205. Ask what the Lord will Give
1 Kings 3:5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
This promise is made directly by the Lord to Solomon, and it cannot be claimed as an explicit Bible verse promise to us. However, the Lord God does make this promise to us as well in other parts of Scripture; thus, we include it as a promise that we may also claim, whether this specific promise to Solomon is meant for us or not. The Lord appeared directly to Solomon as he was assuming the role of King of the people of God on earth. We also need wisdom when we take on a new responsibility.
The promise was open-ended: Solomon could have asked for anything. But Solomon loved the Lord, and he was wise and faithful enough to ask for the one good thing that was also God’s will for him in his role as king. He asked for Wisdom, wisdom to rule God’s chosen people. Solomon said, “Give me an understanding mind to govern, that I may discern between good and evil.” The Lord told him he could have asked for a long and healthy life, or for riches, or for the life of his enemies, but he did not. But because he asked for what he did, God told him He would give him also what he did not ask: riches and honor and length of days. God gave him peace and prosperity in the kingdom.
Although God did not appear to us in a dream like this, He did tell us this: “Ask and it shall be given to you…for everyone who asks receives. How much more will your heavenly father give good things to those who ask Him.” The purpose of this promise of Jesus in Matthew 7 is that we may ask for the Holy Spirit and for good things so that we may actually keep the Law and live according to the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus also says in John 14, 15, 16: “Whatever you ask the father in my name, He will give it to you.’ In 1 John 5: “If we ask anything according to His will He hears us…we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.” And finally in James 1: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God…and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith.”
In other words, God did make the same promise to us, “Ask what I shall give you.” We may know God loves us, that He is faithful, that He hears prayer.” But often we just do not ask, in Jesus’ name, in faith, or according to His will. This kind of promise is given to us to inspire us to ASK.