1 Kings 3:5-12 (NRSV)
Read 1 Kings 3:5-12 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." Verse 6And 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. Verse 7And 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. Verse 8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Verse 9Give 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?" Verse 10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. Verse 11God 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, Verse 12I 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.
Devotion
Sometimes it is really hard to admit that we don’t know it all. It’s tempting to pretend that we have all the answers, especially when other people are counting on us. Today’s text from 1 Kings is a humbling reminder: we are not the source of all wisdom—God is.
As a young pastor in my first call, I have days where I feel inadequate as a leader. I can certainly relate to what Solomon says in verse 7—I’m just a kid, I don’t know what I’m doing! Thankfully, I can turn to God for guidance. I’ve realized that the more I am able to accept that I don’t have all the answers, the less afraid I become of that fact.
Perhaps what made Solomon so wise was that he was willing to admit that only reliance on God could make him the kind of leader that Israel needed.
Prayer
Source of truth, give me the wisdom to admit that I don’t know it all. Forgive me for fooling myself into thinking that I can do it alone. Help me to let go of my fears of being inadequate and turn my thoughts towards you. Amen.