A prayer of the Bible
Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
Prayed by Solomon · 1 Kings 3
In 1 Kings 3, God appears to the young king Solomon in a dream and offers him whatever he wishes. Solomon asks not for wealth, long life, or victory over enemies, but for 'an understanding heart' to govern well, and God, pleased, grants that and more.
The prayer
The moment, and what it teaches
It is one of the great tests in Scripture, and it comes disguised as a gift. God appears to Solomon and says, in effect, ask what you will. It is the question every fantasy is built on: unlimited wish, no strings. And what a young man asks in that moment reveals everything he loves.
Solomon, newly crowned and honest about being 'but a little child' unready for the weight of a kingdom, asks for the one thing most rulers never think they lack: wisdom. An understanding heart, to tell good from evil, to serve people well. He does not ask to be rich, or safe, or feared, or long-lived. And the text says God was pleased, precisely because of what he did not ask for, and gave him wisdom, and then added the riches and honor he had not requested.
Offered anything, he asked to be wise enough to serve. What you ask for when you could ask for anything reveals what you love.
Pray it yourself
These prayers were not written to be admired from a distance. They were prayed by frightened, hoping, ordinary people, and the same God still listens. The Living Bread is a quiet place to pray, to be prayed for, and to learn to talk with God honestly, at your own pace.
Jesus Christ is Lord.
Frequently asked questions
- What did Solomon pray for?
- When God offered him anything, Solomon asked for 'an understanding heart' to judge God's people wisely, rather than riches, long life, or the death of his enemies (1 Kings 3:9). God was pleased and granted wisdom, and added wealth and honor he had not asked for.
- What does Solomon's prayer teach us?
- That what we ask for when we could ask for anything reveals what we truly love, and that God delights to give wisdom to those who seek it to serve others. James 1:5 echoes it: if any lack wisdom, let him ask of God.