1 Kings 3:11
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;
At Gibeon by night God answered Solomon at the beginning of his reign, when he felt as a little child unable to lead so great a people without divine aid. He had asked for an understanding heart to judge rightly between good and bad, and not for long life, riches and honor, nor victory over his enemies. His speech pleased God because it was unselfish, valuing the wisdom that would glorify God and fit him for faithful duty above every earthly good. Therefore God gave him a wise and understanding heart with none like him before or after, and added riches and honor beyond other kings which he had not asked. Length of days was promised only if he would walk in God's ways as David had walked, and his prayer stands as the pattern for all with responsibility today, who receive wisdom by earnest dependence on God but fall when they trust themselves.
Prayer God Approved
The answer was given in a dream by night at Gibeon at the beginning of the reign after succeeding David. At that time the new king was impressed with the solemnity of his responsibilities and felt helpless without divine aid to lead a great people that cannot be numbered. He confessed himself as a little child who did not know how to go out or come in. Though rich in talents and ability and afterward to become the greatest, richest, and wisest earthly king, he felt his need in that hour.
What he asked when told to ask what should be given him was an understanding heart to judge the chosen people, to discern between good and bad and to discern judgment. He sought wisdom to judge rightly and fairly and to do faithfully the work of king over them. The gift was sought to govern effectively, to direct important and difficult affairs, and to carry out the charge laid upon him. The speech pleased the Lord, and He commended it.
He was pleased because for himself Solomon had not asked long life, nor riches, wealth, or honor for himself, nor the life of his enemies or victory over them. The choice set understanding to discern judgment above every earthly good. That understanding meant quickness of mind, largeness of heart, and tenderness of spirit.
The request was unselfish, with no selfish aspiration to gain knowledge that would exalt him above others. He chose the gift that would make his reign bring glory to God and enable faithful duty. He desired to rule justly and felt unable to bear his great responsibilities alone without divine guidance. He was never so rich or so wise or so truly great as when he confessed his childlike helplessness.
Gifts God Promised
Because this desire was in his heart, God gave him according to his words a wise and understanding heart, with superior wisdom and knowledge imparted in answer to his asking for understanding to discern judgment to judge God's great people. There was none like him before him, and none would arise like him after him, making him the wisest king that ever sat upon the throne. This was the wisdom he had valued above every earthly good for doing the work given him as king.
God also gave what Solomon had not asked, both riches and honor beyond other kings, so that none among the kings would be like him all his days. The riches and honor were added above all kings to the wisdom and understanding granted for judging rightly and fairly. What he did not request for himself was thus bestowed freely with what he did request.
Length of days was added only on condition that he would walk in God's ways and keep His statutes, judgments, and commandments as David his father walked. If he would so walk and keep them, God would lengthen his days and establish his throne, that his reign might exalt Israel as a light to surrounding nations. His prosperity and kingly influence was of God and would never have been taken from him if he had continued to obey all the commandments of the Lord, so blessing went with obedience with warning to remain humble and obedient.
The gift enabled him to judge wisely, govern Israel effectively, manage the business matters of the kingdom, direct every important enterprise and difficult matters, and faithfully carry out the directions for building the temple, the most magnificent building the world ever saw. It produced proverbs, songs, and sound judgment, with a quick mind, a large heart, and a tender spirit, and with superior knowledge and wisdom, excellence of character, and greatness of power. These were acknowledged and marveled at by all nations, and many came from all parts of the world to behold him and to be instructed how to conduct difficult matters, so that his wisdom astonished the world.
Example For Today
Solomon's prayer and its answer remain as a pattern prayer for people today in every station, high and low, rich and poor, and for everyone who bears duties and responsibilities and needs wisdom from on high to act an acceptable part. Every point of that prayer is to be carefully studied, for receiving the rich blessings God stands ready to give depends on what that prayer reveals. The petitions God approves do not come from hearts filled with selfish aspirations, but choose gifts that bring glory to God, choosing the heavenly in place of the earthly. Such choosing lays up heavenly treasure and a good foundation against the time to come, which gives rejoicing when earthly things are swept away. Heavenly wisdom so received prepares a person to use God-given talents and means rightly without forgetting their Giver.
His early reign was bright with promise, and for many years his life was marked with devotion to God, uprightness, firm principle, and strict obedience to God's commands. That wisdom guided his direction of every important enterprise and his management of the business matters of the kingdom, enabled his faithful carrying out of the directions for building the most magnificent building the world ever saw, and caused his superior knowledge, excellence of character, and greatness of power to be acknowledged and marveled at by all nations, with many coming from all parts of the world to behold him and be instructed how to conduct difficult matters. His glory could have continued to grow as he became more like God in character.
He failed to keep his contract with God, followed the promptings of his own heart, and the Lord left him to his own impulses. In his youth wisdom had been more precious to him than great riches, and he had trusted God for guidance and received wisdom and power that astonished the world, but he later surrendered the grace God had given him and turned from principle. Pride, self-sufficiency, political ambition, and evil associations led him away from God, and through uncontrolled passion he turned from God, sought wisdom from other sources, and was led into idolatry. His history shows that one who has received great wisdom and trust can lose firmness of character, closeness to God, and moral strength by choosing his own way.
He had obtained his wisdom through earnest prayer and dependence upon God as the Source of his strength, and that wisdom excited the wonder and admiration of the world. The gift made him the wisest of kings, endowed with marvelous powers bestowed by God. When he turned from God and went forward relying upon himself instead of God, he fell a prey to temptation. Then those same bestowed powers only rendered him a more effective and efficient agent of the adversary of souls.