And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
Much is made of King Solomon’s wisdom and understanding, but this passage also tells us that God gave him “largeness of heart.” Most of the commentaries I own say essentially the same thing—that this phrase simply re-emphasizes Solomon’s capacity for wisdom and understanding. I believe there is more here worth considering.
The word largeness simply means wide or roomy. Capacity captures the idea well.
The word heart has broad usage in Scripture. It can refer to the physical organ, but also to passion, desire, feeling, wisdom, and understanding. It can speak of one’s inclinations, reflections, convictions, and even moral character. Strong’s definition goes so far as to describe it as “the center of anything.”
May I suggest it means caring?
What good is wisdom and understanding without a large capacity to care for others? What good is the ability to lead without a thoughtful desire for the good of those being led? To what advantage is sound judgment if one lacks the moral character to use it for the benefit of others?
Solomon is not a perfect type of Christ, but in the matter of wisdom there are lessons worth noting. God gave Solomon more than the intellect to lead the nation—He gave him the heart to want to lead it well.
#LargenessOfHeart #GodGivenWisdom #BiblicalLeadership #HeartBeforeAbility #WisdomWithCompassion
Wisdom Isn’t Enough: The Missing Ingredient in Biblical Leadership
If this study challenged how you think about wisdom and leadership, take a moment to join the conversation below. I’d love to hear your thoughts: What do you think “largeness of heart” looks like in leadership today? Your response may help someone else see this passage more clearly.
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