Great Prayers of the Bible: Solomon Asks for Wisdom
29 July 2025 · 1 min read · Prayer
At Gibeon, God appeared to the new young king in a dream with history's most dangerous offer: Ask what I shall give thee. Solomon's answer revealed everything: I am but a little child... give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people.
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?
The request that pleased God
The speech pleased the LORD — because of what it did not ask: long life, riches, the life of his enemies. Solomon measured the job against himself, came up short, and asked for the one thing equal to the gap. Humility is simply accuracy.
God's response set the pattern for James 1:5 forever after: the wisdom was granted lavishly — and the unrequested things, riches and honour, were added. Seek first the governing thing, and the rest has a way of arriving.
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.
Praying Solomon's prayer
Every parent, manager, teacher, and leader stands where Solomon stood: responsible for people, insufficient for the task. His prayer is ready for reuse: an understanding heart, that I may discern between good and bad.
Ask it at the start of the workday, before the difficult conversation, over the child you are raising. The God of Gibeon still finds the request irresistible.
