At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you." 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:5, 9 ESV)
Understanding: שָׁמַע shaw-mah'; a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.
Mind/Heart: לֵב Lav = inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding, heart (of moral character), mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, inclination, resolution, determination (of will), conscience.
Here is my paraphrase of what Solomon is asking God for. Give me a hearing heart, attuned to the will and wisdom of God, that in obedience, I may have what is necessary to fulfill God’s purposes for the good of His people.
When you consider the position that you are in, perhaps as a parent, spouse, employer, minister, elected official, whatever you place in life you find yourself, you are encouraged to ask God for wisdom.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (
James gives us a good working definition of the wisdom that we seek. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 ESV)
The wisdom we seek is also enhanced by our life experience and training, which, in turn, helps us to rightly discern good from evil.
“For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]! 14 But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.” (Hebrews 5:13-14 AMPC)
The Apostle Paul’s prayer for all of us all is that we would continue in our spiritual grow to full maturity in discernment and truth, bringing honor to God and blessing to others.
And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], 10 So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. (Philippians 1:9-10 AMPC)
Lord Jesus, I earnestly ask that you would “Give me a hearing heart, attuned to the will and wisdom of God, that in obedience, I may have what is necessary to fulfill God’s purposes for the good of His people.” Amen.
