9 ‘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?’ 1 Kings 3
Solomon had gone to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Lord, a thousand burnt offerings by a king and during the night God spoke to him in a dream. I imagine Solomon was surrounded by people during the day, but God came to him while he slept.
5 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.’
What a question for God to ask. No matter what Solomon asked for, God was able to give it to him and it’s the same for everyone today. God’s arm is not too short to save. Numbers 11:2
King Solomon began by thanking God for all His kindness to his father David and for bringing him, David’s son, to reign after him. This had been strongly contested by two of his brothers and no doubt Solomon would have died if they’d been successful. Solomon firstly acknowledged how much he and his late father owed God before he said anything. We could learn much from His example. God may want to speak to us as our Father before He gives what we’re asking of Him.
7 ‘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. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 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?’
Solomon was aware of his duties as a young and inexperienced King and his request centred on his responsibilities for GOD’S PEOPLE. By asking for wisdom to administer justice to those under his rule, he gained much more. We all have responsibilities before God, whether it be for a business, a church or our family and we need God’s guidance and support in our own lives.
God blessed Solomon like few other people in history and His blessings overflowed to all the people of God under his care. God often uses one person to bring blessings to many others and indeed He still blesses those who are good to His Covenant people the Jews. The city of Belfast, N.Ireland, near where we live was a centre for industry started by Jewish businessmen in the 1800s. (The Titanic was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard.)
The proving ground for King Solomon’s new gift came in a very unusual way. A dispute between two prostitutes over the life of a baby boy was brought to the King to settle. RELIGION WOULD NEVER HAVE TOUCHED THIS but God chose the situation to confirm the gift of wisdom He’d bestowed upon Solomon and restored the infant to his mother.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:31 to seek God for the greater gifts, an invitation to all His children.
Also Remember, ‘the gifts and callings of God are without repentance (He never takes them back)’. Romans 11:24
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.