SOLOMON’S REQUEST
Ask for whatever you want me to give you. 1 Kings 3:5
If God came to you one night and said he would grant your wish for whatever you want with no questions and no strings attached, what would you say? We’ve all heard about the genie and his magic lamp. We’ve read fairy tales about the same, like King Midas, whose wishes brought greater problems than he had before his magical wish.
Twenty-year-old Solomon was about to begin his reign as the new king of Israel. His father, David, left him some huge sandals to fill, and Solomon was overwhelmed with the thought of such responsibility. Young and inexperienced Solomon knew he was in over his head.
God realized Solomon’s concern and appeared to him in a dream asking him to wish for whatever he wanted. Solomon answered with one of the great prayers in the Bible. He prayed, “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. 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’s wish was threefold. To begin, he asked for a discerning heart to govern. He wanted to see things through God’s eyes so he would be a caring and understanding king. Second, Solomon asked for the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. He realized faithfulness to the Lord’s commands would point him in the right direction to govern. Finally, he asked for help in the ability to govern. His governing would only be successful with the help of the Almighty God.
A discerning heart, the ability to distinguish between good and evil, and acknowledging the need for God’s help summed up Solomon’s great prayer for wisdom. God gave Solomon his request.
We should be aware that God makes the same offer today as he did with Solomon. Jesus tells us, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). Even today, God welcomes the prayers of a devout heart.
If God would come to you today and tell you to ask for whatever you wish, what would it be?
From The Gift of Prayer