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The pious prayer of the youthful Solomon at the beginning of his kingly life! There is in this narrative a blending of the natural and supernatural which surpasses all power of fabrication; in itself the high degree of fitness which marks the Divine manifestation here recorded, combined with its striking simplicity, reveals to us the personal intervention of Him "who dwelleth on high, who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth." That the highly-lauded wisdom of Solomon had not originally the religious character which is ascribed to it in the text is indeed easily asserted, but is far from proved, and is moreover at variance with a multitude of facts. It may even with reason be doubted whether a wisdom and knowledge such as this King of Israel must have possessed in his day can be explained upon purely natural grounds; assuredly it is somewhat simpler to find, with the sacred writer, in Solomon's own experience the ground of his utterance, "The Lord giveth wisdom, out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

I. "Come and see" A YOUTH WHO AT A CRITICAL MOMENT IS FOUND IN PRAYER. It is true every moment of this fleeting life has its own significance; but yet there are single hours which more than other cast a heavy weight into the trembling scale. What a difference between that which Solomon has hitherto been and that which he is henceforth to be; and how much depends, even for himself, upon the spirit in which the first step on the new path is taken! Until now child, boy, youth; nursed indeed in the bosom of luxury, but with a David as father, a Nathan as guide; beloved and happy among his brethren, but yet to a great extent on an equality with them. Now suddenly king, and — free; free from every bond. In a simple trait a whole difference of character and principle is sometimes made manifest. Thus it is in the conduct of Solomon at this hour, as compared with that of his brother, Adonijah but a few short months ago. While the latter, even during David's lifetime, grasps at the throne, he prepares only a banquet: as though he would at once be able as from the table to ascend the princely throne. When Solomon, on the other hand, after David's death assumes the reins, there is prepared almost as the first act a religious festival of homage and coronation. With what hallowed emotion this day fills his heart will be felt by every one who perceives yet in his prayer by night the after-vibrating of the finest chords of his heart which had .been touched by day! Not so attractive for him is the cedar palace in Jerusalem as this simple hill without, where the name of the God of his father is called upon. It is too little for him that his exaltation bears the stamp of human approval; he must consult the Lord in the palace of His holiness, and place himself with all his future under me gracious hand of the Holy One of Israel. Heart-gladdening sight — a king who feels himself God's subject; a youth who feels that his path cannot be pure unless he directs it according to Jehovah's Word! Is it not the ease that sincere piety, however often derided and disowned, is yet something glorious and fair; the ornament of every condition, and most of all of the highest; but especially amiable and august in the young man who with whole and joyful heart has chosen the service of God? It is true, when an aged sinner bows his head in penitence before God, Satan loses his prey; but when in a youthful heart a voice is awakened which cries for the living God, then angels give thanks to God around the throne for their new-born brother on earth, Oh, they know not what they say who assert that early piety has about it something unnatural and narrow-minded. How many a youth is at this hour brought to the decisive turning-point in his life, but who begins his course altogether differently, and who therefore very soon makes a progress entirely unlike that of Solomon! How many a bark, lightly laden and fairly equipped, leaves the secure haven and dances over the rippling waves, and seems for awhile to distance others, but anon with the turn of fortune falls quickly behind, and entirely loses her course, until, become a plaything of the storm, she is dashed on yonder rocks and disappears in the gloomy abyss! What wonder, the inexperienced steersman had thought of everything except the indispensable compass; had taken counsel with every one except that One who says, "Mine is the counsel and their strength"; had counted beforehand on the haven, but not upon the storm and Him who alone can quell the storm. There is now a fable going its round in the world: unbelief has invented it, and scepticism now whispers it from the mouth of one schoolboy into the ears of others. It is this — that for the whole doctrine of childlike prayer there is no longer any place within the compass of the modern view of the world. Thus sounds the gospel of despair, hailed by many a child of this age as the highest wisdom — a gospel before which the angel of prayer within flees from the unhallowed sanctuary; while in his place the genius of passive subjection, with rigid gaze, takes his seat by the grave of departed hope. Poor man, poor youth especially, who have all that is needful for outward life, but have lost prayer! "In all, thy ways acknowledge Him".

II. Come and see, in the second piece, A KING'S SON WHO PRAYS EXCLUSIVELY FOR WISDOM. Assuredly, before the presence of the Infinite One the prince is no more than the begger; but is not the former exposed to far greater temptations? "Ask what I shall give thee." What a word, and how great the concession contained in that word! All the treasure-chambers of God's infinite favour opened up before the grasp of a single hand! "Ask of Me," says the Possessor of all things, "and choose thyself the blessing which thou desirest above all others. Shall the cedars of Lebanon fall that in thy capital there may arise an edifice of unrivalled splendour? Shall the laurel adorn thy brow, intertwined with the roses of love? Shall thy name be borne upon a thousand tongues, even to the Tigris and Euphrates? and a patriarchal age crown all these blessings?" Who does not involuntarily tremble at the sight of the hand in which such a decision is placed? "Give Thy servant an understanding heart" (1 Kings 3:9); and the meaning of his prayer may be easily conjectured, especially when we remember the sense in which Solomon in the Book of Proverbs constantly makes mention of wisdom. He means by it no mere learning, which may be attained to in another way; and just as little that acuteness, versatility, polish, which frequently is almost entirely disconnected with the first principles of moral life. He desires on the other hand, that practical wisdom which qualifies in every case for the recognising, choosing, and accomplishing of the right, the true, and the good. If he has only wisdom, what does he need besides? Happy Solomon, who hast understood thy deepest need; but who at the same time knowest where satisfaction for this need is to be sought.

III. Come and see here A HUMBLE ONE, WHO PRAYS NOT IN VAIN. A humble one: upon that word I lay stress, because it is the key to the whole. How strikingly this humility expresses itself, especially in the words of the prayer as preserved in another place. First, thanksgiving for what is already bestowed or promised; and then, further, "And now, O Lord, my God" — the "my" of a humble faith — "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," as my position requires. Solomon, at least, has certainly experienced the truth of his own words, "With the lowly is wisdom," but also at the same time learnt that God will give grace to the humble. Immediately he receives the answer, "Because this was in thine heart . . . the wisdom and the knowledge is granted unto thee. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraids him not; and it shall be given him. But — the condition is equally simple as it is reasonable — "let him ask in faith, nothing doubting." How prayer is heard no one may be able fully to explain; but that it is heard is for the thoughtful faith raised above all doubt. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with Mine eye." Not that you are to look for inner light apart from God's written Word, and still less that this heavenly instruction is to release from the necessity for your own labour and exertion. In the realm of true wisdom no one is crowned who has not in childlike spirit bowed before God.

IV. Come and see here A FAVOURED ONE, WHO RECEIVES MUCH MORE THAN HE ASKS FOR. We have as yet listened to only half of the heavenly response: thus it continues, "Therefore will I give thee riches, and wealth, and honour," etc. No, He who gives that which is of the first necessity also refuses not that which is less so. Solomon had not even thought of temporal gifts; but his God forgets nothing of all that which may augment the lustre of His throne. "And Solomon awoke, and behold it was a dream." But what a dream; and what an awakening! The morning hour of a new life has dawned upon him, and while this master-dreamer descends at once from Gibson's crest, it is only very soon to rise to a more glorious height before the eye of his own and neighbouring nations. That which the king has received redounds, spiritually and materially, to the good of the nation, which shares in the benefit. God in answer to prayer usually gives the indispensable first; but straightway also adds thereto the useful, the agreeable, the comparatively superfluous. The Lord gives grace, and in that one thing all things lie hid; yet He adds to grace also honour, and withholds no good thing from them that walk in uprightness. "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding... She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that holdeth her fast."

V. AN UNHAPPY ONE WHO BY HIS OWN FAULT HAS FORFEITED THIS BLESSING OF HIS PRAYER.

(J. Van Oosterzee, D.D.)

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KJV: In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

WEB: In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you."