1 Kings 3:4-15 - The king went to Gibeon to offer
sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a
thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon
during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to
give you.”
Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your
servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and
upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given
him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in
place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to
carry out my duties. Your servant is
here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or
number. So give your servant a
discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and
wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for
this. So God said to him, “Since you
have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have
asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering
justice, I will do what you have asked. I
will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been
anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and
honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep
my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long
life.” Then Solomon awoke—and he
realized it had been a dream.
We will give a one-day shout out to
Solomon, David’s son. After all, he was
the one chosen by God to build the first Temple in Jerusalem, an event of such
importance that it cannot be overstated.
But for me, the most significant thing about Solomon was that he goes
down in history as an icon of wisdom and discernment.
“From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom,
sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.” 1 Kings 4:34
God asks the young Solomon what he
wants and he doesn’t choose wealth, women, power, or the death of his
enemies. He asks for wisdom. Asking for wisdom is itself wisdom. Proverbs 4:7 states:
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost
all you have, get understanding.”
So before God grants Solomon wisdom, Solomon displays
it. God gives him more. Solomon uses it. And using wisdom actually leads to more
wisdom.
The reality is that God didn’t just choose Solomon to have
wisdom. God desires that we all have it
and use it. James 1:5 reminds us that, “If
any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
When was the last time you asked God for wisdom? When was the last time you put some wisdom
God gave you to good use?
Prayer: Lord, give us
wisdom and discernment for these uncertain days. Amen
Prayer Focus: Pray
for our country today that has been further divided by the overturning of Roe v.
Wade by the US Supreme Court.
Song: Wisdom Song -
Laura Woodley Osman
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