If You Want to Hear from God

1 Kings  3:1-15 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 3:1-15.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

1 Kings 3:1-3 (NIV)
¹  Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem.
²  The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD.
³  Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

On verses 1-3:  It helps to read these verses with Deuteronomy 12:1-14 in mind.  There, Moses makes it clear that when the Israelites entered their promised land, they were not to sacrifice offerings to the LORD at the elevated places (known as “high places”) where the Canaanites would sacrifice to their gods.  Rather than sacrificing burnt offerings anywhere they pleased, the Israelites were to offer their sacrifices at one central place.  That central place was the tabernacle, which was located in the city of Gibeon (see verse 5 and also 2 Chronicles 1:1-7).  Nevertheless, in 1 Kings 3 we read that the people continued to sacrifice at the high places (v2a) and seemed to use the lack of a physical, permanent building as the reason for not going to the tabernacle to worship (v2b).  While Solomon loved and trusted God in many ways during this time, Solomon too would sacrifice at these high places (v3).

What can we learn from this?  Don’t let your worship be controlled by convenience or habit, but let God’s commands regarding worship determine how you worship.  Since Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, may we not let convenience keep us from giving God costly worship.

1 Kings 3:4-5 (NIV)
⁴  The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
⁵  At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

On verses 3-5:  Notice that when Solomon went out of his way to worship God in the way that God had prescribed – i.e. at the tabernacle – and gave to God costly worship (v5-6), that night God appeared to Solomon and spoke to him (v7).

Likewise, if you want to hear from God, realize this:  you’re in far better position to hear from God and receive direction from Him when you’re worshiping God in the way God intended, or as Jesus would say worship that is “in spirit and in truth”.

1 Kings 3:6-15 (NIV)
⁶  Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
⁷  “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.
⁸  Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.
⁹  So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
¹⁰  The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
¹¹  So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,
¹²  I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
¹³  Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for–both riches and honor–so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
¹⁴  And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
¹⁵  Then Solomon awoke–and he realized it had been a dream…

On verses 6-15a:  Instead of asking for wealth or honour, Solomon asks for a wise and discerning heart so that he can govern the people of Israel justly (v9).  The fact that in verse 9 Solomon says, “For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” shows us two things: (1) at this stage Solomon did not see the people of Israel as his own, but God’s; and (2) Solomon did not see himself as self-sufficient, but was desperate for God to help him know to lead.

God was pleased with Solomon’s humble attitude, how Solomon wanted to do what was right and how he wanted to seek God’s kingdom first.  God decides to bless Solomon not only with wisdom and discernment, but also with even more wealth and honour.

What can we learn from this?

1. Just as Solomon referred to the people as God’s people (v9), don’t see what you have in life as belonging to you, but see them as belonging to God.  That includes your time, your wealth, your talents, your relationships, everything you have.  God has entrusted all these to you to manage for His glory.  As Pastor Rick Warren says, “What we think we own is really on loan”.

2. If there’s one thing worth emulating from Solomon here, it’s how Solomon asked God for wisdom.  It’s a prayer I find myself praying pretty much every day: “God give me wisdom”.  Are you in need of a wise and discerning heart?  Ask God for wisdom today.  

¹⁵…He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

On verse 15: After Solomon hears from God at Gibeon, he returns to his home city of Jerusalem and worships God there.  He also gives a feast for everyone in his court (which likely includes his family, servants and others).

What can we learn from this?  When we go out of our way to meet with God and worship Him, we’re more able to bring the presence of God into our home and workplace.  We’re more inclined to serve and bless the people around us.  So if you want to be a blessing in your home, workplace and community, make it a point to meet with God and let His wisdom and love empower you.

Father, thank You for reminding me today that all I have is what You’ve entrusted to me to manage for Your glory.  So like Solomon I pray for a wise and discerning heart, that I may know how to manage what You have placed in my care.  May I go out of my way to honour You and find in You all the wisdom and power I need.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!