1 Kings 3: 3-9
Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statues of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
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 to 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, O 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 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?”
A Thought
Solomon’s father David was a man after God’s own heart and he taught Salomon how to love the Lord and to walk in his statues. Solomon became king as a young child and God appeared to him in a dream after he had made a thousand burnt offerings on the altar at Gibeon. God told Solomon to ask for anything that he wanted. Solomon praised the Lord for his great kindness shown to David and that he had given Solomon as his son to govern his great people who are too numerous to count. Then Solomon very wisely asked for wisdom to govern his great people. We can learn from Solomon as to how to receive from God. First we should praise God and acknowledge his greatness. Then when we ask, ask for the things that will help us to accomplish the things that God has called us to do for his glory.
Our Prayer
Father your Word teaches us that we should ask for your wisdom. So we ask now in the name of Jesus for your wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit to lead us to know you better, amen.
