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1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 (The Message Version) Then David joined his ancestors. He was buried in the City of David. David ruled Israel for forty years - seven years in Hebron and another thirty-three in Jerusalem. Solomon took over on the throne of his father David; he had a firm grip on the kingdom. Solomon loved God and continued to live in the God-honoring ways of David his father, except that he also worshiped at the local shrines, offering sacrifices and burning incense. The king went to Gibeon, the most prestigious of the local shrines, to worship. He sacrificed a thousand Whole-Burnt-Offerings on that altar. That night, there in Gibeon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream: God said, "What can I give you? Ask." Solomon said, "You were extravagantly generous in love with David my father, and he lived faithfully in your presence, his relationships were just and his heart right. And you have persisted in this great and generous love by giving him - and this very day! - a son to sit on his throne. "And now here I am: God, my God, you have made me, your servant, ruler of the kingdom in place of David my father. I'm too young for this, a mere child! I don't know the ropes, hardly know the 'ins' and 'outs' of this job. And here I am, set down in the middle of the people you've chosen, a great people - far too many to ever count. "Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?" God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon's response. And God said to him, "Because you have asked for this and haven't grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I'll give you what you've asked for - I'm giving you a wise and mature heart. There's never been one like you before; and there'll be no one after. As a bonus, I'm giving you both the wealth and glory you didn't ask for - there's not a king anywhere who will come up to your mark. And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I'll also give you a long life."
Solomon received what his brother Absalom desired and died for. He became king of Israel when his father David died. Scholars disagree as to his age when he became king, some saying as young as 12, others that he was 14, and some that he was 20. He himself says that he was too young. What we do know was that he, like most children, watched and learned from and about his father. One of the most important things he learned, that our children should learn from us, is that we love God. Solomon learned about the importance of worship as an expression of that love, and he saw how God blessed his father because of that love. One of the phrases that Solomon uses to describe that relationship between God and David; "You were extravagantly generous in love with David my father, and he lived faithfully in your presence, his relationships were just and his heart right." That first night after Solomon went to worship and offered up a sacrifice to God, God visits the new king and asks him, "What can I give you? Ask." For many of us this would be carte blanche for anything and everything our human hearts could desire and think of; but to the boy new to ruling and desiring God's blessing, says that he wants, "Give me a God-listening heart so that I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil." He further states that no one on their own can lead people without God. God responds by saying, I will give you a wise and mature heart; no one will compare with you because of this request, and as an added bonus, I'm giving you both the wealth and glory you didn't ask for -- there's not a king anywhere who will measure up to you. "And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I'll also give you a long life."
This applies to our prayer life. Solomon sought to please and worship God through his prayers; what are we doing when we pray? I've often said we treat God as our administrative assistant, sharing with God a To-Do List and asking God to handle these matters and requests and we'll check back with Him in the morning. Are we indeed worshiping God through our prayers, giving God honor and praise and God's rightful place in our lives? Are we sharing with God our love and gratitude for all God has done? And are we asking, as the wise king did, for a "God-listening heart" with which to be guided to make proper decisions and for taking proper action in our lives? If we are, we will be surprised by the blessings that will come our way.
PRAYER: Loving God, grant to us a God-listening heart; make our hearts wise and mature. Help us stay on course as we read Your life-map that we call The Bible and may we see God-signs all along our way. This we pray in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
