Year One, October 14

Give Your Servant Therefore An Understanding Mind1

We will now return to the historical record with the beginning of the reign of Solomon.

  

1 Kings 3:1; 3-15

1Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. (A questionable beginning. A step full of danger.)

3Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. (Worshiping at the high places was expressly forbidden.2 But the Lord saw that Solomon’s heart was right and did not treat him harshly in this matter.) 4And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” (Solomon worships God by day and God appears to Solomon by night. The night must be happy when the day has been holy. The king had offered a thousand burnt sacrifices to God and now the Lord rewards him in a divine way with a wonderful gift. “Ask what I shall give you.” God is no less generous to each of us today, for Jesus has said, “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”3)

6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

It was a wise choice to choose wisdom. Young Solomon was already wise when he asked the Lord for wisdom. He did not ask for grace. That would have been the best gift of all. But he did choose the second best and his reasons for asking for wisdom should be applauded. He must have given this a lot of thought when he was awake to make such an excellent decision in his sleep.

10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. (The greater includes the less. Wealth and honor may not bring wisdom, but wisdom brings wealth and honor. Let us first seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to us.4 Jesus Christ is infinite wisdom and is the choice of every believer.) 14And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

15And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. (Solomon showed his thankfulness by bringing his sacrifices to the right place—to Jerusalem. Our love to God should always lead us to pay closer attention to his commands. Solomon now had a spectacular life ahead of him and for many years he lived it in the right way. Those who begin life by seeking wisdom may expect success.)

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¹ 1 Kings 3:9

² Deuteronomy 12:1-7

³ John 16:23

⁴ A reference to Matthew 6:33