Daily Devotional For Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Good morning and good day Southside! We live in a world where evil sometimes seems to have the upper hand. We have wars and terrorist attacks that seem to have become the norm rather than the exception today. Evil is the flag that seems to fly over every state and government today, even ours. Yes, the world is complicated but the only thing necessary for evil to spread is for good, godly people to do nothing. 

In today’s reading in the One Year Chronological Bible, we come to the Scriptures where Solomon is now king. 1 Kings 3:3a describes Solomon this way: “Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father, David” (NLT). In time this will all change. It seems the “apple didn’t fall far from the tree” with Solomon. His love for God will soon be replaced with a lustful love for women (1 Kings 11:1-5). It doesn’t take long for any of us to get a new idol in addition to or the replacement of the Lord. Our text for today will be 1 Kings 3:5-14:

“Then Solomon said to the Lord, ‘You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. (7)  Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. (8) Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. (9) So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?’ (10) It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. (11) God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, (12) behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. (13) I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. (14) If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days’” (NASB).

There are numerous stories out there about rubbing a bottle and a genie pops out and says he will grant you 3 wishes. Remember the movie Aladdin? God spoke to Solomon in a dream. What we see here is Solomon’s humility in 1 Kings 3:7. He told God his wisdom and discernment was on the level of a small child. Solomon wanted to start out on a good foot. Solomon simply asked God for wisdom and discernment to serve the Lord as his father David had. 

God promised and gave Solomon wisdom and discernment on a level and scale that no other person in history has ever had (1 Kings 3:12). Think about that. God also promised Solomon he would become the wealthiest person who has ever lived (1 Kings 3:13). Think about that. Today there are 3,428 billionaires with a total wealth of 20.1 trillion – 989 are in the USA, 610 are in China, 229 are in India for example. According to what God promised Solomon in 1 Kings 3:12-13, none of these can even come close. Solomon’s humility was why God blessed him. Look at these verses below:

• Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom” (NASB). 
• James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (NASB).
• Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (NASB).
• 1 Peter 5:6, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (NASB).
• James 4:6, “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (NASB).
• Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (NASB).
• Proverbs 18:12, “Pride comes before a disaster, but humility comes before respect” (NASB).

So, maybe the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (NASB). Asking, seeking and knocking in an attitude of humility is the prayer God answers and honors. At Solomon's request, he compared himself to a little child. He humbly admitted to the Lord his inexperience being a king and ruling over God’s people. He desperately wanted to rule, decide and make judgments over God’s people that would honor the Lord. He sought nothing in it for himself other than the joy and satisfaction of knowing he was glorifying the Lord as the Lord’s vice-regent. 

Even with David’s many sins, Solomon saw the intimate relationship his father had with God. He wanted that and more. The wisdom God had given David was for protection of the nation; the wisdom that God gave Solomon was for justice for all. If only more of God's people today asked God for wisdom in the decisions they have to make. What a better blessed world it would be. 

Reflection Assignment: If you the Lord came to you and gave you permission to ask for anything from him for yourself, what would you ask the Lord to give you? Health? Wealth? Longevity? As you pray, ask humbly for the Lord to give you something that you know would bring Him honor, spread the Gospel and help you make disciples.

Scripture To Meditate On: James 1:5, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (NASB).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I only ask that You give me wisdom for each day so that I bring glory to You and bless other people. Lord, please use Your Holy Spirit to guide me in ways that show my total dependence on you. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly