The One Thing God Wants From You in PrayerSýnishorn

DAY 1: King Solomon’s Humility Before the Lord

Second Chronicles is set from the beginning on the foundation of King Solomon’s humility before the Lord in prayer. And this humility was not merely a humble behavior.

What do I mean by that?

The Bible says that God responded to Solomon’s request and gave him what he asked for. However, God’s motivation behind granting the request is also important, and the chronicler knew this too.

It goes like this:

“Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like” (1:11-12, emphasis mine)

It was not merely humble behavior; rather, it was Solomon’s humble heart that led God to answer his prayer. And it was Solomon’s heart that led God to give him even more than he asked for.

Right at the beginning, God says, “Because this was in your heart.”

What was in Solomon’s heart? It was humility. He was humble. And because he was humble, so were his prayers. 

For some reason, I always thought that Solomon was this King who was the wisest person to ever live. And because he was David’s son, he was also very rich due to his inheritance. But the chronicler describes something different—that whatever wealth Solomon had was not because he asked for it. It was not because he was so wise and knowledgeable that he was able to acquire all this wealth. Instead, God gave him riches and wealth, even though he never asked for it (1:10-12). God knew that this man was humble enough to handle the wealth He was about to give him.