Good morning,
David dies and Solomon is the new king. While at Gibeon offering sacrifices to God, Solomon has a dream. “…God said, Ask and I shall give thee.” (1 Kings 3:5) Solomon’s response helps us understand Solomon’s heart.
GOD’S OFFER (1 Kings 3:5)
In Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
SOLOMON’S RESPONSE (1 Kings 3:6-8)
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
SOLOMON’S HUMBLE REQUEST (1 Kings 3:9)
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
GOD’S RESPONSE (1 Kings 3:10-14)
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
SOLOMON WORSHIPS GOD AND MAKES A FEAST FOR HIS SERVENTS (1 Kings 3:15)
15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
Solomon had the opportunity to ask anything he wanted. He asked for an understanding heart to discern between good and bad.
Solomon had a humble heart. He was at Gibeon to worship God. When he awoke from his dream, he returned to Jerusalem and worshipped God again. Then he took care of his servants by making a feast for them.
God sees Solomon’s humbleness and blesses him above and beyond his request.
If we had been confronted by God with this question, what would our response been? Are our hearts humble like Solomon’s? Do we care about the spiritual above the physical? What do we worship?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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