1 Kings 3:5-15 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give you.… When into any Old Testament incident there can be pressed the whole significance of a New Testament precept, the study of both becomes a still more eager pursuit. Thus we know that God is the same in character, and the Gospel m the same in purpose, through all the ages. I. EVERY REVELATION OF DIVINE GRACE IS DEFINITELY CONDITIONED UPON PRAYER AS THE INSTRUMENT OF ITS ATTAINMENT. Evidently God is purposing to do him a great favour; but all that the voice says is that he is to "ask" before anything is to be granted. God says "ask," and Jesus says "seek." Only we ought to remember that we in an age of blessedness and light, we in these latter times of clearer revelation, have one supreme advantage over those who sought their help under the teaching of that former dispensation; this is no longer a dream-voice that we hear from heaven, but the intelligible living message from the lips of God's Son. II. REMINISCENCES OF PREVIOUS HELP ARE AN EXCELLENT ADVANTAGE IN PREPARATION FOR PRESENT PETITION. When we find so young a king referring to former histories in the household and the realm, it becomes clear that he kept his eyes open and his mind thoughtful while the story of Absalom and Mephibosheth in the old times was working itself out. III. THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF REAL NEED IN CARRYING OUT THE LORD.S PURPOSES IS A FORCIBLE ARGUMENT FOR IMPORTUNITY IN SUPPLICATION. IV. A WEIGHTY RESPONSIBILITY IN DUTIES CONSTITUTES A MOTIVE FOR ASKING GOD TO INTERPOSE WITH HIS BENEDICTION OF HELP. A burden of care is His reason for seeking audience with his King. V. THE FIRST THING TO BE ASKED FOR IN GOD'S GRACE IS A NEW AND "UNDERSTANDING HEART." The idea here is a heart of discrimination, a power to discern conscientiously between right and wrong, and to pronounce unerringly for the right. VI. HE WILL QUICKLY SUCCEED IN LIFE WHO HAS THE TESTIMONY THAT HE PLEASES GOD. From these words any one could predict the future of this young king; for the Lord announced Himself his friend. VII. We may learn, once more, that A NEW HEART, WISE AND UNDERSTANDING, IS A BETTER BENEDICTION THAN ANY OTHER WHICH HUMAN WISHES COULD DESIRE. VIII. WITH THIS CHIEF BLESSING OF A NEW HEART SOUGHT AND GAINED, GOD GRANTS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS NEEDED. Solomon took occasion a long time afterwards to put this thought in among his Proverbs. IX. WITH PRESENT ANSWERS TO PRAYER ALWAYS COME ASSURANCES OF CONTINUED LOVE AND GRACE TO THE FAITHFUL FOR THE FUTURE. The great was right when once he exclaimed, " We must hold our empty vessel to the mouth of so large a fountain." And indeed, if God.s covenant engagements have so fine an indorsement that they will circulate as petitions, it would be well to use them literally and often. It was the lamented Humphrey who was said to have had the power of weaving together the Scripture promises so appropriately into his prayers that his exercises of devotion seemed like cloth of gold. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.WEB: In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." |
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