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THE KING’S BUSINESS
(cf. Dan. 2:21; 4:25, 32 ; 5:18, 21). He also recognized his own utter insufficiency for the position to which God had appointed him. At this time he was perhaps twenty- one years old, but in his humility, in his own eyes, he was “but a little child” (cf. 1 Chron. 29:1; Jer. 1:6; Luke 14:11). v. 8. “And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude." Solomon saw the greatness of the responsibility that had been laid upon him. The man who recognizes the great ness of the responsibility that is laid upon him in his task to serve, is a wise man. To Solomon office was not a possession for his own private gain, but a sacred trust to be executed in the interests of others. The people were a great people in numbers, but that was not the most important fact about them—they were God’s own people, whom He had “chosen.” Oh 1 that all kings and presidents and governors, and pastors, too, felt their solemn responsibility as Solomon felt his at this time. v. 9. “Give therefore thy servant an un derstanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” Solomon felt that what he must have above all else, was not something for himself, but fitness for his position. He asked, therefore, for an “understanding heart”—literally a “hearing heart,” that is, a heart that should hear the voice of God. The only really understanding heart is the heart that listens to God’s voice as it speaks in God’s Word. What he asks is of far more value than all honors and all riches (Prov. 3:13, 18; 16:16). His father’s words to him, and prayer for him, had sug gested to Solomon this request (1 Chron. 22:12; 24:19). Evidently David’s words had gone deep into Solomon’s heart. This great thing that Solomon asked, we all may ask, and be sure that we shall get what we ask, for pod has definitely promised it in His Word (Jas. 1:5, 7). It was not for his own sake that Solomon asked for “an under standing heart,” but for the people’s good,
of a man. He practically said to Solomon, “Now, whatever you ask, I will give it to you,” but He says the same wonderful thing to each and every .humblest child of God today (Jno. 14:13, 14; 15:7; Matt. 7 :7, 8; Mark 11:24; Jno. 15:16; 16:23, 24; 1 Jno. 3:22; 5:14, 15). v. 6. "And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day." Before Solomon asked for anything new, he acknowledged the wonderful goodness of Jehovah already manifested toward his father and himself. We should never ask for new blessings until we have made definite acknowledgment of and thanksgiving for blessings already re ceived (Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2). God’s great “kindness” (R. V.) to his father in the past encouraged Solomon to ask great things for himself in the present. The reason why God dealt so kindly with David was because of David’s own sincere, righteous and up right walk (cf. Ch. 9:4; 15:5; 2 Kings 20: 3, 4; Ps. 15: 1, 2; 18:20-24; 1 Jno. 3:22). The crowning manifestation of God’s kind ness to David was that he had given him a son to succeed to his position, and to his work. What greater blessing can God be stow upon any man than to give him a son who shall follow in his footsteps, and who shall continue his work after he is gone. -Solomon speaks of his father by a very hon orable title, a far more honorable title than that of king, "Thy servant David.” It is true David was a king, and the greatest gen eral of his day, but his most honorable title was that of “servant of Jehovah'” Jehovah himself had conferred this title upon David (2 Sam. 7:5). v. 7. "And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: and r know not how to go out or come in." Solomon recognized fully that he owed his own present exalted position entirely to God
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