The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem... Ecclesiastes 1:1
Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, the son of King David and his wife, Bathsheeba. Solomon introduces himself in Ecclesiastes as "the Teacher." David named him Solomon, which means peace and prosperity, but God actually named him Jedidiah. God sent word through Nathan, the prophet, that Solomon's name should instead be Jedidiah, which means beloved of the Lord. 2 Samuel 12 says that God named him this because He loved him. Is that amazing? We are all loved by God, but to actually be named ''beloved" by God through prophesy is overwhelming.
Solomon was not David's first born. He was actually the fourth son of David's eighth wife. This is significant because usually the firstborn son ruled in his father's place. Solomon was probably the 10th son. Solomon did not expect to rule. But rule he did, when his father David died. This just proves that God chooses our leaders (Romans 13:1).
Early in his reign, God appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said to Solomon,
... the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 1 Kings 3:5
Solomon replied, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
“Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 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?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 1 Kings 3:6-10
God asked Solomon, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!" Pretty remarkable. Imagine that God appears to you in a dream and tells you to ask Him for anything. What would you ask for? We need to look at Solomon's response and learn from him.
Solomon starts not with his request, but with thanksgiving. He thanks God for being kind not even to him, but to his father. Then he acknowledges that God placed him on the throne as King. He follows that with honesty and humility with where he is at. He calls himself "a little child" before the Lord, and asks for discernment to rule God's people.
So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.
He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court. 1 Kings 3:11-15
In summary, here is what we need to learn from Solomon's prayer:
1. Begin your prayers with thanksgiving, thanking God for who He is.
2. Acknowledge what God has done in your life and the lives of others around you.
3. Come before the Lord with humility, realizing who you are compared to Him.
4. Make requests that will benefit others and not just yourself.
5. Enjoy the Lord's pleasure over your prayer life.
6. Expect more from God than you ask for.
7. Worship God for His answers to prayer in your life.
Now go pray like Solomon did!
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