And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.” 1 Kings 3:13-14
So far we’ve learned Solomon learned from his father David the benefits of having a relationship with the Lord. He observed how his father showed his love to God and wanted to be like him. So Solomn became a worshipper. After he worshiped God spoke to him in a dream telling him whatever he wanted God would give it to him. To his great credit, he acknowledged in order to be an effective and good king, he needed God’s help and asked for an understanding heart to discern right and wrong, and wisdom so he could govern the people of Israel. God was so pleased He gave him what he asked for.
But it doesn’t stop there, because he didn’t ask selfishly, God also gave him what he didn’t ask for, riches and fame! When we seek to follow God’s heart and obey His leading we not only will get what we ask, but other benefits that come from it. In Solomon’s case, because he received a listening heart, he also was able to hear God show Him how to amass great wealth and power.
God also gave him an additional blessings, that if he would continue to obey God’s decrees and commands, he would also give him long life. Now you would think because of his wisdom and an understanding heart, he would have followed. But he didn’t and although around 80 when he died, one wonders how many more years he would have had if he would have obeyed God. See, it’s not enough to have even godly wisdom, we also have to know how to use it and follow where it leads. I wonder how often we think we “know” what God wants and never seek His counsel and just do it. Only to find out He was leading us in another way.
Tomorrow we will finish this passage and learn from the successes and failures of Solomon and get to know God better.
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