Observation: Once Solomon has carried out the instructions his father David gave him in order to secure the kingship, the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream and offers him whatever he wants. Solomon famously asked for 'wisdom' ... actually (and I think I've covered this before) he never says 'wisdom', but asks for discernment. To be even more accurate, Solomon asks for a "receptive heart" that will enable him to "discern between good and evil" so he can govern and judge well. This pleases the Lord and he proceeds to give Solomon riches, power, peace, and success in all he does, especially in building the temple.
However, this request and the Lord's response must be juxtaposed against Adam and Eve's original sin in Genesis 3. They eat from the tree of 'the knowledge of good and evil', and their sin is that they chose to seek that knowledge and thus to be able to judge between good and evil. The difference here is reliance upon the Lord.
Adam and Eve sought the ability to judge between good and evil based on their own minds ... to decide for themselves instead of relying upon the Lord's guidance. Solomon is actually seeking the EXACT opposite. He declares he is unable to judge for himself and lacks experience, so he asks for a "receptive heart" ... for the character and ability to not make decisions for himself, but rather to listen to the Lord ... and that the Lord would then speak to him in matters of discernment between good and evil. In other words, Solomon's request is to return to the ways of the garden and rely on the Lord in matters of good and evil instead of relying upon his own understanding.
Application: "Original sin" is called to my mind over and over. I have that sin in my heart. Every day I consider what I should do, thinking only with my own mind and applying my experience to act as I decide, instead of relying upon the Lord alone for guidance and wisdom and discernment. However, the worst part of our society - of the 'human condition' if you will - is that this is now our collective nature. We judge between good and evil without reliance upon the Lord, and we are moving away from that reliance more and more every day.
How could we collectively return to the garden? It would be great if we at least began moving that direction, if more people would turn to the Lord and to scriptures for truth and wisdom. It would be wonderful if our collective discernment involved reliance upon the Lord's perfect will.
That is a huge component of the Lord's kingdom, which won't fully come until Jesus returns. However, I can personally and consciously return to the garden and rely more and more upon the Lord in all matters, every day.
Prayer: Lord, again today I pray this, may I seek your will and wisdom on all matters. As Solomon asked, please, oh Lord, give me a receptive heart to discern between good and evil, based on your will alone, guided by the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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