By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Mobile
GRANTED
1 Kings 3:4–15
God offers (4–5)
Solomon’s defining moment came in the context of worship at Gibeon. Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar at Gibeon. This was not a private ceremony but a national act of worship (2 Chron. 1:2–3).
By any standard this was a staggering act of devotion. As king of Israel Solomon was demonstrating his love for the Lord.
In response to Solomon’s worship and leadership, the Lord appeared to him in a dream with a stunning offer: “Ask. What should I give you?” This was no ordinary dream because the Lord and Solomon carried on a conversation.
This was a divine revelation. God’s offer was a remarkable act of divine generosity. It also amounted to a reaffirmation of the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:8–16).
Solomon’s act of worship led to the defining moment of his life. When we worship by intentionally setting our mind’s attention and heart’s affection on God for who He is and for what He has done for us in and through Jesus Christ, we will find ourselves in a place where we can discern the will of God more clearly.
Solomon Answers (6–9)
Solomon responded to God with gratitude, humility and boldness. His praise focused on God’s great and faithful love for his father, David. His father had lived a faithful life before the Lord.
But Solomon understood God’s initiating grace and generosity providentially orchestrated all that had occurred. Solomon knew his presence on the throne of his father was living evidence God’s great covenant love continued.
Solomon next focused on his problem. He humbled himself before the Lord by acknowledging it was the Lord who had made him to be king.
Further, he described himself as a “youth with no experience in leadership.” He was immature and inexperienced with respect to his new responsibility to lead the nation. His new calling overwhelmed him.
We can learn much from the way Solomon prayed. First, he filled his mind with a sense of God’s greatness and grace. Second, he humbled himself in dependence upon the Lord. Third, he lifted up his request.
Think of all he could have asked the Lord to grant him. But because he focused on God and his own inadequacy, he made a request that brought pleasure to the heart of God.
Given his personal dilemma, Solomon asked for “a receptive heart.” Solomon prayed for God to grant him a hearing and obedient heart.
He felt a need to hear God’s guidance and direction as he sought to lead the people. He needed divine discernment to be able to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and falsehood. Solomon wanted divine help so he could faithfully perform his duties as king.
God Provides (10–15)
God granted his request. Though Solomon could have prayed for selfish favors such as wealth, long life or revenge, he desired the ability to lead well and help others.
God blessed Solomon with discernment so he could administer justice.
The word discernment conveys the idea of being able to distinguish between options, seeing whether something is right or wrong, wise or foolish.
Along with discernment God granted Solomon wisdom. Biblical wisdom is not about intellectual genius so much as it is about the ability to live rightly and reverently before the Lord.
God not only granted Solomon’s request, but He also promised to bless Solomon with riches, honor and a long life if he followed God’s ways. God’s covenant with David is eternal, but Solomon could be replaced by another “son of David” if he disobeyed the Lord.
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