1 Kings 3:7, commentary and pictures

At Gibeon by night when God bids him ask what shall be given, Solomon first recalls God's great mercy to David for walking in truth and uprightness and giving him a son to sit on his throne, and acknowledges that God has set him as servant and king in his father's place in the midst of a great chosen people beyond numbering, confessing under the weight of responsibility that he is as inexperienced as a young child who does not know how to lead and govern. Though rich in talents and newly made king, he distrusts his own ability and feels helpless without divine aid, desiring above every earthly good wisdom and largeness of heart to discern between good and bad and judge faithfully to God's glory, with no selfish aim at long life, riches, honor, or victory over enemies. He was never so rich or wise or truly great as in that confession of helplessness, and his speech pleased the Lord as a model prayer placed in his mind for all entrusted with responsibility to keep offering without self-exaltation. Because he asked for understanding to discern judgment, God gave him a wise and understanding heart unlike any before or after, adding also what was unasked in riches and honor unlike any kings and promising lengthened days if he would walk obediently as David did, a wisdom that made him renowned for just leadership while his strength lay in knowing God. When he later turned from the source of his strength to rely on himself, yielding to lust, idolatrous alliances, and disobedience, he lost that guidance and his great abilities made him a more effective instrument of evil, teaching that position never makes one wise or infallible but increases need for continued humble dependence, so that high and low alike must remain learners seeking wisdom from on high and choosing the heavenly treasure that redounds to God's glory.

Setting and Wording

The words were spoken in a dream by night at Gibeon, after a thousand burnt offerings had been offered on the great high place there, when God appeared and said to ask what should be given. The dream was sent through God's angel to instruct the new king, at a time when the hearts of the people were turned toward him as they had been toward David and they obeyed him in all things. In answer to the divine offer, Ask what I shall give thee, the young and inexperienced ruler confessed his helplessness and his desire for aid.

Before speaking of himself he remembered God's great mercy and kindness to David his father, shown because David had walked before Him in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart, and shown further in keeping kindness by giving David a son to sit on his throne. He then acknowledged that the Lord his God had made him His servant and had made him king instead of David his father, placing him as successor on the throne of Israel at the beginning of his reign. He valued the relation of being the Lord's servant and was pleased to sustain it toward the King of kings.

Calling himself but a little child who knew not how to go out or come in was not a claim to be literally a child. It meant he was as inexperienced as a young child, a child in management, without knowledge to lead and govern and to do the work God had given him to do as king. Though rich in talents and ability, he felt that without divine help he was as helpless as a small child to perform his duties.

The confession was made as one set in the midst of God's chosen great people that cannot be numbered for multitude, confessing unfitness and inability to rule so great a people. He spoke under the weight and solemnity of his responsibilities, as impressed upon him by the Holy Spirit.

Humble Prayer for Wisdom

Newly made king and rich in talents and ability, he felt helpless without divine aid to meet his responsibilities and lead, lacking confidence in himself and distrusting his own ability to govern wisely. Calling himself a little child expressed humility and dependence on God and acknowledged his need and inexperience in his new responsibility. His admission that he did not know how to go out or come in meant he did not know how to do the work given him to do and lacked discernment to fulfill what rested on him.

Above every earthly good he desired wisdom and understanding for judging the great chosen people, longing for quickness of mind, largeness of heart, and tenderness of spirit to discern between good and bad. He sought aid to discharge faithfully the duties devolving upon him and to cause his reign to bring glory to God. There was in this no selfish aspiration for knowledge that would exalt him above others, nor any asking for long life or riches or worldly honor or the life of enemies. Heavenly wisdom would enable right use of God-given abilities and possessions without forgetting their Giver.

He was never so rich or so wise or so truly great as when he made this confession of helplessness and need of divine aid. That confession came before he later became the greatest, richest, and wisest king ever to sit upon an earthly throne.

The speech pleased the Lord because he asked for understanding to discern judgment rather than for himself. It was his answer to God's testing with a desire God had placed in his mind for what would enable him to rule wisely. God gave this prayer as a sample and model prayer appropriate for all, high and low, rich and poor, to guide the desires of those serving God, especially those entrusted with responsibilities and standing in positions of trust. It was the kind of prayer to keep offering continually in the days of exaltation and glory ahead, and only prayers from hearts free of self-exaltation and haughtiness will the Lord hear, while fervent humble prayer for preparation for service He will certainly hear and answer.

Divine Gift and Later Fall

Because he asked for understanding to discern judgment rather than long life or riches or the life of his enemies, God gave him a wise and understanding heart unlike any before or after him. With it God also gave what he had not asked, both riches and honor unlike any kings, and promised lengthened days if he would walk in God's ways and keep His statutes and commandments as David his father had done. That promise of wisdom, riches, and honor came with admonition to remain humble and obedient. Heavenly wisdom was thus given to enable right use of God-given abilities and possessions without forgetting their Giver.

Through earnest prayer and dependence he obtained wisdom that excited the wonder and admiration of the world and astonished it. That gift made him renowned for wise leadership and judgment, so that his power and wisdom were extolled throughout the land. His strength then lay in understanding and knowing God, who exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, rather than in glorying in wisdom, might, or riches. He looked to God and trusted Him, and God chose for him and gave him power and wisdom.

When he later turned from God the source of his strength and went forward relying upon himself instead of God, he fell a prey to temptation and lost that guidance. His great abilities and marvelous powers as the wisest of kings only rendered him a more efficient agent of the adversary and a more effective instrument of Satan. He surrendered to lustful passion and did not control his love of women, and was spoiled by association with idolatrous wives who led him into idolatry. The wisdom God had given was removed, he lost firmness of character and became like a wavering youth between right and wrong, yielded his principles and separated himself from God. His later pride and self-sufficiency after a promising beginning that brought glory show the danger of abandoning dependence on God after receiving a sacred trust, and that divine wisdom and strength must be sought and preserved by continued obedience to the very last. Kingly prosperity and influence are of God and are kept only by continued obedience to all His commandments.

Guidance for Responsible Service

Those entrusted with high positions in God's service are to make this confession a careful study and to pray in the same way today, humbling themselves before God so that He will bless their efforts and preserve unity. Those called to responsible work are to walk carefully before God and others, to remain learners rather than assume their place is to order and command, to beware of lifting the heart to vanity, and to examine whether they are prepared to do justice and judgment. Fervent humble prayer for preparation for service will certainly be heard and answered, for God hears only prayers that come from hearts free of self-exaltation and haughtiness. Kingly prosperity and influence are of God and are kept only by continued obedience to all His commandments.

Holding a position does not make a person wise, holy, infallible, or excellent in character, and being given responsibility does not change character. Position itself confers neither holiness nor excellence of character, and authority must never be taken to mean its holder is wise, holy, or infallible. Greater responsibility and wider influence bring greater need for God's wisdom and strength and for a holy character. God honors the one who honors Him and keeps His commandments.

Solomon's request for an understanding heart is a fitting and model prayer for people of every station who have duties and responsibilities, high and low, rich and poor. Each one today needs wisdom from on high to act his part acceptably, and Christ's followers are not to act in their own strength. Calling oneself a little child expresses dependence on God, not an excuse to avoid duty. Those in positions of responsibility are therefore to regard themselves with humility, to learn humbly, to walk carefully, and to rely on God rather than on their own strength.

The image of being a little child also teaches salvation, for those who accept salvation through Christ humble themselves before God as His children. Through Christ what humanity lost by yielding to Satan can be regained, including sonship with God and restoration to His image. Petitions are not to come from hearts filled with selfish aspirations but are to choose gifts that redound to God's glory and to choose the heavenly in place of the earthly. This is entering heavenly commerce, where God gives encouragement to the loftiest aims and security to the choicest treasure that cannot be lost in earthly disaster. Heavenly wisdom enables right use of God-given abilities and possessions without forgetting their Giver, as shown when wisdom was granted with riches and honor also added because riches and worldly honor were not asked.