Do you remember the story of Solomon receiving wisdom from God? After Solomon became king over Israel God offered to give him whatever he wanted. Solomon asked God for something that pleased God. Solomon received wisdom. What do you ask for in prayer? What would you request if God offered you whatever you wanted?
Let's look at this story of Solomon and his request so we can better understand the good things to ask for in prayer. Solomon was the son of David, King David. David had reigned over Israel for 40 years and reigned successfully. After Solomon was anointed king over Israel by the priest and prophet, by orders of his father David, David died and Solomon became king.
Read 1 Kings 3:3-9.
Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes 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 you."
Now let's look how it came about that Solomon received wisdon from God. What did Solomon ask from God? What do you ask from God?
1 Kings 3:5 says: The Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
What happened prior to God’s speaking to Solomon? He had been praising God and showing his love for God. So after praising God and loving God, God speaks to him. Remember that for future reference. Praising God and showing your love for Him can bring His voice to you.God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Let’s look at Solomon’s answer, prayer and conversation with God in 1 Kings 3:6.
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.”Solomon recognizes all the “great kindness” God showed his Father David. He also recognizes what his Father did to earn such great kindness. David was faithful, righteous and upright in heart to God. Solomon knew what kind of man his Father was to God. Did Solomon know what to ask for because his Father had taught him well in faithfulness to God? Was it Solomon’s upbringing from a great man of God that lead him to the good answer?
What does Solomon say next? Let’s read 1 Kings 3:7:
“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 how to carry out my duties. Stop right here. Don’t move ahead to God’s response quite yet. Let’s look carefully at Solomon’s words to God. First he says “O Lord my God you have made your servant King, in place of my Father David.” I think he is awestruck by this. “…you have made your servant King, in place of my Father David.” Maybe Solomon was thinking “Are you serious God? You have taken me, your servant, to be king in place of my Father, the great King David.” Remember how Solomon had previously described his Father as "faithful, righteous and upright in heart." Is Solomon possibly saying “O Lord my God you have made me ,your servant, king in place of my Father David, the faithful, righteous and upright in his heart man.” Me? In place of my Father King David, faithful and righteous. Me?
Maybe.Next Solomon tells God, “But I am only a little child.” Is he saying “You chose me to take the great King David’s place, me. I am only a little child!” Was Solomon only a little child? It looks like he was about 21 years old when David died. So being in his early twenties really IS only a little child in terms of becoming a King over Israel.
Was he scared and uncertain? Was he young and afraid of such a task? Could he have been worried about replacing his Father, such a great King? I am sure he was feeling all of these things. You can hear it in his prayer to God. Listen again as Solomon prays to God.
“Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.” (1 King 3:7) Solomon tells God, “I do not know how to carry out my duties.” “I am only a little child.” Look at it this way, he is saying “I am not experienced at this. This is new to me. I don’t know how to do it.”
Have you ever felt that way? At any age?
Have you ever felt completely lost because you just did not know what to do? Because you were young? or lacked experience? or perhaps because you did not know God’s will or God’s Word very well? Have you ever wanted to tell God, “I do not know how to do this, God.” “Why have you put me here?” “I do not know what to do in this circumstance.”That is exactly what Solomon was saying to God. David, the great King over Israel, was dead, and now Solomon finds himself king! He tells God “I don’t know how to carry out my duties. I don’t know what to do.” Oh Solomon, we understand that feeling. We too feel like we don’t know what to do a lot of the time. And we pray to God to help us in our circumstances, deliver us, make things better. “Help, God. I don’t know what to do!” Here is Solomon in the same dilemma. He does not know what to do with this circumstance. He does not know how to be king. He does not know how to carry out his duties.
Guess what? I often times don’t know how to carry out my duties either! Whether it be work, parenting, housework, almost everything. I do not know what to work on first with my writing. I don’t know how to be a better parent, how to teach my kids to live Godly lives. I don’t know how to get my house in order. Nothing has worked yet, it seems. Not to say I don’t try to accomplish these things, but I sure wish I had some help, especially some good help, WISE help.
So Solomon is the new King of Israel…what does Solomon ask for after reminding God that he lacked the knowledge and experience to carry out his duties? Did he say “Bring in the troops, bring in the experts, the wise men. I need help!” No, he did not. Did he say “Give this job as king to somebody else." Or "Find someone that is not a little child!” No, he did not.
1 Kings 3:9 reveals what he asked for:
“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 discerning heart is one that has the ability to know what is right. Solomon asked that God give him a discerning heart to understand, or have the ability to know, good from evil. Solomon wants a discerning heart, one that knows what is right. Were you expecting me to say that Solomon asked for wisdom so that he would know what to do? Were you expecting that Solomon asked for God’s wisdom to know how to carry out his duties?
Let’s Read 1 Kings 3:9 again. This time in the King James Version:
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?
What did Solomon ask for? He asked for a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad. Solomon wanted to know how to distinguish from good and evil. Solomon needed help to lead these great people. He wanted “a discerning heart” to make the right decisions.
Now let’s look at God’s response to Solomon’s request. 1 Kings 3:10-12
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have you asked for death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”
Solomon asked for a discerning heart, something that gave him the ability to do the right thing in God’s eyes. He asked for a source that would enable him to make Godly decisions with distinction between good and evil, and God was pleased with this request.
Do you ask God for a discerning heart to enable you to make decisions in your life based on what is right and wrong? Do you ask God to give you a discerning heart, one that is wise, so that you can make decisions based on what is right in God’s eyes? I know Solomon was called to be a king and a leader in need of a discerning and wise heart to administer justice to the people. He absolutely needed this for his role as a Godly king. Do we need it? We aren’t called to be Queens. We aren’t called to be leader’s over such a great group of God’s people, requiring us to administer justice. Or are we?Look at 1Kings 3:11. Look again at what Solomon did NOT ask for: God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor asked for the death of your enemies…” He did NOT ask to be free from a terminal disease, or for lots of money, or freedom from his enemies. Do you ever ask for those things? Do you ask that God keep you safe and healthy so that you have a long life? Do you ask that God give you money and provide for your family? Do you pray that God will give you peace with your enemies? Of course you ask for these things. We all do. That is not a sin or wrong. BUT...
Do we ask for a discerning heart to give us wisdom in making our decisions?
If I had a discerning heart, one that knows the difference between good and evil, could I then know how to treat my enemies and be free from them?
Could I know the Godly, right way to obtain wealth and use it for God’s purposes, not just mine?
Could I know better how to treat my body for a longer life with a discerning and wise heart?
Do you ask for help, things, deliverance, etc. from God to make life easier? Or do you ask God for ways to make Godly and right decisions in life? Do you ask for a wise and discerning heart from God? Do you ask for a heart that enables you to know what is right in God’s eyes? Do you ask for this wisdom, this discernment, that Solomon requested?
When challenges come your way regarding other people a discerning heart from God would enable you to know how to handle difficult situations with them. Your heart would know what is the right and wise thing to do according to God’s will. A discerning and wise heart would know what is the right thing to do regarding your finances. It would recognize good from bad and enable you to choose God’s way. In all areas of life, a wise and discerning heart from God would be the answer to so many prayers!
This week think about what you ask for in prayer. Consider if you have ever followed a request like Solomon. Solomon was given the opportunity of a lifetime. God offered him whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for a discerning heart to know what is right when making decisions. Have you ever in your life asked for not wisdom but a discerning heart in order to make Godly (right) decisions in life?
This week consider such a request. Meditate on the meaning of "a discerning heart." Meditate on how it might feel to have a discerning heart when facing decisions and everyday life. Think about the benefits it would bring. Do this prior to asking God for it so you really know what you are asking of Him. Next week if you are ready, we will spend time asking God for a discerning heart but will understand more what we are seeking. Meditating this week just on the meaning of "a discerning heart" and it's benefits will bring us to a more serious decision when asking God for it.
A discerning heart:
- can distinguish between right and wrong
- understands the difference between good and bad
- has the ability to know what is right
- knows the right thing to do
- looks for what is right in God's eyes
a discerning heart.
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