Today, I was reading the first recorded prayer of Solomon in the Bible. 2 Chronicles 1 and 1 Kings 3. It's just amazing how I've read this chapter many times before only to receive a different revelation about it. That is the power of the Word of God and the Spirit when both come together to reveal something new—be it a spiritual insight, spiritual knowledge or instruction—that you can apply everyday because it speaks specifically about what is happening in the natural—your situation or perception about the situation itself—in a way that you can understand and know specifically.
In the story Solomon offered a thousand sacrifices to the Lord in Gibeon. The temple was not built yet and Solomon was in his early years of rulership.
In a dream, the Lord appeared to Solomon asking what he desired (2 Chronicles 1:7, 1 Kings 3:5).
**Trivia: The books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles probably don't have the same authors and they were written in separate time periods but they ended up supporting each other's account of what happened with the characters.
Solomon prayed to the Lord asking Him for wisdom.
"Solomon answered God, 'You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?'
2 Chronicles 1:7-10
“Now, 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. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 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?”
1 Kings 3:7-9
In different accounts, Solomon confirmed what God was doing in his life. He confirmed his calling and God's will upon his life to be the ruler of the people of Israel. As such, he asked God for wisdom—that God would equip him with what he needed to accomplish God's purpose and desire for Israel. The prayer of Solomon was in accordance to God's desire for his life.
And because Solomon prayed according to God's will, what was God's response?
God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
2 Chronicles 1:11-12
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So 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, I 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. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.
The Lord was pleased and He gave Solomon as he desired. God answered Solomon's prayer and he added unto his requests wealth and honor.
The key to prayer is to pray according to the will of God. It is the will of the Lord to prosper you, not to harm you, to give you good hope and a future. But He also said that he will direct our paths and the way to good things. He said that his key to success is following his instructions (Joshua 1:7-8).
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
I realize that Solomon adhered to the words of Jesus years before Jesus was born. He indeed prayed according to God's desires and the Lord not only granted his request but added more to Him because God was good in Solomon's life, keeping his covenant with Solomon's father David. Prayer to God is out of a relationship. The Lord reveals his will to us through the Bible and then we pray back to Him what He just revealed to us. It can also go the other way. We tell God what is in our hearts and God answers back through our time with the Bible.
Prayer and time with the Word is a two-way communication with God. Both are essential to our growth in the faith. Both are essential to knowing and loving God more every single day.
He is a good God. Don't be mistaken. He is indeed good. The parameters are done according to His love and higher understanding of things. He knows the way to goodness, truth and life. As He revealed, He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.
Thank you very much and good day!
*Image taken from Mellott, Anita, "Solomon's Prayer," Home Educating Family Association Blog, http://www.hedua.com/blog/solomons-prayer/, accessed Mar. 13, 2013
**Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (China: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2004)
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