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Scott's Reference Library
1 Kings 3:5 through 1 Kings 3:12 (NIV)
5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God
said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
6Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father
David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You
have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his
throne this very day.
7“Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father
David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.
8Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too
numerous to count or number. 9So 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?”
10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11So God said to him,
“Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor
have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering
justice, 12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning
heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever
be.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Solomon’s dream was not a common one. While his bodily powers were locked up
in sleep, the powers of his soul were strengthened; he was enabled to receive
the Divine vision, and to make a suitable choice. God, in like manner, puts us
in the ready way to be happy, by assuring us we shall have what we need, and
pray for. Solomon’s making such a choice when asleep, and the powers of reason
least active, showed it came from the grace of God. Having a humble sense of his
own wants and weakness, he pleads, Lord, I am but a little child. The more wise
and considerate men are, the better acquainted they are with their own weakness,
and the more jealous of themselves. Solomon begs of God to give him wisdom. We
must pray for it, James 1:5, that it may help us in our particular calling, and
the various occasions we have. Those are accepted of God, who prefer spiritual
blessings to earthly good. It was a prevailing prayer, and prevailed for more
than he asked. God gave him wisdom, such as no other prince was ever blessed
with; and also gave him riches and honour. If we make sure of wisdom and grace,
these will bring outward prosperity with them, or sweeten the want of it. The
way to get spiritual blessings, is to wrestle with God in prayer for them. The
way to get earthly blessings, is to refer ourselves to God concerning them.
Solomon has wisdom given him, because he did ask it, and wealth, because he did
not.
See also 1 Kings 3:16-28, 1 Kings 4:29-34, Proverbs 1:1-7,20-33