1 Kings 3:9 - Pray for Wisdom and the Best in Life.
1 Kings 3:9 (NKJV) Therefore give to Your
servant an understanding heart to judge Your people,
that I may discern between good and evil. For who
is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
1 Kings 3:9 (NIV) 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 3:9 (NLT) Give me an understanding
heart so that I can govern your people well and
know the difference between right and wrong. For
who by himself is able to govern this great
people of yours?
INTRODUCTION
When given a chance to have anything in the
world, Solomon asked for wisdom""an understanding
heart""in order to lead well and to make right
decisions. We can ask God for this same wisdom (James
1:5). Notice that Solomon asked for understanding
to carry out his job; he did not ask God to do
the job for him. We should not ask God to do for
us what he wants to do through us. Instead, we
should ask God to give us the wisdom to know what
to do and the courage to follow through on it.
[Life Application SB]
How would you answer God's question: "What
shall I give you?" Your answer reveals what you
believe about yourself and the work God has called
you to do. Solomon knew that he needed wisdom
more than anything else, and God gave him that
and much more (Matt. 6:33; Eph. 3:20-21). Prayer
is not simply getting things from God. It is
getting so that we might be able to give to others.
Solomon's concern was ability to serve his people
well. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by
Warren Wiersbe]
COMMENTARY
Solomon Seeks the Highest Good. Those who
today occupy positions of trust should seek to
learn the lesson taught by Solomon's prayer. The
higher the position a man occupies, the greater the
responsibility that he has to bear, the wider will be the
influence that he exerts and the greater his need of
dependence on God He is to stand before God in the
attitude of a learner. Position does not give
holiness of character. It is by honoring God and
obeying His commands that a man is made truly great.
{PK 30.3} [Remnant SB]
King Solomon knew something important:
All the power and wealth in the world were worth
nothing if he didn't have the wisdom to use them
well. He also knew that the responsibility he had
been given to rule the nation of Israel was
beyond his ability. So, when given the opportunity,
Solomon asked God for "an understanding heart" -
wisdom - so that he could rule the nation well. God
was pleased with Solomon's request and responded
by making his wisdom legendary.
It may surprise you to learn that you've
been given a similar offer from God. James wrote,
"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and
he will give it to you" (James 1:5, November
17). God wants to give you wisdom, so he
generously offers to give it if you ask. Of course, you
won't wake up tomorrow and be completely wise.
Instead, wisdom is a process. But when you ask God to
work this way in your life, he helps you to grow
wise through the many situations you face. [The
One Year Bible for New Believers]
Our petitions to God should not proceed from
hearts that are filled with selfish aspirations.
God exhorts us to choose those gifts that will
redound to His glory. He would have us choose the
heavenly instead of the earthly. He throws open
before us the possibilities and advantages of a
heavenly commerce. He gives encouragement to our
loftiest aims, security to our choicest treasure.
When the worldly possession is swept away, the
believer will rejoice in his heavenly treasure, the
riches that cannot be lost in any earthly disaster
(RH Aug. 16, 1898). {2BC 1026.5}
CLOSING PEARL
Imagine if God came to you and said, I
will give you whatever you want. Just ask for
it. What would you pray for?
This actually happened to Solomon when he
was a very young man. He had ascended the throne
to rule over Israel after his father David was
gone. One night God appeared to him in a dream and
said, What do you want? Ask, and I will give it
to you! (1 Kings 3:5 NLT).
Solomon asked for wisdom to rule Gods
people.
Then God said, Because you have asked
for wisdom in governing my people with justice
and have not asked for a long life or wealth or
the death of your enemies"I will give you what
you asked for! I will give you a wise and
understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever
will have! And I will also give you what you did
not ask for"riches and fame! (verses
11"13 NLT).
Is that not the perfect example of what
Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:33? He said, Seek
the Kingdom of God above all else, and live
righteously, and he will give you everything you need
(Matthew 6:33 NLT).
Garth Brooks sings, Some of Gods
greatest gifts are unanswered prayers, but the
fact is that all prayers are effectively
answered.
Sometimes God says no, sometimes God says
slow, and sometimes God says go. In other words,
if the request is wrong, God says no. If the
timing is wrong, God says slow. If you are wrong,
God says grow. But if the request is right, the
timing is right, and you are right, God says go.
If God has said no to your request
recently, that isnt necessarily a bad thing. It
could be a very good thing. Thats because God
sees the big picture. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
ONE LINER
God often chooses the silence of the night
to give His servants instruction. He can then
gain freer access to their hearts than during the
day. There is less to draw the mind from Him
{2BC1026.1}
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
James 1:5-7 - FINDING WISDOM.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200720-0848.html
Matthew 6:33 - Put Jesus First and He Will
Give You All You Need.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210919-1044.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
