Once Wheat, Now Weed

I am trying  to wrap my head around Wheat and Weeds; and where seed sown by God find good growth — or not.

This is all going on in my brain because I was thinking of Solomon’s request to God in 1Kings 3.  

⁹Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’(1Kings 3)

The first time I read this passage, many, many, years ago, I thought it was the greatest thing one could ever ask of God.  

I still think so.

God was pleased with Solomon for not asking for fame and fortune.

God granted Solomons request and more.

It is what happened soon after this conversation between Solomon and God that intrigues me this morning.

It could be interpreted that Solomon was one who received God’s blessing on good soil.

But somehow Solomon/wheat became Solomon/weed. So maybe God's seeds actually fell on rock soil.

I say this because, as so often happens, ones faith collides with the world
 around them.  

Power often leads to becoming out of alignment with God’s ways.  

It is quite common in todays world as well as ancient times.

People with privilege sadly find it easy to misuse the blessing.

Solomon soon forgot what God told him at the end of His blessing:

¹⁴If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.’

As generous, and gracious, and forgiving God is;  it take an obligation -- a desire -- on our part to try to stay connected with God's will.

Solomon, as far as I can remember, never ask for God's forgiveness for playing God.


There is much more to this circular conversation going on in my mind.  I am not sure where to go with it.  Do any of you gave any suggestions?

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. ²The 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; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. ⁴The 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. ⁵At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ ⁶And 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 towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷And 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. ⁸And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. ⁹Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹God 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, ¹²I 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. ¹³I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. ¹⁴If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.’ (1Kings 3)