10/01/2008
1 Kings 3:4 - 5 (HCSB) 4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”
1 Kings 3:8 - 14 (HCSB) 8Your servant is among Your people You have chosen, a people too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9So give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
10Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had requested this. 11So God said to him, “Because you have requested this and did not ask for long life or riches for yourself, or the death of your enemies, but you asked discernment for yourself to understand justice, 12I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. 13In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no man in any kingdom will be your equal during your entire life. 14If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
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Have you ever imagined finding a magic lamp with a genie inside? He would appear in a puff of smoke and offer to grant you 3 wishes. I’m sure many of us have pondered what those questions might be. No doubt at least one of those wishes would be for some physical desire: riches, a pleasing appearance, fame, or power. But how many of us would wish first and foremost for wisdom?
God appeared to Solomon in a dream and makes an offer to Solomon: “Ask. What should I give you?”
Can you imagine such a thing? We know that Solomon walked in the ways of the Lord in his early days as king. His heart was where it should be. He was still a young man and realized the weight of his responsibility as king and therefore, he requested the wisdom to carry out his responsibilities to God’s people with wisdom.”
Solomon could have asked for wealth, armies, defenses, power, expanded borders, longevity, you name it. But he asked for something that very few of us stop and think to ask for. Because Solomon asked for wisdom to serve, God promised to him wealth, fame, power, and longevity as well.
If God were to ask you what is the deepest desire of your heart, what would that be? Would the answer please God? Do you need to make some adjustments in your thinking and desires?
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
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