Everyone knows Albert Einstein. This man went from being an unknown clerk in a patent office in Switzerland to a Nobel prize winner. To many he is the father of modern Physics. The man was genius personified, but a down to Earth person as this quote from Wikipedia shows:
"In his lecture at Einstein's memorial, nuclear physicist Robert Oppenheimer summarized his impression of him as a person: "He was almost wholly without sophistication and wholly without worldliness . . . There was always with him a wonderful purity at once childlike and profoundly stubborn."
Einstein was a very great man to say the least. I have known many extremely intelligent chemists, but the vast majority of them were not down-to-Earth people, so I think I would have liked Einstein. Not only for his personality, but for his view of imagination quoted in the above picture. Obviously, he was a unique person; one who was blessed by God in a very special way. This reminded me of another individual from the Old Testament who was blessed by God...
1 Chronicles 28:2-10 (WEB)
2) Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, “Hear me, my brothers, and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.
3) But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’
4) However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
5) Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel.
6) He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7) I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.’
8) Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
9) You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
10) Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
2) Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, “Hear me, my brothers, and my people! As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had prepared for the building.
3) But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.’
4) However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
5) Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of Yahweh’s kingdom over Israel.
6) He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7) I will establish his kingdom forever, if he continues to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.’
8) Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
9) You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
10) Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”
1 Kings 3:5-14 (WEB)
5) In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”
6) Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you. You have kept for him this great loving kindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7) Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am but a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.
8) Your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9) Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this your great people?”
10) The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11) God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;
12) behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.
13) I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you, all your days.
14) If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
As much as I think I would have liked Einstein, I think I would have liked Solomon more. His attitude towards God and those under his control revealed a very caring heart; something to be admired. The wisdom of Solomon is legendary as are his judgments. I can not pretend to even remotely understand either of these two people, let alone their imaginations. But God does. And he knows everything about us as well. I wonder what HE would say about the imaginations of our hearts; whether we are blessed with profound intellect or not?