Good Morning Friends,
“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.’” (1
Kings 3:4-5)
God made an amazing offer to Solomon – ask for
whatever you want me to give you. What would you ask for if God were make that
offer to you? Perhaps it would be wealth. Perhaps it would be fame. Perhaps it
would be power. Long life … ease … pleasure … what would you ask for?
Here’s what Solomon asked God to give him:
“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.
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?” (1 Kings 3:7-9)
Solomon recognized his own inadequacies and
asked God for wisdom in order to be able to manage the task that God had
assigned him as king. It was a request whose purpose was so that Solomon could
be a better servant of God – more equipped to do what God wanted and to bring honor
to Him.
“The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked
for this.” (1 Kings 3:10) God granted Solomon’s request … and went beyond what
Solomon asked for and gave Solomon what he did not ask for, too – riches and
honor.
Solomon’s story reminds me of the promise of
Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount … “But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things (life and food and clothes and all the things
we need) will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
Seek God … seek to serve Him … seek what He
wants … and God’s blessings will flow to you.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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