THE KING’S BUSINESS
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throughout all ages (v. 28 ‘ Gh. 4:29-34; 5:12; 10:3-8, 23, 24). v. 13. “And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be- any among the kings like unto thee all thy days." God not only gave Solomon all that he asked, and in much more abundant measure than he had asked it, but God gave him what he had not asked. He gave him ex ceedingly abundantly above all that he had asked or thought, and He is always able and willing to do that for us, if we meet the conditions of prevailing prayer (Eph. 3 :20). If we select the best things, God will give us wijh it the minor things (Matt. 6:33; Ps. 84:11, 12; Rom. 8~":32). The riches that God gave Solomon were enor mous (Ch. 10:23-29). The wisdom which he sought came, bringing riches and honor in her hand (cf. Prov. 3:16). v. 14. “And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.” God made Solomon still another promise, but this promise was conditioned upon his future conduct. The promise was long life; the condition was obedience. Obedience to God’s laws is the great secret of longevity (Deut. 5:16; 25: 15; Prov. 3:1, 2, 16; 1 Tim. 4:8). All God’s richest blessings are conditioned upon one thing—obedience to His will as revealed in His Word (Acts 5:32; Jno. 14:15-23). Solomon did not fulfill the condition and therefore missed the promised blessing; he died comparatively young (1 Kings 11:42). v. 15. “And Solomon . . . came to Jerusalem, and stood before the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, and he offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants." Solo mon showed his appreciation of Jehovah’s goodness to him in the only way known to him. The sacrifices that we offer to Je hovah are different from those Solomon of fered (Heb. 13:15, 16, R. V.), but they have the same purpose.
and above all because they were Jehovah’s people. In the final analysis, the Chief aim of the prayer was Jehovah’s glory. That is the chief aim of all true prayer. Such prayer, and only such prayer, prevails with God (Jas. 4:2, 4). The discernment that he sought was the highest form of discern ment—moral discernment. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to impart this (Is. 11: 2-4). Solomon was utterly overwhelmed at the thought of undertaking in his own strength, a task for which no man was suf ficient. v. 10. “And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing" It is worthy of very careful note that God was pleased with Solomon’s prayer. God is al ways pleased with an intelligent prayer (Prov. 15:8). It is the most fragrant in cense to Him. v. 11. “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life: neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment." God here mentioned some of the things that Solomon might have asked: they are the very things that many would have asked had they had Solomon’s opportunity, but Solomon’s choice was much wiser, and God was greatly pleased with it. v. 12. “Behold, I have done according to thy word" This is a most wonderful thing that God said to Solomon, “I have done ac cording to thy word." Think of it, the infi nite God doing according to the words of a finite man, but God often does that. He promises to do it for us every time we ask Him, if we, on our part, do certain things (Jno. 15:7; 1 Jno. 3 :22). "Lo, I have given thee a wise and under standing heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.” Solomon got what he asked, but he got it in a far more abun dant measure than he asked. His wisdom became noted throughout the earth, and
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