wisdom

2 Chronicles 1:7-12

7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
8 And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
9 Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
11 Then God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life -- but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king --
12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."

This passage of Scripture really struck me when I reading through it. I always wonder as I read about the course of Solomon's life, how a beginning like this could end so disasterously. But note, the two things he asks for are wisdom and knowledge, which is good as far as it goes. But wisdom can be a two-edged sword, read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Knowledge can also problematical, 1 Corinthians 8:1.

Had Solomon asked first to be a man after God's own heart, as his father David was [1 Kings 9:4-5], perhaps the widsom and knowledge that he had asked for would have borne positive fruit in the end. Read the sad ending of this story in 1 Kings 11.

I think it is interesting that immediately after granting Solomon's request:
"wisdom and knowledge are granted to you"
God says:
"And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."

With all the wisdom and knowledge available to him, he was not able to manage the challenge, or test if you like, of the "riches and wealth and honor" that the LORD had given him.