“…the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I WILL give it to you!” Solomon answered, “Now, O LORD my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I AM LIKE A LITTLE CHILD who doesn’t know his way around…Give me AN UNDERSTANDING (šāmaʿ: to listen and obey you) 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?” (1 Kings 3:5, 7-9)
So, The Lord was pleased that Solomon had ASKED FOR WISDOM, 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! No other king in all the world will be COMPARED TO YOU for the rest of your life!” (1 Kings 3:10-13)
Peter makes this statement about the Lord, “Truly I see that God is NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS…” (Acts 10:34) I mention this because Jesus said, “ASK and it shall be given to you; SEEK and you shall find; KNOCK and it shall be opened to you. For each one who asks RECEIVES; and he who seeks FINDS; and to him who knocks, IT SHALL BE OPENED.” (Matt. 7:7-8) God does not favor Solomon over any of us who are faithful and obedient followers of Him. Here is what I say to all of us reading this,
“Let us therefore COME BOLDLY to the throne of grace, that we may OBTAIN MERCY and FIND GRACE TO HELP in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
-Bill Stockham