GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK FOR ANYTHING

Post date: Mar 23, 2021 11:21:42 PM

King Solomon did not just wake up that night and start asking God for whatever he needed. He had just been made a king in Israel after the death of his father David and he had challenges from his family and the people; he had enemies and elders who did not want to recognize his kingship or give him the respect as king; he had people waiting to get him out and change the mind of the people against him; people waiting to identify his flaws, make it public, magnify it and use it to challenge his legitimacy as king. He knew what was going on behind him and had experienced some of the bad feelings of the people physically, and there was nothing he could possibly do to stop them or change their mind towards him. But despite what he saw and knew, Solomon did not take his eyes away from God and did not depart from Him to seek counsel from the elders on how to handle the situation of his acceptance and legibility as king. He did not seek to please the people and he did not condemn himself, but one thing Solomon did was to seek to please God at all times and showed his love for God through his sacrifice that faithful day. “At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings on altars in the hills, for the Temple of the Lord hadn’t yet been built. Solomon loved the Lord and followed all of his father David’s instructions except that he continued to sacrifice in the hills and to offer incense there.” 1 King 3:2-3

When God accepts your sacrifice, He will offer you an opportunity; when the Lord accepts your sacrifice, He will give you His blessings in return and His blessings are always much more than what you have sacrificed. When the Lord accepts your prayers, He will grant you more than what you prayed for, and when He gives you the opportunity to ask and your asking is according to His desired plans and purpose for you, He will definitely grant you what you ask and even what you did not ask for. After Solomon’s sacrifice that was pleasing to God, he was given an unexpected opportunity to ask the Lord for whatever he desired. The opportunity came directly to Solomon personally in a night dream, not through any intermediary. “The most famous of the hilltop altars was at Gibeon, and now the king went there and sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings. The Lord appeared to him in a dream that night and told him to ask for anything he wanted, and it would be given to him.” 1 Kings 3:4-5. This opportunity given to Solomon was with a guarantee that whatever he asked for will be granted.

“Solomon answered, You always showed great love for my father David, your servant, and he was good, loyal, and honest in his relation with you. And you have continued to show him your great and constant love by giving him a son who today rules in his place. O Lord God, you have let me succeed my father as king, even though I am very young and don't know how to rule. Here I am among the people you have chosen to be your own, a people who are so many that they cannot be counted. So give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours? The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this, and so he said to him because you have asked for the wisdom to rule justly, instead of long life for yourself or riches or the death of your enemies.” 1 Kings 3:6-10

Solomon’s request started with praise for what God had done for his father David, and how his father enjoyed God’s kindness. He told God he was a beneficiary of that kindness to his father and added that he will desire the same kindness his father enjoyed to be also given to him. Solomon told God though he had been made to succeed his father as king, he does not know the way around issues concerning the kingdom and leadership as his father did. He expressed his desire to see the people of Israel are better and well taken care of during his time as king. Before he requested wisdom, he told God his desire is to rule with justice and to make a difference between what is good and evil among the people. What is your request before God?” For prayers, Click here