Solomon Asks for Wisdom

It is night, and a young king is fast asleep. Then, in a dream, God speaks to him. “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” What would you say?

King David has died, and his son Solomon is now king of Israel. He is young, and the job is enormous. The temple in Jerusalem has not been built yet, so Solomon goes to Gibeon, a few miles to the north, which the Bible calls the great high place. There he offers a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord. That night, at Gibeon, the Lord appears to him in a dream.

“Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon doesn't rush. First he remembers. You showed great and faithful love to my father David, he says, and you have given him a son to sit on his throne. Then he is honest. “I am only a little child. I don't know how to go out or come in.” It's his way of saying, I don't know how to lead. And I am in charge of your people, so many that they cannot be counted. So here is what Solomon asks for. Not a long life. Not riches. Not victory over his enemies. “Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may tell the difference between good and bad.” The Hebrew words mean something like a listening heart.

“Because you have asked for this, and not for long life or riches or the life of your enemies, I will do what you have asked. I give you a wise and understanding heart. And I will also give you what you did not ask for, both riches and honour. And if you walk in my ways, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”

Solomon wakes up. It was a dream. But he knows it was real. He goes back to Jerusalem, stands before the ark of the covenant, offers sacrifices, and throws a feast for all his servants.

Soon his new wisdom is tested. Two women come before the king. They live in the same house, and each had a baby boy, just three days apart. The first woman speaks. “During the night, her baby died, because she lay on him in her sleep. So she got up while I was asleep, took my son from my side, and laid her dead child next to me. In the morning I looked closely, and it wasn't my son.” “No!” says the other woman. “The living one is mine.” “No, the living one is mine!” And they argue right there in front of the king. There are no witnesses. No way to prove it. Just two voices and one baby. Then Solomon says, “Bring me a sword.” A sword is brought. “Divide the living child in two. Give half to one, and half to the other.” The room goes silent. Then one woman cries out, her heart aching for her son. “Please, my lord, give her the baby. Don't kill him!” But the other says, “Neither of us shall have him. Divide him.” Now Solomon knows. “Give the baby to the first woman. Do not harm him. She is his mother.” The news goes all over Israel. And the people stand in awe of the king, because they can see that God has given him wisdom to do justice.

Gibeon is one of the few Bible towns whose name has been dug out of the ground. At the village of el-Jib, north of Jerusalem, the archaeologist James Pritchard excavated in the 1950s and found jar handles inscribed with the name Gibeon in ancient Hebrew letters. He also uncovered a huge round shaft cut deep into the rock, with steps spiralling down to reach water.

Solomon's request is in First Kings, chapter 3. He could have asked for anything. He asked for a listening heart, so he could do right by other people. So here is something to think about. If God asked what you wanted most, what would you say, and who would it help?