Saturday, February 11, 2023

GOD rewards Solomon

 

1 Kings 3:3

King James Version

3 And Solomon loved the Lord, 

walking in the statutes of David his father: 

only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.


If GOD asked what you desired, what would you say?

What would you ask for?

Here's what king Solomon asked for:

1 Kings 3:4-10

King James Version

4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; 

for that was the great high place: 

a thousand burnt offerings 

did Solomon offer upon that altar.

5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon 

in a dream by night:

and God said, 

Ask what I shall give thee.

6 And Solomon said, 

Thou hast shewed unto thy servant 

David my father great mercy, 

according as he walked before thee in truth, 

and in righteousness, 

and in uprightness of heart with thee; 

and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, 

that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, 

as it is this day.

7 And now, 

O Lord my God, 

thou hast made thy servant king 

instead of David my father: 

and I am but a little child: 

I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people 

which thou hast chosen, 

a great people, 

that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart 

to judge thy people, 

that I may discern between good and bad: 

for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, 

that Solomon had asked this thing.


What a lovely request!

"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart 

to judge thy people, 

that I may discern between good and bad"


Pleased at his request, the LORD answered:

1 Kings 3:11-14

King James Version

11 And God said unto him, 

Because thou hast asked this thing, 

and hast not asked for thyself long life; 

neither hast asked riches for thyself, 

nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; 

but hast asked for thyself understanding 

to discern judgment;

12 Behold, 

I have done according to thy words: 

lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; 

so that there was none like thee before thee, 

neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee 

that which thou hast not asked, 

both riches, 

and honour: 

so that there shall not be any among the kings 

like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, 

to keep my statutes and my commandments, 

as thy father David did walk, 

then I will lengthen thy days.


Upon waking up, Solomon worships the LORD.

1 Kings 3:15

King James Version

15 And Solomon awoke; 

and, behold, 

it was a dream. 

And he came to Jerusalem, 

and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, 

and offered up burnt offerings, 

and offered peace offerings, 

and made a feast to all his servants.


The next post shows an event which soon after tested Solomon's new-found wisdom.


Image: Free Bible Images


WISDOM from ABOVE

  1 Corinthians 2:9 King James Version 9 But as it is written,  Eye hath not seen,  nor ear heard,  neither have entered into the heart of m...