"...open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus, to reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him..."
What a great chorus, it is a song that Solomon might have sung.
1 Kings 3:9
"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?”
Solomon begins his reign in desperation, having to fight for it, having to grasp at the kingship, it was anything but a smooth transition.
Not a great beginning.
God appears to Solomon and asks what it is that Solomon would like to receive. Solomon could ask that his power be centralized; he could ask that God make sure he lives his whole life as king. He could ask that he live and rule for a long time. And it even seems that God is expecting the answer to be one of these. But Solomon surprises us (and God?) by thinking beyond himself and asking for… and you know the story … wisdom.
Well ... not exactly.
Solomon acknowledges that it is God who put him on the throne, and then asks God for an understanding mind to rule God’s people.
He asks to be able to discern between good and evil. What Solomon is asking for are the skills he needs to be a good king. He is not asking for generic wisdom nor is he asking to be a philosopher.
I’ve heard it said that the difference between being smart and being wise described as follows ... Being smart is knowing the truth about something. Being wise is applying truth so that it affects the way you live.
Solomon was asking for knowledge. The knowledge he was asking for was to discern between good and evil. But it is not enough just to know what is right and what is wrong. To truly live in wisdom, this needs to change the way he lives.
The honest truth is that we all have moments of doubt where we wonder if we are prepared for the things that God has set before us. What a challenge these three words present to us ~ wisdom, understanding and knowledge!
Where would we be if we were to know and walk in the true meaning of these words!
I'm just sayin' to allow the truth of God’s Word to fill you with faith, courage and revelation as you seek to know - wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
See you next time...
Kelly
