SOLOMON’S PRAYER FOR WISDOM IN 1 KINGS 3:4-14

Lately, while reading the Bible, I have been trying to view the characters as actual human beings that feel emotions, reason, and make decisions just like I do. It’s not that I didn’t believe they were human before, but at a distance of 2,000+ years, a lot of the ways Bible characters react to things are unfamiliar (anyone else still think taking off your sandal in pledge is really weird?). I’m trying to remember that even if the customs are different, the motivations that drive our actions are the same, even if I’m tempted to pass over a passage and chalk a speech or action up to the fact that “things were different back then.”

Take, for example, the topic of today’s article: Solomon’s prayer for wisdom in 1 Kings 3. When God tells Solomon, “Ask! What shall I give you?”, Solomon responds with… well, what is described in verse 10 as a speech. Good description. It goes on for three verses and comprises a very lengthy paragraph, detailing how he’s king instead of his father and he wants wisdom. For most of my life I’ve passed over this paragraph, because we don’t really respond to questions this way in modern times. Making long speeches would be weird today, but Bible characters do it all over the place. But that’s not just “how it is.” At least in the case of Solomon’s speech, the length is there for good reason, and that reason is extremely relevant to us both as humans and Christians.

When Solomon has this dream, he has presumably not had any prior warning that God will appear to him. This is in essence a pop quiz; he has no way to know what the question will be. So when he hears “Ask! What shall I give you?” he doesn’t just think up a long speech on the spot. He has to draw from what is in his heart. “Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks,” according to Luke 6:45, and here we are given a window into who the man Solomon is. Our culture has stories and fairy tales about obtaining the “heart’s desire,” and in every tale, the desire is proof of whether the heart is pure or otherwise. This is exactly what God is calling forth from Solomon with His question. The Lord has asked for nothing less than the deepest materials in him.

What Solomon offers up in response are pure, God-pleasing desires, according to verse 10. Yet these desires do not simply exist in his heart. He has clearly been thinking about these matters for a long time. That’s why the answer is so long. He already has a lot of thoughts about this subject.

Today I want to look at what Solomon includes in his prayer. We know what he said was pleasing to the Lord, so if we think on the same things he did, we can offer to God the same sort of pleasing prayer.

1. Solomon acknowledges God’s kindness and mercy (v. 6)

Solomon begins by recognizing God’s love for his father, David. In 2 Samuel 7, in response to David’s desire to build Him a house, God tells David He will build David a house; that is, a lineage. He says in 2 Samuel 7:12, “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.” This is a prophecy about Solomon himself. But David’s royal lineage will not end with Solomon. God says in verse 16, “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” David’s descendants are going to be royalty forever (and we in the 21st century know that this promise is fulfilled in Jesus, who reigns forever). God is giving David a great honor, and Solomon recognizes that his kingship is part of that blessing, that God is still watching over the house of His father and showing that He cares and keeps His promises.

2. Solomon acknowledges that God shows mercy to those who fear Him (v. 6)

Solomon says “You have shown great mercy to David my father, BECAUSE he walked before you in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you.” In 1 Samuel 2:30 God says, “Those who honor Me I will honor,” and Psalm 33:18 states, “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy.” Solomon knows that obedience is essential to retaining the Lord’s favor, and he has seen the rewards in his father’s life that come from staying true to God.

3. Solomon acknowledges that his position is because of God’s gifts (v. 7)

Solomon describes his kingship as a direct result of God’s kindness. He has been exalted to the position of king; however, this doesn’t make him take a higher view of himself. On the contrary, as we read through the entire speech, he seems to think himself unable to establish his kingdom based on his own talents. He attributes the establishment of his kingdom to God and realizes that any exaltation comes from God’s kindness and mercy.

4. Solomon acknowledges his responsibility because of his position (v. 8-9)

Many kings would use their position to enjoy themselves or amass power. Solomon recognizes that God has put him over the people not to do good for himself, but to do good for them. His task is to judge the people, and he unselfishly makes that his goal, taking the mindset of a dutiful servant. He also recognizes what a large task he has. The people are large in number. It’s going to take a lot of work and wisdom to rule them in a way that will facilitate their well-being. Solomon is realistic about this even though it’s a daunting thought that this weight is on his shoulders.

5. Solomon acknowledges that God has entrusted him with His belongings. (v. 8)

Solomon says to the Lord that these are “Your people whom You have chosen”. He sees that God is giving Him dominion over what belongs to Him. This makes the stakes even higher. These people are precious to God, and Solomon knows that he has to take care of them. He realizes that he is a steward and he must use his authority wisely.

6. Solomon acknowledges how unequipped he is to fulfill the responsibility, and asks to be equipped. (v.7-9)

In light of the seriousness of the task, the great number of the people and their value, Solomon confesses himself not equal to what is before him. He calls himself a little child in terms of understanding, not knowing how to go out or come in. He knows what it will take to rule the people properly, and he looks at himself and realizes he doesn’t have it. So when he is called upon to ask, he asks for what he lacks. He says that an understanding heart to judge the people is what he wants, because that is what he will need. He evaluates himself in humility, looks at the standard to which he must measure up, and asks God to cover the distance between the two.

I’m going to be honest. This is the thing in this passage that hits hardest for me. I feel as if, when the Lord gives me a task, I ought to be able to fulfill it, no extra help required. But that’s not what serving God is about at all. God Himself is our strength, according to Exodus 15:2 and a myriad of other places. Any strength we have to fulfill responsibilities must be from Him. And Solomon has leaning on the Lord down pat. He looks at this thing that needs to be done and says “I can’t do it. Not alone.” He makes His request to God in humility, unselfishness, and faith.

And the Lord is VERY pleased. He does not answer, as I might fear, by telling Solomon he ought to be doing better, or that he should figure it out himself. Rather, He blesses Solomon exceedingly abundantly with what he asked for, and then exceedingly abundantly with what he does not ask for. The Lord makes Solomon the wisest man in the world, not only of his generation but of generations before and after him. He also gives him riches and honor, blessings because he has set his heart on what is right. Finally, He states that He will lengthen Solomon’s days, only stipulating that Solomon walk in His ways like his father David did. God sets him up for life, so to speak. All this from a servant’s humble request.

The Lord loves when we ask of Him what is right. James 1:5 sets up a scenario exactly like Solomon’s: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it shall be given him.” Verses 6-7 say that this result is guaranteed as long as we ask in faith. And the story of Solomon’s prayer shows us the mind of God when we do obey the command to ask. He is happy, He is overjoyed to give to us. Jesus says the same thing about God’s attitude toward our requests, and His words are recorded in both Matthew 7:7-11 and Luke 11:9-13. They say, in verses 7-8 and 9-10 respectively, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” He goes on to compare God to a father receiving requests from a son. He states that the listeners know how to give good gifts to their children, that when the children ask for bread, eggs, or fish, the parents give freely. The implication is obvious to both the listeners then and the readers now: parents love their children and want to give them the nourishment they need. “How much more,” he says in Matthew 7:11, “will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” What is interesting is how Luke words this last statement. Luke 11:13 says, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

The Holy Spirit is called the Helper in John 14:16. Didn’t the Lord know when He established the church that His people would need help? Indeed, didn’t He know when He created the world just how much help mankind would need? And didn’t He give that help, even the blood of His own Son? God has made it clear in His word that He loves to help. When Solomon asked for help by asking for wisdom, God was pleased, and gave abundantly. Through the New Testament verses above, we have been given same commandment that Solomon was given. The same question that was posed to him stands before us: “Ask! What shall I give you?”

What ought we to answer? For we must not ask amiss, that we may spend it on our pleasures (James 4:2-3). In light of the verses above, I believe we as Christians ought to ask for help. Furthermore, we have a lovely template in Solomon’s prayer about how to ask. His considerations are very relevant to the task set before us as Christians, and they can assist us in shaping our pleas for help as we seek to please God.

• We can acknowledge God’s kindness and mercy

Solomon had honor, a kingdom, and establishment to thank God for. We have these and so much more. We have the sacrifice of Jesus, which reconciles us to God (Eph 2:16). Because of this we have the honor of wearing His name, a place in His kingdom, and the knowledge that after this life we will be established in heaven forever with God. We have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph 1:3). Because of Christ, we have a lot to rejoice about! And that should be the basis of everything we do, ask, desire, because our life is hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3). 

2. We can acknowledge that God shows mercy to those who fear Him.

Jesus said during His ministry, “blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” That blessing is rich indeed, because our reward for obedience is salvation. Hebrews 5:9 says, “having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” We have a great gift, but it hinges on fearing Him and keeping His word, and acknowledging that is a key step in our prayers as we are “finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (Eph 5:10).

3. We can acknowledge that the position we hold is because of God’s gifts.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). Galatians 3:26-29 states that we are both sons and “heirs according to the promise”, through which we will inherit eternal life. There is no higher position and no higher benefits that can be had, but we could never have obtained this position on our own. “For when we were still without strength, Christ died for the ungodly.” We are reconciled to our heavenly Father thanks to Him and Him alone.

4. We can acknowledge our responsibility because of our position

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” Jesus Himself lays a responsibility on us. Yet even beyond the command, if we have received all these blessings by obeying Jesus, would we not want to tell everyone that they can receive the same blessings? We were once just like them. “For you were once darkness, but now you are children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8). Paul, speaking of his ministry, says “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” There are souls that need to be saved, and we are to be the lights of the world (Matthew 5:14), showing people the love of Christ.

5. We can acknowledge that God has entrusted us with His belongings.

Not only have we been given a mission, we have been entrusted with His word. Paul says of this stewardship, “As we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” He says to Timothy, “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babbling and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:20-21). We have in our possession the good news—the news that Jesus saves! We have been given the responsibility to handle the very thing that brings people to God. We have to be careful to use it correctly, and not let it get twisted, lest it lead people (including ourselves) away from Him instead of toward Him.

6. We can ask that God equip us for the great work.

We have our mission – go out into the world and shine the gospel light. That includes the entirety of our example, both in words and in actions. But what kind of help ought we to ask for in completing our work? That’s something that we each must consider individually. Solomon looked at himself humbly and saw where he didn’t measure up. We need to look at ourselves, find out what it is we lack to complete this mission, and pray for it. In the Bible, we have examples of things we can pray for that further the kingdom: more workers (Matthew 9:38), wisdom (James 1:5), deliverance from temptation (Matthew 6:13), deliverance from enemies (2 Thessalonians 3:2), or simply the swift running of His word (2 Thessalonians 3:1).

My favorite one, though, has to be the prayer of the apostles and their friends in Acts 4:23-31. They have just been arrested and reprimanded by the chief priests and the elders of the Jews, and they know that the opposition of these groups is only going to continue. With this in mind, they pray, and their prayer acknowledges that even as the rulers take their stand against God, God is in control and is using their rebellion to further His plan. And with this acknowledgement of His power, they ask, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word” (Acts 4:29). What’s the result? An affirmative answer. Verse 31 says that they were filled with the Holy Spirit, that wonderful Helper, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

We can do the same thing. We can pray for help and receive strength and power from the Lord. After all, He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). We have the Helper Himself dwelling within us, assisting in our weaknesses and making intercession for us to God (Rom 8:26-27). Solomon did a great job leaning on the Lord and asking Him for help. But we have the revelation of how God helps in a way Solomon never did. We know about Jesus Who died for us and the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. Let us then use that privilege to the fullest, and lean on Him with an attitude like the one Solomon exhibited in 1 Kings 3.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.

Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by Permission. All rights reserved.

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Jadyn Allen

My name is Jadyn, and I’m currently a student at Freed-Hardeman University. I’m planning to attend law school and eventually practice adoption law. My favorite chapter of the Bible is Nehemiah 9, and I’m a huge fan of origami and fantasy books, especially the Fablehaven series!

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