1 Kings 3:5

1Kings 3:5 says, In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.  God appeared to Solomon at night in a dream.  God appears to people in different ways, though to me it has always been as a still small voice.  God told Solomon to ask for anything that he wanted.  I wonder what we would ask for in that situation.  Verse six adds, And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.  Solomon first acknowledged God's mercy to David his father in having him walk uprightly before Him, keeping him safe by His kindness, and giving him a son to sit on the throne.  Before we ask God for anything, we need to acknowledge His mercy to us.  Verse seven continues, And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.  Solomon then said that God had made him king and not just David himself, but he also said that he was as a little child, not knowing when to come in or go out.  Whatever we are as followers of Christ, especially in the church, needs to be because God has put us there, and we need to acknowledge that we need His wisdom to help us be successful.  Verse eight states, And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.  Solomon said that God had made him the ruler of a great nation that could not be numbered, though David had tied to do so.  The number of Christians today should be beyond number, but we seem to be decreasing as a percentage of all people instead of increasing.  Verse nine adds, Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?  Solomon finally got around to asking God for what he wanted, and it wasn't riches or power, but wisdom to rule the people of Israel.   We need to ask God for wisdom more than we ask Him for riches and power.  Verse ten continues, And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.  God was pleased with what Solomon said.  When we come to God asking for His help, is He pleased with what we ask for?  I believe that we too often are selfish in our requests.  Verse eleven declares, And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;  God listed several selfish things Solomon could have asked for but didn't.   Would God be able to say the same about us today?  Verse twelve adds, Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.  God said He had granted Solomon his request, and he would be the wisest man to ever live.  Though we may never be as wise as Solomon, we need to ask God for wisdom as we live our lives today.  Verse thirteen continues, And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.  God then said He was also going to give Solomon something he didn't ask for and make him the richest and most honored king of his time.  I wonder what God might bless us as Christians with if we asked for wisdom instead of riches and power.  Verse fourteen says, And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.  There was a condition on this promise from God, and that was that Solomon be obedient to God as David had been.  Today, if we want God's blessings, we must ne obedient to His word.  Verse fifteen adds, And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.  When Solomon awoke, he knew he was dreaming, but he went to Jerusalem and offered bunt and peace offerings to God and made a feast with all his servants.   I don't believe that he just wrote this off as a dream that meant nothing, but acknowledged that God had spoken to him in this dream.  We should always acknowledge when God speaks to us, no matter how He chooses to do so.