1 Kings 3

The Explanation

Solomon has just become king. His father David is dead, and now this young man sits on the throne of Israel. He is not old and gray with years of experience. He himself says to God: "I am just a little child. I don't know how to go out or come in." He means: I don't know how to lead this huge people.

One day Solomon goes to Gibeon. There stood a large altar, and Solomon brings a thousand burnt offerings there. A thousand. Imagine the smoke, the fires, the smell, day and night. It shows how seriously he wants to seek God.

That night God comes to him in a dream. And God says something amazing: "Ask for what I should give you." Anything. Just choose.

What would you ask? Money? To be the best at soccer? A long life? Solomon thinks about his people, all those Israelites he has to lead. And he asks: "Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil."

God is pleased. He gives Solomon exactly what he asked for: a wise heart like no one else has ever had. And on top of that, God gives him what he did not ask for: riches and honor.

Then comes the test. Two women stand before the king. Both had a baby. One baby died in the night. Now both women claim the living child is theirs. There are no witnesses. It is one word against the other.

Solomon says something shocking: "Get me a sword. Cut the child in two. Half for one, half for the other." The real mother cries out: no, give him to her, just let him live! The other woman coldly says: fine, divide him. Then Solomon knows. The one who wants the child to live, even if she loses him, is the true mother. Give her the baby.

All Israel hears about it. And they see: the wisdom of God is in this king.

What Does This Mean?

Solomon could have asked God for anything, and he chose wisdom. Not wisdom to look smart, but wisdom to serve others well. That is a huge difference. He was thinking about the people God had given him, not about himself.

And notice something honest: the story does not hide Solomon's weak spots. He marries an Egyptian princess for a political deal. He sacrifices at the high places, hills where people worshiped, even though God had said sacrifices belonged in one place. The Bible does not pretend Solomon is perfect. He loves God, and at the same time he still does things that are not quite right. That can both be true.

The Common Thread

Solomon is called the wisest king ever. But hundreds of years later, Jesus said something surprising about himself: "One greater than Solomon is here." Jesus is the true wise King. He too was faced with impossible questions from people trying to trap him, and he always saw straight to the heart of things. And where Solomon threatened with a sword to reveal love, Jesus took the sword upon himself. He died so his children could live.

Solomon judged wisely between two mothers. Jesus judges wisely over all people, and he does it with a heart full of mercy.

For You

You are not a king, but you make choices every day. What do you ask God for when you pray? Often we ask for stuff: a good grade, a nice birthday, that annoying kid to leave us alone. Those prayers are okay. God is not angry about them.

But try sometimes what Solomon did. Ask God for a wise heart. Ask him to help you tell what is good from what is not, at school, at home, with your friends. That is a prayer God loves to hear.

And know this: you don't have to be old to be wise. Solomon called himself a little child. God can give real wisdom to a nine or ten year old. He truly can.

Talk About It

If God said to you tonight in a dream, "Ask for what I should give you," what would you answer? And what would you want to answer?

Solomon loved God and still did things wrong. How can those two things go together? Is that true for you too?

Praying Together

Lord God, thank you that you listened to Solomon and that you also listen to me. Give me a heart that wants to understand what is good. Help me not always to ask for stuff, but for wisdom. And thank you that Jesus is an even greater King than Solomon. Amen.