“A Very Special Request”
There are times when we all struggle with making the right decision with some weighty problem we face. Many times we don’t like the options that we have either. But, at some point we have to decide and move forward, hoping that, with our planning and praying, things will work out for the best.
Solomon is a good example for us to consider when we face difficult decisions or are dealing with some of the more complex problems in life. I suspect that Solomon was a bit anxious about following in his father’s footsteps as King of Israel. I’m sure that he gave much thought to how he would fit into his big shoes and worried about the type of king he would be both consciously...and subconsciously.
It seems that Solomon really wanted to be a good king. He wanted to be a leader who would place God’s people above his own narrow interest, just like his father, David, before him. It’s not surprising then that when given the chance, Solomon has a very special request for the Lord. He asks for an understanding heart with which to govern God’s people.
Solomon’s desire to be a just and wise Sovereign is a reminder that when we make unselfish choices in life there is a ripple effect that touches the lives of so many others and in some way is pleasing to God. I believe that people are basically good , all of us, even if at times we fall far short of our “better selves”. We do bad things but that doesn’t make us bad people. We are all God’s children and he doesn’t abandon us when we turn inward and walk away from him… Thank God! We, his children, can be benevolent and kind; we can make choices beyond our own narrow self-interest; we can rise to serve the common good and strive to love one another in fulfillment of the Great Commandment. Solomon’s prayer reminds us to look to God for help in making the right choices in life and, if we do that, all that we do will be pleasing to him.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
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