What if Solomon Had Asked For Riches, or Long Life Instead of Wisdom?

“Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, 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 today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.” 1 Kings 3:3-14

As I am writing this devotion, I am sitting in a fishing camp about fifteen miles north of Nestor Falls, Ontario. You must fly into this camp on a float plane. This is a Muskie fishing camp. There are other species of fish to catch, but most of the guests here fish for the mighty Muskie. One of my companions has come here to do just that – catch a mighty Muskie. For two years now, he has come here to catch a Muskie that is over 45 inches long. That may sound like a big fish, but to keep a Muskie, you must catch one that is 55 inches or longer. They are an imposing fish to say the least. One of my other companions caught one that was 47 inches long — and he wasn’t fishing for a Muskie. It took all of my strength to lift it out of the water and place it in the boat. It filled the one compartment of the boat it was that big. Many who come here pray that G-d will give them the opportunity to catch this fish – to catch the king of fishes – and they leave without ever catching this elusive fish. My friend did not ask for such a reward, was not seeking to catch this fish, and he receives while looking for something else.

Solomon seems to have the opportunity with G-d to do just that – ask G-d to give him the equivalent of catching a mighty Muskie. He could ask for anything – and what if he had? What if Solomon asked G-d for the king of king’s ransoms, or long life? But Solomon did not ask for such things – he asked G-d for wisdom. Seems like he already had plenty of wisdom. G-d is pleased with his request for wisdom, and as such he not only receives what he asks, he receives much, much more.
We always need to be careful what it is we ask of G-d. Sometimes we ask for patience, and we receive it in double, forced to be patient through times like our friend Job. Other times we ask G-d to save us from this experience or that, and when we are forced to go through such experiences we initially think G-d did not answer our prayers – until later we realize how much those experiences have shaped and benefited us in this life.

I guess the wisdom of this devotion is knowing and learning that when we ask G-d for something, we should not make our requests without long, careful discernment. It is true: be careful what you ask for from G-d, G-d may just give you what you ask, and then some more – and remember, “No answer” is, well, an answer.

Pastor Dave