into that right from the get
-go. There's this powerful quote, I too am immortal,
the same as all the rest. describing being formed
in the womb, breathing the common air, crying
that first cry. You know, the stuff everyone
goes through. It's very grounding. And then it
makes that point sharp. For no king has any different
origin or birth. One is the entry into life for
all. And in one same way, they leave it. It really
levels the playing field, doesn't it? Totally.
It strips away the status immediately. Which
is, I think, a fascinating way to introduce our
main figure today, King Solomon. Ah, Solomon.
Known famously for his wisdom. Right, the legendary
wisdom. But here's the thing for this deep dive.
We're not really looking at the legends about
him. We want to explore Solomon's own perspective
on wisdom. What did it mean to him? Where did
he think it came from? How did it actually affect
his life? We're digging into his personal reflections.
That's it. We're using his own words as our guide
here, focusing on what he said about his shared
humanity and how he came by this wisdom. Not
later interpretations, just his account. Which
makes it much more direct, much more personal.
So let's circle back to that first idea, his
humility, acknowledging he's just like everyone
else. He really hammers this point home. I too
am immortal. He talks about the 10 month gestation,
being molded, breathing that air, falling on
the earth, wailing. It's so visceral. It is.
And you have to ask, why start there? Why establish
that common ground so firmly before talking about
wisdom? Good question. What do you think? Well,
maybe it suggests that true wisdom isn't about
feeling superior or inherently special. It seems
to grow from recognizing that shared foundation,
that common mortal experience, you know? Like
maybe that humility is a prerequisite. But that
makes a lot of sense. It's like he's saying,
look, I started just like you. And then comes
this big turning point, this moment where he
actively goes seeking something more. Right,
the prayer. Yeah. He says, therefore I prayed
and prudence was given me. I pleaded and the
spirit of wisdom came to me. So it wasn't just
stumbled upon. No, it was sought, but also crucially
given. He emphasizes that. Prudence was given,
the spirit of wisdom came to him. It wasn't purely
his own achievement. Okay. So this interplay
between seeking and receiving, he asks, pleads,
but ultimately it's bestowed upon him. Like a
gift exactly it points to this idea of a divine
source something beyond just human intellect
or effort a gift received and boy Did he value
that gift? I mean the way he talks about it.
It's put above absolutely everything He says
I preferred her deceptor and throne and deemed
riches nothing in comparison with her That's
a huge statement for a king preferring wisdom
over power and wealth isn't it and the comparisons
are just stark gold. It's like a bit of sand
silver just mire. I mean, he's really driving
home how little material wealth matters next
to this wisdom. And it's not just wealth or power.
He goes further. Beyond health and beauty, I
loved her. And I chose to have her rather than
the light. Even light. Wow. Yeah, because, he
says, her radiance never ceases. He values its
permanence, its inner quality over even physical
well -being or beauty or something as fundamental
as light itself. It's a radical reordering of
values. Okay, here's the twist, right? This is
the part that always gets me. He prioritizes
wisdom, sets aside riches, and then. And then.
Yet all good things together came to me with
her and countless riches at her hands. Huh. So
he gets it all anyway. It seems so. But notice
the connection he makes. Because wisdom is their
leader, though I had not known that she is their
mother. It wasn't like a separate reward. It
seems he believed wisdom itself brought these
other good things. So it's not like choose wisdom
or riches. It's choose wisdom AD riches might
follow. Because wisdom is the source. That seems
to be the idea. Like wisdom is the root, the
guiding principle, and other benefits while good
things naturally flow from it. It's a fascinating
concept of interconnectedness. And it wasn't
something he kept to himself, this wisdom. He
felt compelled to pass it on. He says, Calling
it an unfailing treasure that leads to the friendship
of God for those who gain it. So sharing it actually
deepens the connection. Right. It's not diminished
by sharing. In fact, sharing seems... integral
to its nature and its ultimate purpose, that
connection with the divine, it's a gift meant
to circulate. No, what about the content of this
wisdom? What did it actually allow him to know?
It wasn't just like philosophical sayings, was
it? Not at all, according to him. He says God
gave him sound knowledge of what exists, and
then he lists, well, pretty much everything.
Yeah, the list is incredible. Let me see. The
structure of the universe, force of its elements,
beginning in the end in the midpoint of times,
changes in the sun's course, variations of the
season, cycles of years, positions of stars.
Keep going. Nature's of living things, tempers
of beasts, powers of the winds and thoughts of
human beings, uses of plants and virtues of roots.
Whatever is hidden or plain I learned. That's
comprehensive. It really is. It spans cosmology,
physics, chronology, astronomy, zoology, psychology,
botany. It's an understanding of the entire system,
seen and unseen, just immense breadth. And then
he describes wisdom herself or itself. the quality
of it. The adjectives just pour out. They do,
it's quite poetic. Intelligent, holy, unique,
manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain,
never harmful, loving the good, keen, unhampered,
beneficent, kindly. Firm, secure, tranquil, all
powerful, all seeing, and pervading all spirits.
It's like he's trying to capture something almost
alive, almost divine. Yeah, it doesn't sound
like just being smart. Yeah. And the metaphors
he uses. like a breath of the might of God. Right.
And a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty.
Also, the reflection of eternal light, the spotless
mirror of the power of God, the image of His
goodness, it really elevates wisdom, connects
it directly to God's own nature. Absolutely.
It's portrayed as this active pure essence flowing
from the divine. And active is the key word,
isn't it? It's not passive knowledge. She says,
although she is one, she can do all things, and
she renews everything while herself perjuring.
And that it passes into holy souls from age to
age, producing friends of God and prophets, it's
transformative. And then this line, for God loves
nothing so much as the one who dwells with wisdom.
That's... Quite a statement. It really underscores
the significance. It suggests that living with
wisdom aligns you with the divine will, makes
you favored, even loved by God. It's not just
about knowing stuff. It's about a way of being
that God cherishes. He keeps comparing it too.
It's fairer than the sun, better than any constellation
of the stars, brighter than light itself. And
crucially, wickedness does not prevail over wisdom.
Implying its ultimate power and goodness, and
then that final description of its reach. She
spans the world from end to end mightily and
governs all things well. It's this cosmic ordering
principle. Okay, so that's the sort of grand
cosmic view. But he also talks about it really
personally, doesn't he? Almost like a relationship.
Very much so. He uses language of love and courtship.
Her I loved and sought after from my youth. I
sought to take her for my bride and was enamored
of her beauty. Taking wisdom is his bride. That's
intense. It's not just abstract learning. It's
a deep personal connection he's describing. Exactly.
It shows a passionate pursuit and intimacy. And
he believed this close relationship brought tangible
rewards, splendor of companionship with God,
a deeper understanding of God, and guidance in
his works. And practical stuff too, right? Not
just spiritual insight. Oh, definitely. He links
wisdom directly to producing all desirable things,
making one a better artisan. And he explicitly
says she teaches key virtues, moderation and
prudence, righteousness, and fortitude. So it's
the source of skill, virtue, and spiritual connection.
That seems to be the package, yes. He saw it
as foundational to living well and effectively
in every sense. Plus, it gave him foresight,
knowing the past, inferring the future, understanding
language, interpreting signs and wonders, real
depth of insight. And you see this play out in
his life, according to his account. It wasn't
just theoretical. No, he says wisdom was his
counselor in tough times, his comfort, and the
results. glory among the multitudes, esteem from
the elders, even though he was young. Right.
He mentions being keen in judgment and becoming
a marvel before rulers. People would actually
wait for him to speak. Imagine that level of
respect. Rulers hanging on his words. That's
the kind of tangible authority and influence
he attributed directly to having wisdom. It gave
him, he felt. immortality, through memory, and
the ability to govern peoples and have nations
subject to him. A lasting legacy built on wisdom.
A powerful testament to how central he believed
wisdom was to his success and impact. But then,
after describing all this power, all these benefits
he brings it back around, he reminds himself
and us... That he couldn't have possessed it
unless God gave it. Exactly. And knowing that
I could not otherwise possess her unless God
gave it, and this too was prudence to know who's
gift she is, I went to the Lord and besought
him. It's fascinating, isn't it? Even the understanding
that wisdom is a gift is itself part of wisdom,
part of prudence. It circles back to that need
for humility and actively seeking it from the
divine source through prayer. So summing up this
deep dive, it feels like the key takeaways are
Solomon starting from that place of shared humanity,
that common ground. Right, that humility. Then
the act of seeking through prayer, leading to
wisdom as a divine gift. A gift he valued above
literally everything else. power, riches, health,
light. And understanding wisdom as this incredibly
broad, active, almost divine force that encompasses
knowledge of the universe, practical skills,
virtue, and spiritual insight. And which ultimately
brought him not just understanding but also esteem,
influence, and paradoxically all those other
good things he hadn't prioritized. And that crucial
final point, recognizing it all, comes as a gift
that needs to be sought. So, thinking about all
that, reflecting on Solomon's journey, It really
makes you wonder, doesn't it? About our own lives.
Where do we look for knowledge, for insight?
Yeah, it poses a question. In our own search
for understanding, are we perhaps missing a dimension?
Is there a wisdom, in Solomon's sense, connected
to humility, perhaps prayer or reflection, recognizing
limits that we tend to overlook? It's definitely
food for thought. Thinking about those qualities
he has described to wisdom being kindly beneficent,
tranquil, loving the good. Are those just nice
side effects or are they part of the path to
deeper understanding itself? That's a great question
to ponder. Maybe cultivating those attributes
isn't separate from gaining wisdom, but actually
part of the process. Solomon's account certainly
suggests a connection. It's a perspective that
feels both ancient and incredibly relevant. A
reminder that true understanding might be richer
and deeper than just accumulating facts. Indeed.
A powerful reflection on wisdom that definitely
stays with you. Absolutely. Well, thanks for
exploring that with us.