1 Kings 3:1-15
Ask for Wisdom
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1Later, Solomon formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying his daughter. Solomon brought her to the City of David until he had finished building his palace and the house of the LORD, as well as the wall around Jerusalem.
2The people, however, were still sacrificing on the high places because a house for the Name of the LORD had not yet been built.
3And Solomon loved the LORD and walked in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there.
5One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
6Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.
8Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a people too numerous to count or number.
9Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
10Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request.
11So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this instead of requesting long life or wealth for yourself or death for your enemies—but you have asked for discernment to administer justice—
12behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been another like you, nor will there ever be.
13Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.
14So if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”
15Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Solomon makes an alliance with Pharaoh and marries Pharaoh's daughter. At the same time, the people are sacrificing at the high places because no house has yet been built for the name of the LORD. Solomon loves the LORD and walks in David's statutes, but the narrator has already given us a tension to remember.
Solomon goes to Gibeon, the great high place, and offers a thousand burnt offerings. There the LORD appears to him in a dream and invites him to ask for a gift. Solomon does not ask for a long life, riches, or victory over enemies.
He remembers God’s great kindness to David and describes himself as a little child who does not know how to go out or come in—a confession that he feels unequal to the responsibility of ruling. He asks for an understanding heart to judge God's people and distinguish between good and evil. The request is shaped by the weight of serving others, not by a desire to appear impressive.
God is pleased and promises a wise and discerning heart, as well as riches and honor Solomon did not request. He separately promises to prolong Solomon’s days if he walks in His ways. The gifts do not remove the need for obedience. Solomon wakes, returns to Jerusalem, stands before the ark, offers burnt and peace offerings, and gives a feast to his servants.
James 1:5 also directs those who lack wisdom to ask the generous God. We are not promised Solomon’s royal wealth or unmatched insight, but we need not hide our lack of understanding. We can ask in faith for the wisdom to serve well.
Questions
1 What does Solomon ask God to give him?
AnswerHe asks for an understanding heart to judge God's people and distinguish between good and evil.
2 Why does Solomon say he needs this gift?
AnswerHe feels like a child who does not know how to lead and must govern a people too numerous to count.
3 What does Solomon not ask for?
AnswerHe does not ask for long life, riches, or the death of his enemies, though those could have served his interests.
4 What decision could you bring to God with a request for wisdom?
AnswerName the decision and the people it will affect. Ask for help to distinguish good from evil and to act fairly, rather than only for the outcome you prefer. Admitting that you need understanding is a fitting beginning to prayer.
What This Means for Us
Good leadership begins by admitting what we do not know. Solomon's request is not for cleverness but for the ability to listen, judge fairly, and recognize moral difference while serving other people.
When your household asks for help, name the people your decision will affect. Wisdom grows when we seek understanding for service rather than knowledge that merely increases our control.
Prayer
Lord, give us understanding hearts. Help us admit our limits, judge fairly, recognize good and evil, and use every gift for the people entrusted to our care. Amen.
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