1Ki 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?
Solomon is given an opportunity that we often neglect, to bring his requests to God so that God might fulfill his request. The Bible calls it prayer. Solomon shows that he already possessed a degree of wisdom by his petition for wisdom to govern the people. You see, it takes a great deal of wisdom to realize that you lack the essential wisdom to carry out the tasks that God has set before you.
There is something about Solomon's prayer and God's answer that God has placed here to help motivate us to pray. First of all, verse ten tells us that God was pleased with Solomon's prayer. We should be motivated because our praying can please God. Secondly, we see in verse twelve, that God gives Solomon what he requested. I understand this is not a blank check from the First National Bank of Heaven as verse eleven points out. God answered in the affirmative because the request was not self-serving. We should be motivated to pray because the God who encounters no impossibilities grants the requests of those who pray according to His will. Finally, in verses thirteen and fourteen God does something most unusual. He gives Solomon what he has not asked. God knows what Solomon needs and provides all of Solomon's needs despite the fact that Solomon failed to mention them. Does this mean we are not to pray for our needs? Not exactly. It means that we should pray because when our prayers please God, He grants not only the things we asked for but aslo the things we didn't realize we needed as well.
So why should we pray? Prayer pleases God. Prayers uttered in accordance to God's will are answered. Amazingly God desires to provide for our needs through answers to prayer not even uttered.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Daily Devotional - Luke 5:2-11; Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus Calls His Disciples
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