What is your heart’s desire? What blessing would you most like to receive? Happiness? Wealth? Fame? Power? Freedom from responsibility? To gain the love of a special someone? To be reunited with those who have passed away?
When God appeared to King Solomon in a dream, Solomon didn’t ask for any of these things. Instead, he simply asked for an understanding heart so that he could be a better king, so that he could administer justice to the people God had entrusted to him (I Kings 3:9). It’s a selfless request, and thus an admirable one.
And God gave him what he wanted. In fact, God indicated that in making such a request, Solomon demonstrated that he already had a wise and discerning heart (I Kings 3:12). Moreover, God said that He would give Solomon the wealth and the glory he had not asked for ( I Kings 3:13).
But God added a warning to His words of blessing – He warned Solomon not only to try to understand His law, but to keep it (I Kings 3:14). It would thus be Solomon’s obedience, not his keenness of mind, that would guarantee a long life for him. Indeed, that’s the same thing Solomon’s father David had told him – walking in God’s ways and keeping God’s commandments would be the key to his success and to the longevity of his dynasty (I Kings 2:3-4).
So, how about us today? Will we follow Solomon’s example of seeking to love and serve others? Moreover, will we also strive to love and obey God in all things? Or will we remained focused on ourselves, just trying to get what we want out of life?
I Kings 3:1-15 (NASB)
Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the city of David, until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.
2 The people were still sacrificing on the high places, because there was no house built for the name of the LORD until those days.
3 Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place; Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”
6 Then Solomon said, “Thou hast shown great lovingkindness to Thy servant David my father, according as he walked before Thee in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward Thee; and Thou hast reserved for him this great lovingkindness, 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 in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know 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 who cannot be numbered or counted for multitude.
9 “So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Thine?”
10 And it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,
12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.
13 “And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
14 “And if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”
15 Then 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 burnt offerings and made peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
