0730 Reflection -- 1 Kings 3:5-12

Upcoming Sunday Old Testament Readings

Sunday 30 July 2017 

1 Kings 3:5-12

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.”

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Solomon should be an example here for us all.  The easier thing would be to say he ought to be an example for all who are in positions of high authority and leadership.  The problem with that is that this then becomes an instrument for judgment against others rather than reflection of the self.  No matter what we do, we need to be mindful that in our many and various roles in life and interactions with others, we need the gift of wisdom.  It is this gift after all that enables us to do and to say what is right.  And for that reason, the prayer of Solomon should be the prayer of all persons.  It should be our deepest desire that God would grant us wisdom in all that we do, that all that we would do and say would be beneficial and build up those around us in the love that we have first received and which we are called to share in the name of God.

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Father Timothy Alleman