Verses 1-6 – God blessed Solomon and answered his prayer as he worshipped him. He established his kingdom and made him exceedingly great. A great orator, Solomon addressed and judged the people as they gathered at Gibeon to worship God. David brought the ark of God Kiriath-Jearim to Jerusalem and kept it in a tent he pitched. The bronze altar Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur made, was there before the tabernacle of the Lord. Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord and offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar.

Verses 7-13 - God appeared to Solomon that night and promised to give anything he asked. Solomon praised God for loving his father David, and making him king in his place. He asked God to fulfill His promise to David and give him wisdom and knowledge to rule the numerous people in his kingdom.

God was pleased with Solomon’s request and granted him what he asked. God said,

“Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for 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.” He even added a bonus to Solomon for his request, “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.”

When we worship God not for personal gains but to serve others as Solomon did, God will bless us. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge instead of wealth to govern his people. He saw his people were like “sheep without a shepherd” so God gave him what he asked for but more than he had asked.

In verses 14-17 – God gave Solomon a strong army of 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen. They were stationed in the chariot cities as the king in Jerusalem. God also gave Solomon silver and gold and they became as common in Jerusalem as stone the text tells us. God also blessed him with cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. Solomon was so wealthy and wise that he became a shrewd businessman. He imported horses from Egypt and Kue and profited from them by selling them to the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.

Solomon used his wealth and wisdom to make Israel great and famous to serve and prosper His people and even benefit the nations around him. A great leader serves His people and His community as well as the nations around him.

The worship of God must lead us to serve others and not ourselves. Today, many leaders serve themselves more than serve others. Be it secular or sacred leaders, we see many are serving themselves and not those they were supposed to serve.

What kind of a leader are you? Do you serve others or yourselves more?

Prayer: Help us Lord to aspire to be good people and leaders who worship You and serve others more than ourselves. Help us to use what You gave us, the wealth and wisdom to serve others instead of accumulating them for ourselves like many people do today. Have mercy on us O Lord I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.