July 2 - The Request.

1 Kings 3:9
“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?”
 
 2 Chronicles 1:10
“Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?”
 
Asking For Wisdom
“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart…”
“Give me now wisdom and knowledge…”
Solomon could have asked for anything he wanted; yet he asked for wisdom. God, in His foreknowledge, knew what Solomon would ask for before He even gave him the opportunity.
 
The Purposes For His Request
Solomon had two specific reasons for asking for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The anointed king of Israel recognized that his young age provided little experience to perform his duties.
 
To Fulfill God’s Plan
“…that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?”
Solomon realized that the task before him was too great to do on his own. He knew that if he tried to accomplish it in his own ability he would surely fail.
 
How many times to we try to complete a task on our own only to fail miserably? If we serve by our own strength and power, little will be done for the cause of Christ. We must acknowledge our need for Him!
 
To Discern His Problems
“…that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
If he was to rule over God’s chosen people, Solomon knew he had to be able to discern between what was right and wrong.
 
Discernment is lacking within many professing Christians today. God is willing and able to give us the ability to discern between good and bad. He only requires that we ask Him to give it to us.
 
James 1:5
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
 
We must ask God for wisdom in order to fulfill His plan for our lives and to have discernment while we serve Him. We will fail without wisdom!
 
 
Bible Reading:
1 Chronicles 17-18  |  Colossians 4  |  Proverbs 2