...but I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?
1 Kings 3:7-9
The dying words of his father David were still ringing in Solomon's ears, along with the pomp and ceremony of the coronation. Maybe after all the servants had gone to bed, Solomon went in his bathrobe and slippers into the throne room and sat again on his father's throne. All the ceremonies said the chair was his, why then did it feel too big? Like a boy wearing his daddy's shoes, the young man Solomon felt too small for the job.
But Solomon didn't get fifty men to run in front of his chariot like his other brothers had done when they tried to become king. Instead like a little child saying his night time prayers, Solomon knelt down and talked to God as his Father.
An understanding heart.
Solomon asked for one thing: an understanding heart. He didn't ask for brain or brawn. He asked for a heart that knew God's thoughts and could penetrate beneath human motives so he would always know what best to do—that wisdom would give him more respect than armies or wealth. Solomon did receive these things, but they were not the source of his greatness—behind all of his success was a man asking for wisdom.
Wisdom and wisdom alone.
There is the padding of pride that could prop us up, but it never will work in the long run. Instead we need to bring our doubts and limitations to God and ask Him to make us what we are yet to become with His infusion of wisdom.
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