Solomon gathered together chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 2 Chronicles 1: 14, 15, NRSV (emphasis provided).
Holy Father, please let us sit at Your feet and learn the valuable lesson, that our asking will never challenge Your capacity to give! This is our prayer, in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
The context in which our Scripture for today is found is rather interesting. Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba succeeded his father, on the throne. He is in the process of establishing his kingdom; and as he gets ready to reign, he and the people journey up to the “high place” at Gibeon to inquire of the LORD, and to worship Him. We marvel at the reign of Solomon. We are amazed at his riches, and stand in awe of his wisdom. But how many of us have taken note of the fact that Solomon began his reign in an act of worship to God? Scripture reveals that Solomon journeyed up to the tabernacle of meeting, and there, on the bronze altar, in front of the tabernacle, offered to the LORD, “one thousand burnt offerings” (6)! It behooves us not to forget that God has promised: “those who honor me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2: 30, NKJV).
One night God appeared to Solomon and asked him what he wanted. What a question for God to ask a mortal! Scripture reminds us that, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it” (Jeremiah 17: 9)? So isn’t that a risky question for God to ask a man? What good desire could emanate from the heart of a man or woman? What we must remember is that God, who “sees the heart,” can analyze the content of our hearts in ways that not even we can! And if we permit Him, He can bring good out of the evil! He specializes in doing that!
So Solomon surprises us with his request, which consists of, in my humble opinion, one of the shortest, but most far-reaching; humblest, but most powerful; simplest, yet most complete, prayer, of all time! “… Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of Yours (2 Chronicles 1: 8-10)? “God, these are Your people; and I need Your wisdom and knowledge to judge them, and to be circumspect in my going out and coming in, before them!” Oh, that we might remember, that people are God’s property! May we never forget that people are priceless – they have been bought with the blood of the Lamb! We are not wise enough to lead them without divine help!
So God gave him all that he asked for, and then some! “Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor, or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life-but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king-wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like” (11, 12, emphasis provided).
Notice how God enumerated the things that would most likely have come out of the heart of a human being, when asked the question that Solomon was asked: Material riches! Revenge! Longevity! All about us! But Solomon had God’s glory in view. He wanted to do the best for the people that God had entrusted to his care! And God gave him more than he asked for!