3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. 4 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. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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?” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 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, 12 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. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 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, NRSV
“Ask what I should give you.” These are the dream-sequence REM-cycle words God speaks to Solomon. “Ask what I should give you.” I can give you what you want. I can give you whatever you want. I am God, after all.
It’s like a genie-in-a-bottle moment for Solomon… except instead of a genie, it’s the God of heaven and earth, and instead of three wishes, it’s one. “Ask what I should give you.”
More wishes, right? Isn’t that the request of the savvy wisher? Wish for more wishes?
To his credit, Solomon doesn’t ask for more wishes. He doesn’t even ask for long life or great wealth (though for a second there, it seems like God half-expected him to). Instead, Solomon asks for wisdom. “I am only a little child,” Solomon says (even as a grown man). I’m a king, but I feel like a kid. I don’t know what to do. Give me wisdom so I can know what to do. I hear you, Sol. (I mean… I wouldn’t turn up my nose at long life or great wealth, either, if God chose to bestow them… but I hear you, Sol.) In this season of covid-tide, I don’t always feel like I know what to do. I don’t always know what decisions to make. I don’t always know what path to take. Give me wisdom, Lord. Give this woman, this mom, this pastor some wisdom. Give me wisdom so I can know what to do.
Maybe you’re feeling some of that too. In this season of covid-tide, maybe you don’t always feel like you know what to do. Maybe you don’t always know what decisions to make. Maybe you don’t always know what path to take. Maybe you need a dose of extra wisdom right now, too.
If that’s the case, let’s make Solomon’s prayer our prayer. “Give your servant[s] therefore an understanding mind.” Give us wisdom. While you’re at it, maybe throw in a couple of fruits of the Spirit too… you know we could use a little extra patience and kindness down here, after all. We’ll leave the question of long life and great wealth up to you. For now… for covid-tide… just give us wisdom.
Pastor Candy
Be in prayer for our schools today, friends… and remember:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
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