Dear Christian friends:

If God would appear to you and say to you, "Ask Me what I shall give you!", what would you ask of God? Will you ask for riches or power or good health? What you will ask for shows whether you are humble or proud and whether you have the right spirit or a wrong spirit before God.

Once a long time ago God did appear to a man and told him to ask for anything he wanted. Our text this morning tells about that. A short time after he became king of Israel. God appeared to Solomon, the son of David, in a dream and told him to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon had the right spirit and asked God for wisdom to do his duty and rule His people rightly. So God answered his prayer and gave him both wisdom and great riches.

This lesson shows that God gives grace to the Humble. We often forget that and act proudly. We need to be reminded here:


God really exalted the humble King Solomon. The Bible says, "God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.” (1 Kings 4:29) Many kings and queens came from countries near and far to hear his wise speeches and see the great riches and beauty of His Kingdom, His court and the beautiful temple in Jerusalem. The temple alone was one of the seven wonders of the old world.

When Solomon ruled over Israel it was almost like heaven on earth. During his forty year reign he had peace, good times, and no wars. But Solomon later became proud and selfish. He loved many strange woman and married them. These women were from heathen nations who worshipped false gods. He had seven-hundred wives and three-hundred other women and they changed his heart so he did not love God perfectly as his father David.

Solomon was not the Savior Son of David and his kingdom was not the true kingdom of God. Solomon was a little bit like Jesus and his kingdom for forty years was a little like Jesus' kingdom, but only a taste, only a hint, or a sample.

Jesus Christ is the true Son of David. Jesus is the true Savior and His Kingdom is the one true and everlasting Kingdom. Jesus, like Solomon, humbled Himself. He was not proud, greedy or selfish. He loved God, His Father, perfectly. He said: "But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do." (John 14:31) He humbled Himself and obeyed God even unto death, yes, the terrible shameful death on the cross.

This Jesus did because He thought of you and me and all sinners like us and wanted to save us from our sins. Paul says, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11) On Easter, ascension and when He comes on the Last Day Jesus will be highly exalted, because He humbly served God.

Yes Jesus is the one true King and His is the one true kingdom. He told the Jews meaning Himself: "A greater one than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:42) So also you and I if we wish to share in His Kingdom, in His exaltation and glory we must make ourselves humble before God.

Humbly confess our sins and unworthiness before Him. Trust in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. Humbly accept Baptism and the Lord's Supper and the preaching of the cross as the only way of salvation.

And in our daily duties as husband or wife, son or daughter seek to serve God and the members of our family. Don't be greedy and selfish at home. Where we work seek to serve God and our boss and the others who work with us. And as members of the church humbly serve God and help one another not seeking honor and praise: not easily hurt or insulted, not lazy in our duties and responsibilities.

When we think about this we must blush and feel very much shame, because we are very selfish and proud most of the time and quickly get upset or insulted.

Let us daily think about these things and confess our sins and be sorry. Let us daily go to Jesus and His Cross for forgiveness and for His Spirit to improve.

Then one day although we must humbly die we will rise again with great honor and glory sharing in Jesus' eternal Kingdom, a much more glorious King than Solomon in all his great glory.

Amen.