1 Kings 3:9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

 

   

Most people only think of Solomon being a king with lots of wisdom after God had blessed him with it, and in a sense that is partly true for the Lord certainly did bless him and the wisdom that was expressed through his life was unique and became a talking point around the world.

 

However, this verse shows us that there was ‘seed wisdom' in Solomon already. There was an element of wisdom already in this young man because he realised his limitations and he realised that he needed God's help for the task that was before him, of governing this people.

 

Many people would have simply asked to be rich and powerful but Solomon didn't ask for that. He knew that that would be good but what would be better was the ability to deal with people, to know what was right and what was wrong, as he ruled over them.

 

Something else that was remarkable here, in the language of this verse, is his recognition that this people were God's people and he was answerable to God. That is where many leaders fall down; they don't realise that they are accountable to God for what they do and how they deal with people. Solomon realises this and each of these things indicate the presence of wisdom already.