Ask What You Wish Me To Give You

What if you were given one wish? What would you ask for?

“…the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, ‘Ask what you wish me to give you.'” ~ 1 Kings 3:5

Imagine. Most of us remember what Solomon wished for, but don’t you think he must have possessed some wisdom already in order to ask for it? What a wise, selfless choice this young king made!

“Then Solomon said, ‘Thou hast shown great lovingkindness to Thy servant David my father, according as he walked before Thee in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward Thee; and Thou hast reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that Thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy people which Thou hast chosen, a great people who cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. So give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Thine?'” ~ 1 Kings 3:6-9

How many of us at Solomon’s young age, perhaps twenty, would have chosen to ask such a thing from God? What a beautiful, humble, unselfish request. He acknowledged that God had made him king; he desired to lead God’s people well and recognized his own inadequacies!

I need to be more like Solomon, quick to recognize that I cannot do what is asked of me on my own strength, but rather, I need to ask God for “an understanding heart”, “to discern between good and evil”.

God liked Solomon’s wish. Very much so.

“And it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. And if you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.” ~ 1 Kings 3:10-14

Because of his unselfish, wise request, God blessed Solomon with wisdom, riches and honor, surpassing any man before him, or after.

“For he had dominion over everything west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River; and he had peace on all sides around about him. So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon… Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. And Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt… He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005… And men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.” ~ 1 Kings 4:24-25, 29-30, 32, 34

God, let me have “discernment to understand justice”. Empty me of my own desires, that I might desire more of You!