1 Kings 3:9–11

He asks the Lord for "an understanding heart." Hearing is the door to discernment and intelligence. To be wise, you must begin by listening to wisdom: "Blessed is the one who listens to me" (Prov. 8:34). All true service starts with hearing. Solomon did not know how to "go out or come in"; he could not learn this except by listening. Anyone who does not begin by enrolling in the school of wisdom will never be a true servant.

He felt two things deeply: his own littleness, and his great responsibility in governing so many people... And this offer was not made to Solomon alone. The same One who appeared to Solomon and put this gracious question to him later came to earth dressed as a servant. Yet He was greater than Solomon in all his glory, and He said: "Ask, and it will be given to you" (Matt. 7:7). And again He said: "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do" (John 14:13). It is faith's privilege to hear Him speak like this to our hearts and to make use of His great offer.

He did not regard the people as his people, his to govern, his to serve God in, but God's people entrusted to him. This gives seriousness; and, further, it exercises conscience. So he asked for wisdom, for he needed it. If they had been his own people, he might have had wisdom enough. But they were God's people, so he needed wisdom from God. That is what he asked for — not wealth or long life.

You come to know the mind of God with the heart, not with the intelligence. Affection for Christ produces true intelligence. The heart listens. Once it has received the lessons it needs, it becomes wise — able to discern between good and evil and to govern the people of God. The heart matters so much in service because no judgment can be according to God unless love is its starting point. We experience this in cases of discipline, in guiding souls, and in caring for saints and assemblies.

It is to sit in judgment, and pass sentence, on good or evil which we find in our own souls. Of David the king, it was said, by the wise woman of Tekoa, "my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil" (2 Sam. 14:17). This refers to decisions of judgment. So of Solomon in 1 Kings 3:9; so of Israel, Deut. 1:39; see also Heb. 5:14.

His speech pleased the Lord well. He might have asked for long life or riches, or for the life of his enemies. Instead he asked for an understanding heart, so that he might rule God's people well. Our Lord once said: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." The Lord dealt with Solomon on this principle... but God went on to say, "If you will walk in My ways, and keep My statutes." ... The "if" to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:14 was as fatal as the "if" to Israel in Exodus 19:5. Weak flesh can never be trusted, and Solomon's failure was catastrophic.

He will rule or judge wisely, as expressed by Solomon's decree between the two prostitutes (1 Kings 3). And the sceptre of righteousness in His hand will secure peace... For when righteousness is in power, godly peace must be the result all over the world.

He asked for an understanding heart to administer justice to the people, to discern between good and evil. 2 Chronicles tells us that his request also included "wisdom and knowledge." God was pleased with Solomon's request (v.10), above all because he did not ask for completely selfish things, such as long life, riches or the destruction of his enemies (v.11). He asked for wisdom to discern justice, showing a desire to see the people of Israel prosper.

Now, Solomon entered into this in his measure. He did not regard the people as his people, his to govern, his to serve God in, but God's people entrusted to him. This gives seriousness; and, further, it exercises conscience. So he asked for wisdom, since he certainly needed it. If they had been his own people, his own wisdom might have been enough. But they were God's people, so he needed wisdom from God. That is what he asked for — not wealth or long life.

The young king's answer delighted the heart of God. First, he acknowledged His loving-kindness in giving David a son to sit upon his throne. Then he admitted that he was not equal to the heavy responsibilities he now carried... He had no power to guide and direct them rightly in their unique relation to God. "I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in." The spirit of the little child — humble, trusting, and teachable — is fitting in us all.

Solomon asked for wisdom, and "it pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this." We never please Him in what we ask or do, except when we set aside the claims of our own nature... When that is so, the blessed God stands at the top of the mystic ladder. Heaven is then not far off. Then wisdom is what we ask for, as the thing most pleasing to Him. To us, this is Christ, God's wisdom and God's power.

He might have asked for long life or riches, or the life of his enemies; instead he asked for an understanding heart that he might rule the people of God well. Our blessed Lord once said: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." On this principle Jehovah dealt with Solomon... This seemed to make the blessing of Israel secure. But God went on to say, "If you will walk in My ways, and keep My statutes."... The "if" to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:14 was as fatal as the "if" to Israel in Exodus 19:5. Poor flesh can never be trusted, and Solomon's failure was a disaster.

While he was still at Gibeon, Jehovah appeared to him in a dream and said: "Ask what I shall give you." What grace this was! But it also searched his innermost soul. And this offer was not made only to Solomon. The One who appeared to Solomon and put this gracious question to him later came to earth dressed as a servant, yet He was greater than Solomon in all his glory. He said: "Ask, and it will be given to you" (Matt. 7:7).

An understanding heart is what Solomon asked of God (see 1 Kings 3:9-11), and it means, as the margin gives it, a hearing heart — a heart to hear or discern judgment... A heart that by faith loves to hear and bow to the excellent things that come out of the mouth of divine wisdom, without reasoning.

He did not regard the people as his people, his to govern, his to serve God in, but God's people entrusted to him. This gives seriousness; and, further, it exercises conscience. So he asked for wisdom, for surely he needed it. Had it been his own people, he might have had wisdom enough; but being God's people, he needed wisdom from God.

Solomon did not request wisdom out of vanity or for personal advantage. He realized what a tremendous responsibility the Lord had entrusted to him, young and inexperienced as he was. He wanted wisdom so as to be able to rule God's great people well. May we too seek wisdom from above to function well in our daily tasks, family needs, and in the responsibilities God entrusts to us among His people!

He asked then for an understanding heart to administer justice to the people, to discern between good and evil. 2 Chronicles tells us that his request also included "wisdom and knowledge." God was pleased with Solomon's request. It pleased Him above all that Solomon did not ask for totally selfish things, such as long life, riches or the destruction of his enemies. He asked for wisdom to discern justice, showing a desire to see the people of Israel prosper.

Solomon asked for wisdom, and "it pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this." We never please Him in what we ask or do, unless we set aside the claims of our own nature.

He might have asked for long life or riches, or the life of his enemies; instead he asked for an understanding heart so that he might rule the people of God well. Our blessed Lord once said: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." On this principle the Lord dealt with Solomon... "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." This seemed to make Israel's blessing secure, but God went on to say, "If you will walk in My ways, keeping My statutes." That "if" to Solomon was as fatal as the "if" to Israel, for weak human nature can never be trusted, and Solomon's failure was truly catastrophic.

But Solomon would have been wiser to ask much more than this. For instance, Deuteronomy 17:14-20 shows that a king faces a special temptation: to take many wives and horses, and to pile up riches. If he had known Scripture well, he might have known this. If he had prayed for God to keep him from these evils, his history might have been very different.