THE KING’S PRAYER ANSWERED
[1 Kings:3:5-15 [5] In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. [6] And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. [7] And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. [8] And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. [9] Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? [10] And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. [11] And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; [12] Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. [13] And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. [14] And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. [15] And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. ]; [1 Kings:10:1-13 [1] And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. [2] And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. [3] And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. [4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, [5] And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. [6] And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. [7] Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. [8] Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. [9] Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. [10] And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. [11] And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones. [12] And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day. [13] And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. ].
“Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do” (John 14:13).
David’s Son
When David had grown old and knew that he would soon die, he called his son, Solomon, to him and told him what to do. David wanted his son to obey the Lord and keep all His commandments. David said that if Solomon would do this, he would be happy.
After David’s death, Solomon sat on the throne and ruled the people. He was still very young, about 18 years of age, and there was a great deal of hard work ahead for him. He must tell all the people who came to him what they should do when they got into trouble, and that was hard. He was sure God knew just what the right way was; and how Solomon wished that he knew, too, for he loved the Lord then and tried to do the things that would please Him. He often went to God’s house to pray and worship.
A Wonderful Dream
One night, after Solomon had been praying and worshiping, God spoke to him in a dream an said, “Ask what I shall give thee”. How many thoughts must have gone through Solomon’s mind: there were so many things he would like to have, and God had told him to ask just what he wanted. He might ask to live a very long while, or to have great riches for himself – silver and gold and beautiful clothes and fine houses, and more servants to wait on him and do his work; or he might ask to have his enemies taken away so they would not trouble him any more. How many things he had to choose from! But he did not ask for any of these. He knew something that was worth more than silver or gold or any of those things, and he asked for that.
Prayer Answered
First he thanked God for having blessed and helped his father David, making him a great king, and then he asked God for wisdom to be able to lead the people and be a good king over them. The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s request. Although the Lord spoke to him in a dream, He gave him the wisdom for which he asked. More than that, the Lord gave him the things he did not ask for: riches and honour; there was not another king as wise as King Solomon.
Solomon’s Temple
The Lord put it into Solomon’s heart to build a house in which to worship God. The Temple was built of stones that were prepared before they were brought to Jerusalem. So there was no noise of hammer or axe or tools heard while the Temple was being built. There were many beautiful carvings and much gold in the Temple.
After seven years of hard work the Temple was finished. The Lord was pleased with this house of worship. At the dedication the Lord came down in a cloud that filled the whole place. The priests could not stand, because of the glory of the Lord.
The Queen of Sheba
People all over the world heard of the wisdom of Solomon, and many came to talk to him, and to see the Temple which he had built. A queen came to visit King Solomon. She brought fine gifts to him -– gold, spices, and jewels. She asked the king many hard questions; he had an answer for her every time. The Queen of Sheba told the king that she had heard much about his wisdom and his riches, but she had not believed it all. But now she saw for herself that it was true, and she added, “The half was not told me.”
More Than He Asked
King Solomon also made a great throne of ivory and covered it with the best gold. The throne had six steps, with two lions standing on each step. He also had many servants to work for him. He had a navy at sea; and once in three years the ships came in and brought gold, silver, ivory, monkeys, and peacocks to the king.
We see that God gave Solomon the wisdom he asked for, and much more. We all know that God answers prayer today. One way to receive an answer to our prayers is to pray that God will give us what we want if He wants us to have it. Sometimes people ask for things, and the Lord knows that it is not best that they have them; so He does not give them what they ask. But Solomon’s request pleased God, and it was answered.
Our Help
God has told us, too, that if we want to know the right thing to do when we are in trouble or in doubt we may come to Him and He will tell us what to do. God knows all things and is willing to teach us if we ask Him.
1. How did the Lord appear to Solomon? [1 Kings:3:5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
].
2. For what did Solomon ask? [1 Kings:3:9Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
].
3. Was the Lord pleased with this request? [1 Kings:3:10And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
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4. Did the Lord give Solomon only what he asked? [1 Kings:3:12-13 [12] Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
[13] And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
].
5. Tell of the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon. [1 Kings:10:1-13 [1] And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
[2] And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
[3] And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
[4] And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,
[5] And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
[6] And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
[7] Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
[8] Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
[9] Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
[10] And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
[11] And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
[12] And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
[13] And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
].
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