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1 Kings 3:9 - Pray for Wisdom and the Best in Life.

1 Kings 3:9 (NKJV) Therefore give to Your 
servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, 
that I may discern between good and evil. For who 
is able to judge this great people of Yours?"  

1 Kings 3:9 (NIV)  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 3:9 (NLT) Give me an understanding 
heart so that I can govern your people well and 
know the difference between right and wrong. For 
who by himself is able to govern this great 
people of yours?  

INTRODUCTION

When given a chance to have anything in the 
world, Solomon asked for wisdom""an understanding 
heart""in order to lead well and to make right 
decisions. We can ask God for this same wisdom (James 
1:5). Notice that Solomon asked for understanding 
to carry out his job; he did not ask God to do 
the job for him. We should not ask God to do for 
us what he wants to do through us. Instead, we 
should ask God to give us the wisdom to know what 
to do and the courage to follow through on it. 
[Life Application SB] 

How would you answer God's question: "What 
shall I give you?" Your answer reveals what you 
believe about yourself and the work God has called 
you to do. Solomon knew that he needed wisdom 
more than anything else, and God gave him that 
and much more (Matt. 6:33; Eph. 3:20-21). Prayer 
is not simply getting things from God. It is 
getting so that we might be able to give to others. 
Solomon's concern was ability to serve his people 
well. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by 
Warren Wiersbe] 

COMMENTARY

Solomon Seeks the Highest Good. Those who 
today occupy positions of trust should seek to 
learn the lesson taught by Solomon's prayer. The 
higher the position a man occupies, the greater the 
responsibility that he has to bear, the wider will be the 
influence that he exerts and the greater his need of 
dependence on God He is to stand before God in the 
attitude of a learner. Position does not give 
holiness of character. It is by honoring God and 
obeying His commands that a man is made truly great. 
 {PK 30.3} [Remnant SB] 

   King Solomon knew something important: 
All the power and wealth in the world were worth 
nothing if he didn't have the wisdom to use them 
well. He also knew that the responsibility he had 
been given to rule the nation of Israel was 
beyond his ability. So, when given the opportunity, 
Solomon asked God for "an understanding heart" - 
wisdom - so that he could rule the nation well. God 
was pleased with Solomon's request and responded 
by making his wisdom legendary. 
   It may surprise you to learn that you've 
been given a similar offer from God. James wrote, 
"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and 
he will give it to you" (James 1:5, November 
17). God wants to give you wisdom, so he 
generously offers to give it if you ask. Of course, you 
won't wake up tomorrow and be completely wise. 
Instead, wisdom is a process. But when you ask God to 
work this way in your life, he helps you to grow 
wise through the many situations you face. [The 
One Year Bible for New Believers] 

Our petitions to God should not proceed from 
hearts that are filled with selfish aspirations. 
God exhorts us to choose those gifts that will 
redound to His glory. He would have us choose the 
heavenly instead of the earthly. He throws open 
before us the possibilities and advantages of a 
heavenly commerce. He gives encouragement to our 
loftiest aims, security to our choicest treasure. 
When the worldly possession is swept away, the 
believer will rejoice in his heavenly treasure, the 
riches that cannot be lost in any earthly disaster 
(RH Aug. 16, 1898).  {2BC 1026.5}   

CLOSING PEARL

   Imagine if God came to you and said, I 
will give you whatever you want. Just ask for 
it. What would you pray for? 
   This actually happened to Solomon when he 
was a very young man. He had ascended the throne 
to rule over Israel after his father David was 
gone. One night God appeared to him in a dream and 
said, What do you want? Ask, and I will give it 
to you! (1 Kings 3:5 NLT). 
   Solomon asked for wisdom to rule Gods 
people. 
   Then God said, Because you have asked 
for wisdom in governing my people with justice 
and have not asked for a long life or wealth or 
the death of your enemies"I will give you what 
you asked for! I will give you a wise and 
understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever 
will have! And I will also give you what you did 
not ask for"riches and fame! (verses 
11"13 NLT). 
   Is that not the perfect example of what 
Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:33? He said, Seek 
the Kingdom of God above all else, and live 
righteously, and he will give you everything you need 
(Matthew 6:33 NLT). 
   Garth Brooks sings, Some of Gods 
greatest gifts are unanswered prayers, but the 
fact is that all prayers are effectively 
answered. 
   Sometimes God says no, sometimes God says 
slow, and sometimes God says go. In other words, 
if the request is wrong, God says no. If the 
timing is wrong, God says slow. If you are wrong, 
God says grow. But if the request is right, the 
timing is right, and you are right, God says go. 
   If God has said no to your request 
recently, that isnt necessarily a bad thing. It 
could be a very good thing. Thats because God 
sees the big picture. [Greg Laurie from Harvest 
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

ONE LINER

God often chooses the silence of the night 
to give His servants instruction. He can then 
gain freer access to their hearts than during the 
day. There is less to draw the mind from Him 
{2BC1026.1}   

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 

James 1:5-7 - FINDING WISDOM.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200720-0848.html 

Matthew 6:33 - Put Jesus First and He Will 
Give You All You Need. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210919-1044.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs