17The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. Zeph 3:17

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

A Hearing Heart

“Give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart…” (1 Kings 3:9)
Each time we are called by the Lord for a duty, it is wise to consider these words of Solomon.
When Solomon became king of Israel after the death of his father, David, the Lord asked how He might bless him. Rather than request great wealth or any other self-indulgence, Solomon remained keenly aware of the weight of the responsibility at hand. He was cognizant of and concerned about his lack of required experience. He acknowledged God’s hand in his position and humbly gave a fitting estimation of his ability. He willingly acknowledged his deficiency and correctly judged his need.
Often we read commentary stating the Lord was pleased with Solomon’s choice because it was selfless, which indeed it was. However, consider also the humility of Solomon’s request. He resisted the prideful temptation to suppose that he had received his position and associated duty based upon some intrinsic personal ability. Instead, his request was born of candid self-assessment.
And so Solomon requested what he needed most in order to fulfill his mission, an understanding heart. The Hebrew word rendered “understanding” in the King James Version, may also be translated “hearing.” In order to carry out his God ordained responsibility, Solomon needed his heart to be equipped to hear God. Accordingly, the Lord granted him wisdom.
From this passage we learn that wisdom comes from a “hearing” heart intent upon listening to the counsel of God when we are called to His service. In modern vernacular we acknowledge, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”
When Solomon lost sight of this important lesson, he made decisions from his own imprudence. As long as he remained humble and listened for the Lord’s leading, he was blessed with wisdom beyond that of any other man ever. Upon considering the wisdom to be his own, rather than being a gift of the Lord, he began to make decisions which led to the downfall of the unified kingdom of Israel. He chose wives who enticed him to worship false gods and he oppressed the people.
After his death, Rehoboam rejected Godly counsel and vowed to oppress the people even more harshly than Solomon had.  The people revolted and the nation was split into the Northern and Southern kingdoms. Clearly he had not been raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and sought neither Him nor His wisdom.
Perhaps, Solomon realized his need for the Lord in leading the nation, yet assumed himself adequately equipped to parent. Perhaps he felt, as do many today, parenting is not nearly as important as our “God-given” missions. Perhaps, like Solomon, we should be mindful that the children we are called to raise today are the leaders of tomorrow. And, like Solomon, we must first acknowledge our great need for wisdom and ask from the Lord, “who gives liberally and upbraideth not.” Like Solomon, we must continue in humble service to the Lord, relying fully on the wisdom that comes from above, and “lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
Lord, guide me today as I endeavor to serve You. Fill me with Your light and cause my heart to hear You. May I raise Your children to search for and hear You. Lord, I cry out to You like Solomon acknowledging “I am but a lad [in wisdom and experience]; I know not how to go out (begin) or come in (finish)…Give your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart…” so I may do Your work in my home. Amen.