Wednesday, May 13, 2020

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. – 1 Kings 3:5,9

Imagine if your parent had a job where they were loved by the people around them. They may have had some enemies, but overall it was undeniable that they were great at what they did. Then to top it all off, as if they weren’t loved enough, people described them as “a man/woman after God’s own heart.” What would happen if it was determined that when they were done, you were going to be the one to replace them? Talk about big shoes to fill!

That’s where Solomon finds himself in today’s verses. God asks Solomon what he wants and rather than fame, a long life, or wealth, Solomon asks for a discerning heart. Solomon knew that if he were going to rule with justice and mercy and live up to the task God was calling him to, he would need God’s assistance.

Wisdom is about more than making the right choices or knowing the answers to all the questions. Wisdom begins with the choice to trust in God and follow God’s commands. May each one of us make that our starting point today and every day.