Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Kings 3 and Psalm 103

“Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3:9). Solomon must already have had a measure of wisdom to be able to realise that there is nothing more important than attaining it. Wealth, honour, and even health are less important than having the wisdom that enables us to see through the dark mists of our own desires, our own narrow self-interests and popular opinion, to discern the course of action which is pleasing to our LORD.

By the time he prayed this, Solomon had already begun going astray by foolishly cementing a foreign treaty through taking Pharaoh’s daughter as his wife, and by worshipping at the “high places” instead of at the tabernacle of God. And, while we do see Solomon exercising God-given wisdom during his reign (as illustrated in the second half of 1 Kings 3) future chapters will reveal that his desire for women became obsessive and greatly dishonouring to God. This alerts us to the truth that God never undoes our freedom to choose.

By God’s gift of wisdom we can clearly know right from wrong, but we still need to make the right choice and follow the right course of action in each given set of circumstances we face. For this we will need a love for God that outweighs all other loves. More about that on another day.

Heeavenly Father, God of all wisdom and truth, please guide me daily and grant me a discerning heart. Help me to know right from wrong in these confusing times, and empower me by Your indwelling Spirit to always choose the right path. In the Name of Jesus who prayed, ‘Thy will be done’. Amen.