Spiritual Gifts At Gibeon

In I Kings 3:2-15 Solomon decides to go to the "great high place" to worship God. That high place was Gibeon. I Kings 3:4. At this site the wilderness sanctuary was still erected and functioning as a place of worship. Solomon offered abundant sacrifices and felt his great need of Jesus. That night Jesus came to Solomon in a dream and told him to ask of God what Solomon really wanted. In the story Solomon states that he recognizes that he is as a child and he does not know how to go out or come in and that he wants 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." I Kings 3:6-9

The Bible declares that God was pleased that Solomon would have enough sense to ask for this kind of gift. God knew that Solomon had great needs in order to fulfill his promise of being a good king. Ellen White declares that "Solomon was never so rich or so wise or so truly great as when he confessed, "I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in." Prophets and Kings 30 We are to come to God as little children and surrender all of ourselves to Him as the safest position to be in life.

As God listened to Solomon He granted Solomon’s request. In addition He blessed him with additional gifts as well. God granted Solomon a wise and understanding heart, in addition He granted Solomon understanding to discern judgment, and riches, honour, and length of days. I Kings 3:10-14 All of these gifts are conditional depending upon Solomon’s willingness to obey God over even his wise thinking. If Solomon turned from God then these gifts would prove to be Solomon’s undoing. For the wisdom of men is foolishness to God. I Corinthians 3:19
Solomon recognized that God had blessed him and was grateful when he awakened from his dream. Solomon returned to Jerusalem and offered up sacrifices and made a feast to all his servants. I Kings 3:15

Solomon’s experience is a type of receiving spiritual gifts. God clearly blessed Solomon with very important gifts and the gifts were important in running a kingdom. We also know that God, the One who gives all gifts, had outlined a list of gifts in I Corinthians 12:1-14 and includes the following:
The manifestations of the Spirit, the word of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, various languages, and interpretation of languages.
In Romans 12:1-8 we have another list of different activities that is similar in some ways to the list in I Corinthians 12. In the Romans list we have the following: Prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhorting, giving, ruling, and showing mercy.

In Galatians 5:19-23 we have a list of qualities that are developed by disobedience and we have a list of qualities that come of the Spirit. Each reader will have to decide whether these qualities come by works or by gift. In the good qualities list we have: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. This list is amplified to some degree in II Peter 1:4-7 great promises, diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity.

There is another list of gifts that is shared in the Bible and that are clearly granted by the grace of God. These gifts tend to be more on the practical level of gifts but they were needed in the service of God and would still be a blessing to those who have these gifts. This list is in Exodus 35:30-35. In this list are the following: wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in all manner of workmanship, to devise curious works, to work in gold, silver, and brass, wisdom in cutting of stones, carving of wood, to make cunning works, to engrave, embroidery, and weaving. From these gifts, God gave wisdom to complete the various tasks necessary to make the Sanctuary in the wilderness. All of these gifts came by God to complete service for God.

This brief listing of gifts is probably not complete but they are all from God and they are all granted to conduct a work for God. Solomon’s gifts were given to help him rule over God’s people. But one of the primary tasks that God had appointed for Solomon was to build His temple in Jerusalem. God set the stage for this task and Solomon was to take advantage of these opportunities. We to can learn from Solomon and as God requires us to do for Him we can rest in the promises that He will grant us all skills, and all supplies, necessary to accomplish His holy will.