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.
God answers Solomon's prayer for an understanding heart. Then He adds two things the young king never mentioned, which raises a question about prayer: why does God give what we never asked for?
The request that left riches out
God offered Solomon anything he wanted. What he left out matters as much as what he asked for. One writer ties his choice to a principle the Lord Jesus later taught.
W. W. FeredayHe 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: "But 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.
Why the lowest place received the highest
Riches and honour followed humble dependence, not ambition. One writer sees the same order in Christ: the servant's place first, then the highest place of all.
H. L. RossierThe Lord grants Solomon his request and is pleased to add what Solomon had not requested. He grants him the first place in wisdom. Moreover, He gives him "both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days." Solomon's humble dependence put him in first place, as it is written: "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant." It was so with Christ: "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." In every respect there is none like Him! Wisdom, power, wealth, the crown of glory and honour — all things shall be His in the day which the Lord shall make.
An open invitation to faith
God's offer to Solomon had no limits. One writer shows what God did with a prayer that put His people before self.
C. KnappGod appeared to him in the night with the wonderful message, "Ask what I shall give you." It was as though He placed all His resources at the disposal of faith. The young king prays for wisdom and knowledge so that he may care for the flock committed to him. It was a most remarkable prayer for one in his position. The Lord shows His pleasure in it by giving him far more than all that he asked or thought.
The gift, and the condition attached to it
God gave the riches with no conditions. The next verse adds one. One writer points to the small word that everything else hangs on.
H. L. RossierIn verse 14, as in all the books we are studying, we meet the question of the king's responsibility. "If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." Solomon could not meet this if. It led to his ruin and to the division of his kingdom.
Promised blessing, seized the wrong way
Solomon's later life turns the gift into a warning. He got the riches and honour — but not by waiting on God.
The Bible TreasuryWe must not always take the gaining and enjoying of promised blessings as a mark of God's approval. Solomon had asked God for wisdom, and to it God added riches and honour. But then he obtained the promised riches and honour by disobedience. He gathered many chariots and horses for himself, which God had forbidden. We need faith for the means as well as the end. That is, we must wait patiently for God Himself to make good to us the very blessings He promised.
Another writer asks what Solomon did with the gift:
The Bible TreasuryWas there no misuse of the abundant riches which the Lord added to him? Were they given so that he might bring horses out of Egypt, have chariots, and take many wives — the very things God had forbidden?
Summary
- Asked — Solomon asked for an understanding heart to rule God's people. He left out long life, wealth and the life of his enemies.
- Added — He sought God's interests first, so God added the rest. God put all His resources at the disposal of faith and gave far beyond what Solomon asked.
- Ascended — Humble dependence put Solomon first. It is the pattern of Christ, who came to serve, and to whom wisdom, wealth and honour will belong.
- Attached — God gave the riches outright. He did not give long life the same way: it hung on an "if" of obedience Solomon failed to meet.
- Abused — He later grasped the promised riches and honour by disobedience. We need faith for the means as much as for the end.