1 Kings Spirituality Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)

Quote #1

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, 'Ask what I should give you.' And Solomon said, […] 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. […] Give 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?' It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 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, 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. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.' 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. (NRSV 3:5-7, 9-15)

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, […] O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. […] Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. (KJV 3:5-7, 9-15)

It takes a spiritual person to see the Lord in dreams, don't you think? The Lord is pleased with Solomon's request for wisdom, perhaps because, unlike long life, riches, or the defeat of his enemies, it isn't a selfish desire. Solomon only wants to be able to judge the people and discern between good and bad. The desire for internal (rather than external) expansion is probably included in any definition of spirituality.

Quote #2

Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 'Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, obey my ordinances, and keep all my commandments by walking in them, then I will establish my promise with you, which I made to your father David. I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.' (NRSV 6:11-13)

And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel. (KJV 6:11-13)

God is promising that not only will he be with Solomon himself, but he'll "dwell among" all of the people in Israel. If that doesn't make them a more spiritual bunch, we don't know what will.

Quote #3

And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Then Solomon said,
'The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. I have built you an exalted house,
a place for you to dwell in for ever.' (NRSV 8:10-13)

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. (KJV 8:10-13)

Most of the time when God manifests himself to people, he does it one-on-one. But here, he appears as a cloud of glory in the presence of a huge crowd of Israelites. God's willingness to show himself to the kingdom as a whole marks a high point in the spiritual life of the nation.