“So give your servant a discerning
heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who
is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that
Solomon had asked for this.
-1 Kings 3:9-10, NIV
In 1 Kings chapter 3, verses 1 to 15, Solomon went to the
most important high place to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. When the night
came, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and told him to ask for anything that
he wanted, and that God would grant whatever that is. Solomon then asked for a
discerning heart, which would help him govern God’s people and distinguish what
is right and what is wrong. God was pleased when He heard this from Solomon,
and so, God didn’t just grant the request, but also gave him some bonuses –
which are riches and honor. God also promised Solomon a long life if he obeyed
God, like what his father, David did.
When I’m observing these events in this chapter, the Holy
Spirit revealed to me that these events speaks a lot in our Christian lives. First
is when Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord in the most important high
place – this represents the time we repented when we first accept Christ and
became Christians. The burnt offerings symbolizes the old desires we have before
we became Christians. We burned them in the most important high place – which represents
our body – and tells us how we removed these old desires from our living, since
we already became Christians.
Second is when God told Solomon to ask for anything. This
describes the privilege we had in Christ – that we could ask anything from the
Father in Jesus’ name. And in this, we Christians had put our trust and hopes
to, because we know that our prayers will be answered. Yes, it is our privilege
to ask anything from God, but what kind of requests do we make? Does our
prayers/request please God? One thing we should look at is that God was pleased
at Solomon’s request, but why? Well I believe this is something that we
Christians must know.
God was pleased because Solomon asked for something that
will help him fulfil the purpose that God gave him – and that is to rule Israel
as a king and become Godly like his father. He didn’t ask for anything that
will fulfil his selfish desires – riches, fame, women, health – which what
normally people would ask. He thought about what God would want for Him and
asked for it. This is the reason why God was very pleased on Solomon’s request,
and even gave him a bonus.
Now I believe this is something that we Christians must ponder
about. I know that it has been normal for us to pray for the satisfaction of
our desires – I can’t say that it’s bad or evil, but I believe we should change
our way and be selfless, like what Solomon did when he made his request. I
believe we should start praying for the things that would help us become the
people that God wants us to be – to become the salt and light of this world.
Original link for the photo: http://www.parkerfordchurch.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/child_praying.jpeg
