Most of us have things we regularly pray about. We pray for our families, our health, our work and the situations we find ourselves facing. But every now and then a prayer tells us something about the person praying it. It reveals what matters most to them.
When Solomon became king, he inherited a throne. Along with it came responsibility, expectations and the daunting task of leading God’s people. He was young and inexperienced, and he knew it. Then God appeared to him in a dream and said: “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5)
Imagine hearing those words. What would you ask for? A longer life? Financial security? Good health? Success in your work? Protection for your family? Solomon could have asked for any of those things. Instead, he asked for a listening heart. That answer tells us a great deal about wisdom.
Solomon’s Honesty
Before Solomon asks God for anything, he acknowledges his own limitations. “I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.” (1 Kings 3:7) Solomon was not literally a child. He was a young king facing a responsibility that would test anyone. What strikes me is his honesty. He knew he needed help. There is an honesty in that which is hard not to admire. We live in a world where people are expected to have an opinion on everything. Admitting uncertainty is often seen as weakness. Yet Solomon begins by admitting he does not have all the answers.
Perhaps wisdom begins there. Not with knowing everything, but with recognising that we do not. A person who is willing to learn will usually learn more than a person who thinks they already know enough.
A Listening Heart
When Solomon asks for a discerning heart, the Hebrew wording carries the idea of a heart that listens. I think that is significant. Solomon wanted God’s help to lead people well. He wanted to make good decisions and he wanted to understand what was right. Life is rarely as straightforward as it first appears. People can say one thing while meaning another. Situations can look clear until more information comes to light. Decisions are not always black and white.
Solomon knew he would face moments when the obvious answer was not enough. He needed God’s wisdom. We do too. Discernment grows as we learn to listen to God through His Word and as we allow His Spirit to shape the way we think, respond and act. Christian discipleship is not a process of gaining information but it is allowing God’s truth to influence the way we live.
Discernment and Suspicion
The two are often confused. Suspicion starts by assuming something is wrong and then goes looking for evidence. Discernment seeks only the truth. One is driven by assumption while the other requires patience. Suspicion is determined to be proven right while the other is willing to be corrected. That can be uncomfortable.
It is often easier to question someone else’s motives than to examine our own. Yet before asking God to reveal what is happening in another person’s life, perhaps we should pray: “Lord, what is happening in me?” That takes honesty and humility. A listening heart allows God to deal with us before we start trying to diagnose everyone else.
The Test Before Solomon
The famous story of the two women and the baby follows immediately after Solomon receives wisdom from God. Both women claimed to be the child’s mother and each of their stories sounded convincing. There were no witnesses and no obvious way to know who was telling the truth. Solomon listened and then he watched. When he proposed dividing the child, one woman was prepared to give up her claim if it meant the child would live, while the other was not. In the end, it was not their words that revealed the truth. It was their response.
That is often the case in life. Character tends to reveal itself when people face disappointment, pressure or sacrifice. What is hidden beneath the surface eventually finds its way into the open. God gave Solomon the wisdom to see what others could not see.
Solomon’s Story Doesn’t End Here
It would be nice if Solomon’s story ended with this great moment of wisdom. But we know that it doesn’t. God answered Solomon’s prayer and blessed him with remarkable insight. Yet later in life Solomon made choices that drew him away from complete obedience to God. I find that both encouraging and sobering. Encouraging because God is willing to give wisdom generously and sobering because wisdom is not the same as obedience.
Knowing what is right does not automatically mean we will do what is right. Most of us have experienced that for ourselves. We know the right thing to say but say something else. We know the right choice but avoid making it. We know what Scripture teaches, yet sometimes we struggle to live it out. Wisdom is a gift, but it must continually be lived out in dependence on God.
Listening to His Voice
Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
Notice that Jesus says His sheep listen. Discernment grows through relationship. The more time we spend in Scripture, prayer and obedience, the more familiar we become with God’s character. We begin to recognise what reflects His heart and what does not. That does not mean every decision becomes easy. Sometimes God’s answer is “wait”. At times understanding comes slowly. Sometimes we receive enough light for the next step rather than a detailed map of the entire journey. But a listening heart keeps turning towards Him.
A Prayer for Today
The older I get, the more I appreciate Solomon’s prayer. There are many situations in life where I am not quite sure what to do. Most of us know that feeling. We seek advice, weigh our options and try to make the best decision we can.
Solomon went to God. He asked for a listening heart. That still sounds like a good prayer. Being wise has less to do with having all the answers and more to do with knowing where to find them. Solomon knew where to go. May we do the same.
Lord, give us listening hearts.