“I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. (Proverbs 8:17)

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Wisdom is a gift from God.  It is a gift He wants us to have; a gift He offers generously.   As evidence of that statement we go 1 Kings 3:5-12.

⁵At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” ⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.⁸ And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. ⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” ¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

We see in this passage that the Lord came to Solomon and offered him a gift of his choosing (v5). Do you think God was surprised by Solomon’s request? Considering that God is omniscient, that He knows all things, the answer to that question would have to be “no“.

So, why did the Lord ask?  Why didn’t God just give Solomon the wisdom He wanted him to have?  Here is a thought.  Could it be that by giving Solomon the opportunity to make his request and then God’s fulfilling that request, God’s faithfulness was made evident?

True confession.  I sometimes struggle with prayer.  Sometimes I question why, since God already knows what’s in my mind and heart, do I need to pray at all?  When those kind of thoughts come, I have to remind myself, it’s not about me.  I have to remember, it is for HIS GLORY! HIS GREAT NAME! 

When we pursue the things of God, when we pray according to God’s perfect will, we can be certain that God will hear and answer.  Psalm 17:6 says – “I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words”.  And in Psalm 37:4 we are told – Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Look again at 1 Kings 3, verses 10 and 12.  God didn’t just grant Solomon’s petition, God took pleasure in His son and God gave beyond that which Solomon asked.  Our God is an extravagant God!

The value of God’s word cannot be measured by man for it is far beyond all human understanding; no man can comprehend the goodness of God.  As we put our trust in Christ and live in obedience to His great counsel, we will grow in knowledge and understanding; we will walk joyfully in the fear of the LORD.