If you had three wishes for anything in the world, what would they be? Would you choose fame and fortune, perhaps happiness, or a long life? The fun is found in thinking through what we would really ask for. God’s question to Solomon was similar: “Ask. What should I give you?” (1Kings 3:5). Omnipotent, almighty God offered a blank check. Nothing was beyond His power or ability to supply.
What would you ask for?
The potent self-awareness of Solomon stands out to me. Instead of asking for wealth, long life, glory, power, or domination over his enemies, he asked for wisdom and understanding. He perceived his youthfulness as well as his position of responsibility, and so he asked for the practical discernment of wisdom to lead the people of God well. Most people I know would hardly make the same request if given the opportunity.
Solomon, in these moments, stands as a helpful model for how we think and live. The choices we make have a tremendous impact on our lives and on the lives of others. Are we choosing the best things?
Even our small, seemingly inconsequential choices in everyday life are requests in some way. Our decisions reveal what we really value and see as a means to a good life. The route we take in day-to-day life shows what we believe about how we should get there. Will we choose the better things, like wisdom, faith, humility, patience, love, and mercy—or the immediate things, like money, power, and personal pleasure?
When we choose to pursue and ask for the greater things, we find the grace of God moving to meet us in them. Solomon’s noble request for wisdom was met with God’s generous response: “I will therefore do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again” (v.12).
This kind of gracious blessing is available for us today. As unique as Solomon’s story is, the wisdom God gave him is also available to us. First, in Christ, who is the wisdom of God, we have access to the fullness of God’s wisdom and understanding. Jesus is the greater Solomon, who reveals to us the wisdom of God. Second, all wisdom leads to glorifying God in all of life. Just as Solomon led Israel in worshiping God, so our wise actions lead us to lift up and exalt Him in all things.
Finally, wisdom displays itself in our actions. The gift of God’s wisdom is “pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense” (James 3:17). Let us ask for and pursue His wisdom today.
Written by Jeremy Writebol
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86 thoughts on "Solomon"
Amen
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Amen!
@his sparrow. Praying for God to step into this hardship your father in law is facing. Peace and joy to overwhelm your family.
http://www.love-Evan.org
reach out to this organization for an act of kindness for your father in law or a caretaker walking alongside him during this trial.
Thank you, Claudia. It is really just a matter of time now. But more than anything, my husband and I are praying for his salvation. Thank you for praying.
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It is such a blessing to stop by here everyday and spend time with you all. Time is what I have as I fight the debilitating pain of the sciatic nerve. I saw the orthopedic dr Monday and treatment plan was outlined. They increased the medication that I am on and recommended PT. I saw my therapist today who is a sciatic specialist. He is a sweet young Christian man that had Bible verses written on the board in his room. Unfortunately it will take 4-5 sessions to get some relief from the pain. If this doesn’t work, next steps are MRI and injections. I pray it works!
Perfect, Tanya.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”.
I have not always guarded my heart and the heartache was real! Solomon wrote this!
Happy Friday shes. What a powerful life lesson. I feel like we get to sit in front row watching these life events flashing by in this series. What I learnt in Solomon’s story today is that wisdom does not void the flesh. Wisdom is in the mind, but the flesh is a piece of work that needs constant subdue. What kills the flesh is the practice of denying its bottomless evil desires again and again. That’s why fasting is so tough on the flesh, so tough to do. The pull of lust from the flesh is very powerful for both David and Solomon, which caused many of the downfalls. For David, there was a Nathan who came to rebuke, followed by God’s consequences to confirm that rebuke. And he repented, he must have fought hard against the bitterness developed toward God after many consequences. God could have spared, but He chose not to for the result of a painful lesson. Notice God is both kind and severe. I wondered if Solomon too had a minister that came to rebuke him, but his heart must have overlooked because he was wiser THAN ALL ( I highlighted this phrase: wiser than all). This is dangerous. Wisdom can elevate us, but wisdom causes us to disregard advisors too. Another lesson, in our wisdom (even God-given wisdom), lean not on our understanding alone, seek God, and seek godly counselors, for in the multitude of counsellors there is SAFETY (Proverbs 11:14). Wisdom fails when pride is near. Solomon has wisdom but lacks self-control. The Bible warns us of lust, promoted by strange women. Strong men can fall because of lust, even wise ones, even kings (“Many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death”-Proverbs 7:27). I love this perspective of Peter, that wisdom and knowledge alone is not enough, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-7). May God give us grace and strength to spot the traps of hell. Be blessed dear sisters.
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Yes, Amen!
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It has been a while since I wrote something here. I have been enjoying the devotions and just loving all that I am learning from the Bible study.
Would like to request for prayers for my husband’s stepfather who was admitted to the hospital last night for complications due to cancer. Thank you kindly. Have a blessed day in the Lord, dear She’s.
Praying
Thank you so much, Mercy. It truly is a blessing have friends who are praying.
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Thank you, Cee Gee!
Prayers. Yes, I love your “name” His Sparrow. Beautiful!
Thank you, Rhonda! Corrie Ten Boom was associated with the Hymn, His Eye is on the Sparrow. Her story was a childhood favorite of mine. Her resilience and trust in the most Trustworthy God has always been an inspiration.
Oh, how I love CORRIE TEN BOOM ❤️…and sister…and amazing Dad!!
Praying
Thank you so much! ❤️
Praying, dear heart.
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Lovely to ‘see’ you!❤️
Thank you so much, Tina!
Dear Shes
So much Wisdom in the scripture & devotional of today.
I wish to dwell in silence to savor the deep layers of meaning.
What Would be my three wishes?
Honestly.
Honorably.
Thank you, Cee Cee! I LOVE Warren Wiersbe!! Solomon’s story is very sad. But for the grace of God is right.!!
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Wisdom is such a blessing, but as we see with Solomon, it also has its limits when we take our eyes off of Our Heavenly Father. The devotional was eye opening with the question “What would you ask for?” So many things I am currently praying for and yet, not a single one of those came to mind at first. If I could have one “wish” it would be that my life would lead others to know our precious Jesus. May I glorify Him in all areas of my life & point others to Him! What a blessing it is to know God even in the valley. Happy Friday She’s!
Amen! Yes, to lead others to Christ is So amazing
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Solomon, Solomon, Solomon. One wonders how he could have made so many foolish, wrong decisions when God blessed him with wisdom and discernment. But, I guess it’s just like everything else – God gives us the gifts but then He leaves it to us to seek Him daily so that we will make the right decisions. Clearly Solomon lost his way somewhere along the way. He started out so well, but ended so badly. It’s truly sad…and as if 700 wives were not enough – he had to have 300 concubines as well!
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It rings true the words of Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things,And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?”
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That is why we must heed the words of the psalmist who wrote Psalm 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”
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It’s time spent daily with the Lord, in His word and in prayer, memorizing scripture – hiding it in our hearts – this and only this will keep our hearts pure and our eyes and minds stayed on Him.
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It doesn’t matter how I started as long as I end my life living for and glorifying the King of kings and Lord of lords.
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Traci G.- praying for you and your hubby in the loss of your FIL and for your BIL who is in ICU. Safe travels this weekend! ❤️
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Happy Friday She’s! Have a blessed weekend.❤️
Amen Sharon! Wise words!
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To look away from God, will have us spinning. Solomon was gifted wisdom and discernment,yet, he got too complacent…too big for his boots, amd ended up making bad, stupid, foolish choices.
The song ‘ i need thee every hour ‘ comes to mind..❤️
“Above all else, guard your heart,for everything you do flows from it.”Proverbs 4:23
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one one, and despise the other….”Matthew 6:24.
King Sholomo or King Solomon wrote much of the wisdom literature in the Bible. The book of Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes are manifestations of his Godly wisdom.
We all have heard sermons on ending well.Jewish tradition says he came back to G-d of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob in his old age.
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Happy Friday She’s! Last day of school was yesterday and wish I could show you all the fun things we did! My heart still aches as we had a clap-out for all the 8th graders promoting to high school AND as our cute little TKers are moving onto Kindergarten. Oh….did we have fun yesterday!
Praying for my children to be saved and a Godly heritage for my family when I leave this world
Keep praying, Sister. God hears and answers. We may not see the answer in our lifetime but the Holy is working on our behalf.
“Ask and it shall be given to you, seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” Matt 7:7
We see with our eyes but God. . .
Praying with you Brenda for the salvation of your children.
If it’s ok, I will add your children to my prodigals/lost list that Kelly(neo) so kindly compiled/shared, that we may join together in prayer for these precious loved ones. ❤️
Hey, All! I read Proverbs 8 yesterday and it goes well with this reading. Wisdom was with God as he created the world and everything in it!
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Praying for wisdom and direction. Praying for my friend Tammy and baby Levi. Praying for all the other requests.
Continued prayers for Tammy and baby Levi!
Solomon – so full of promise. It’s hard to read these accounts of lives turning away from God, but even harder to recognize that I could be them- but for the grace of God!
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This quote from Warren Wiersbe jumped off the page at me:
“Wisdom isn’t a theoretical idea or an abstract commodity; it’s very practical and personal.
Many people are smart enough to make a good living but aren’t wise enough to make a good life, a life of fulfillment that honors the Lord.”
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May I stay true to God and ‘go the distance’ til I leave this earth.
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤ I don’t know about y’all, but I am ready for Grace Day’! ❤
That is an excellent quote. Thank you for sharing ❤️
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I love that Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment rlead “the Lord’s people.” God help us ask you to make us a benefit to your people!
GM She’s!
I found it confusing that early in his reign it says that Solomon sacrificed and burnt incense at the high places. Yet God came to him and gave him what he wished for. Why wasn’t he rebuked then or anything, but blessed? And I always can’t help but think…if Solomon had Wisdom, how did he fall so bad!? Wouldn’t you have the wisdom to know not to intermarry- over 700 women!?
When I think of wisdom, I always think of my dear Madre. She had such fruits of the Spirit of patient, kind, self-control, generous. She loved her morning time with the Lord in his word, and tried to impress it up on her adult children and grands. She is the reason that I decided to make the effort to read the word every morning 12 years ago. It was a struggle in the beginning, then I also found SRT soon after, that added insight and sisterhood to discover and learn! I pray for wisdom often, and the right way to impress the importance of following after the Lord to my son and family. It seems it is harder and harder to talk of the Lord in family gatherings, for He sadly is not even vaguely apparent in their world (except 1!) It breaks my heart. For He is my center, love him with all my heart, soul and mind. But I remember it wasn’t always that way, so I too, like my Madre, will pray for family and keep being the example with His help and wisdom.
Praying we keep growing in wisdom together my dear She’s! SRT is such an important part of my life and journey!
I agree, Rhonda! I !ive having this community to visit each day knowing there will be a great reading and devo plus all the wisdom and testimonies shared in comments. Here we worship the same God the One True God. Solomon’s heart became divided when he tried to please God and please his foreign wives and their gods Such a shame!
I agree. I claim philippians 4:8…think on these things (God’s Word) ,not social media or the world .
Sweet Rhonda….I too was thinking the very same thing!! Solomon on those wives.. eww… YET, God still used Solomon! I love that you had your Madre, (my Tia called her mom (my grandma) Madre who is with JESUS now) was a GREAT example of someone who followed JESUS and set that example for you as “here” you are with us and my life as well as the other SRT sisters are blessed by YOU sweet Rhonda! And right now heart is so glad to have my daughter next me, reading her bible. God is good!
Amen ❤️
“I found it confusing that early in his reign it says that Solomon sacrificed and burnt incense at the high places. Yet God came to him and gave him what he wished for.”
Rhonda J., I wondered the exact same thing. Also I thought it was interesting that it took 7 years to complete the temple and 13 years to complete his palace. Hmmmm
1 Kings 3:2–“However, the people were still sacrificing on the high places , because until that time a temple for the Lord had not been built.” Which, combined with v. 4-5, sounds like they went to the high places to sacrifice to the Lord, at least in some cases.
Wow Rhonda! I was wondering the exact same thing,and it came to me that only God can draw straight with crooked lines!
Solomon”s story helps me to see God’s magnanimous love for me and
also His holiness in judging sin
Truly His ways are past finding out!!
With you in prayers, Amen, Rhonda..❤️❤️
Amen
I pray for wisdom also, Amen
“[Solomon] was wiser than anyone—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, sons of Mahol.”
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Couldn’t help but pause at this verse. Wondering who these four men were. They were well known to those in the days when the passage was written, otherwise why mention them.
So thanks to AI, this is what I found:
Ethan the Ezrahite:
Identified as a “son of Zerah” or “the Ezrahite,” which some interpret as meaning “of Zerah” or “the native,” possibly referring to a tradition of bards. He was a boy at King David’s court, known for his wisdom, and is credited with writing Psalm 89.
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Heman:
Also mentioned as a Levite and one of the leaders of the temple music, he may have been associated with the sons of Korah and is also identified as an Ezrahite.
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Calcol and Darda:
These two are listed as the sons of Mahol, along with Heman. Mahol is also associated with music and dancing, according to the Bible Truth Library.
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Sorry for the tangent, but I’m a Bible geek at heart :-)
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Solomon neglected the most fundamental thing: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
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UPDATES: two of my husband’s coworkers have landed new jobs. A third is doing some work for his brother over the summer (not sure if that’s permanent). I haven’t heard how the hunt is going for the other three. My husband is still processing what direction to go. Prayers for wisdom for him would be appreciated.
My young mama’s baby is still in the hospital. He is not eating and won’t be discharged until he is. Mama is not sleeping as the image of the baby turning blue looms in her mind when she tries to sleep. :-(
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Thank you allfor your prayers. Continuing to lift your requests to Jesus, too
Kelly, thank you for the reach. Very interesting that all had some association with music.
Sending prayers for you and your husband and your young mama and baby. ❤️❤️
Prayers for your husband for the new, right job that the Lord leads him to.
Prayers for this young mother’s rest and for baby to start eating again.
Praise for the co-workers finding employment.
Thanks for doing that research, Kelly! Bible nerd at heart here, too. ☺
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Thankful for this hopeful update on the jobs and I pray for wisdom for your husband in direction and for you as you stand with him.
Continued prayers for young mama and babe. How frustrating this must be for her. May God diminish the power of that scary memory so she can rest. ❤
Praying for your husband and co-workers. Also for your young mama and her baby! And for you carrying the burden for them.
I’m a Bible geek to
Praying for your husband as he makes the decision on how to move forward! I’m also lifting up your young mama and her precious baby. May God bring comfort & healing to them both at this time!
Continued prayers for your husband – may God give him wisdom and guidance as he seeks where his next job would be and for his co-workers. Praise the Lord for those who have found work!
And continued prayers for this sweet mama and her baby. How scary that must have been for her. Praying that she is able to sleep and that baby will eat and gain strength so he can go home. ❤️
Lifting up prayers. Thank you for the updates sister ❤️.
Praying for direction for your husband and for young mama and her baby.
Praying Kelly, for all who hold your hearts prayers.. your husband that he may wise in his processing and that he has peace as he does so..
For your young mama, whose heart is fear filled, i pray Gods ever loving arms around her, giving her the peace of heart she needs to rest.
Praising God for hubby’s Co workers who have found new jobs..
God is good.
Much love..❤️
Some of God’s more well known special numbers caught my eye today – 40 year reigns for Solomon & David, 7 years to build the temple
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Oh, Solomon! To be so wise, a genius really, what a mess you made for your life, those you ruled and those that followed after you.
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When we take our eyes off of God and all that He is, our hearts and minds follow. Regardless of our gifts/talents (and especially those the world takes note of), nothing is more important (not money, friends, social status, awards …) than our faith in the Lord. I need to remember – don’t think too highly of myself or forget to keep the main thing the main thing, my Almighty God.
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WHITNEY CAPPS – praying for healing
MARI V – praying for wisdom in your difficult decision
CEE GEE – nurtured faith ❤️
ERICA CHIARELLI – yes, thankful He uses the broken as we are all broken in some way
Amen, sister! ❤
Amen, Searching! Such truth.. when we take our eyes of God… trouble follows..
Much love..❤️
Praying to be guided by God’s wisdom today and everyday. Amen
May wisdom be my guide today
I pray for wisdom today for me and my family. Amen
Morning, Precious ones, chasing my tail at the moment juggling many aspects of my life..
I still stop here, as is my routine, just not enough time to comment as I would like..
Today, I thought it ‘wise’ to touch base as I have been ‘missing’ for a couple of days…
Hope all are well.
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Much love, covered in prayers and wrapped in hugs..
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Tina.❤❤❤
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Love you, sister ❤️
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Thanks for checking in, Tina! I was going to reach out to you today. Glad you are well and still here even when we don’t ‘see’ you! ❤
Missed you! Praying you are doing well!
Sweet Tina – you are always missed when we don’t see you here. Praying for you as you juggle what life is throwing you and that you will soon “catch that tail”!
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Missed you dear Tina! I can’t tell you how many days I hung on to what you wrote as I dealt with my husband’s illness! Praying that God will be with you as you deal with whatever life is throwing at you these days
May you sense His palpable
presence as you go about your day!!