Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" Read 1 Kings 3:5-14

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" Read 1 Kings 3:4-5 The king went to Gibeon, the most prestigious of the local shrines, to worship. He sacrificed a thousand Whole-Burnt-Offerings on that altar. That night, there in Gibeon, God appeared to Solomon in a dream: God said, “What can I give you? Ask.”
6 Solomon said, “You were extravagantly generous in love with David my father, and he lived faithfully in your presence, his relationships were just and his heart right. And you have persisted in this great and generous love by giving him—and this very day!—a son to sit on his throne.
7-8 “And now here I am: God, my God, you have made me, your servant, ruler of the kingdom in place of David my father. I’m too young for this, a mere child! I don’t know the ropes, hardly know the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of this job. And here I am, set down in the middle of the people you’ve chosen, a great people—far too many to ever count.
9 “Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?”
10-14 God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon’s response. And God said to him, “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after. As a bonus, I’m giving you both the wealth and glory you didn’t ask for—there’s not a king anywhere who will come up to your mark. And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I’ll also give you a long life.”(The Message)
If you could request one thing from God, what would it be? Solomon had just that opportunity. He first remembers and gives thanks for the faith of his father David as he recalls God's faithfulness in their relationship. Who are the people that have helped lay such a foundation in your life? Solomon then remembers the love of God for His people. The gift that he asks for is one that will exclusively belong to him, but ultimately be used to help God's people. Who are the people God has called you to serve? 
It's only after Solomon remembers those two things that he then requests his gift of "an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil." What if we too, like Solomon, remembered the faith of those before us, remembered how much God loves those we are called to serve, and then with this in mind, prayed for a gift that would both be faithful and a blessing to God's people? How would our prayers change? Scripture tells us that his prayer "pleased the Lord."
Lord, may our prayers and the gifts we ask for be pleasing to you. Amen.
Sean Forde
Port Saint Lucie, Fla. 
Master of Divinity , 2005
1 Kings 3:5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you."
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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?"
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
11 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,
12 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.(New Revised Standard Version)
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