Proper 7 (OTA)

1 Kings 3:1-15

Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. ² The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.

³ Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. ⁴ And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great 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 shall give you.” ⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, 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 this day. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. ⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. ¹³ I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. ¹⁴ And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

¹⁵ And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

God has given wisdom to his people. Solomon became the wisest King. If God offered to grant you one wish, what would you wish for? Many people have done the genie, three wishes. Most people will wish for money. Some will wish for success. Others may even wish for the Cubs to win the World Series.

Solomon is given the test. He is already the King of Israel. He is married to Pharaoh's daughter. What more could he really ask for? He asks for the one thing all of us really need: Wisdom. And when he asks for Wisdom, God offers to him more.

Jesus Christ gives the only wisdom any of us really need. He gives us the knowledge that he was the only son of God. He offers us the knowledge that he is the sacrifice for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. Jesus Christ has the full knowledge and wisdom of God. He is God.

So what should you ask for? You don't need to ask for anything, God has already given you wisdom, forgiveness, life, salvation, faith, and much more. God has made you his beloved child. He has clothed you in his Son. He has even given you a throne, to reign with Christ Jesus.