Day 159

1 Kings 3:3–4:34; Acts 6:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Proverbs 16:26-27

AS KING SOLOMON consolidated his power and began to reign, he realized that he was ill-equipped for such an undertaking. In our reading from 1 Kings today, God visited Solomon in a dream to grant him a wish. King Solomon could have asked God for anything in the world —love, riches, a long life, deliverance from his enemies, anything —but what he desired most from God was wisdom.

“O LORD my God,” Solomon prayed, “you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9).

God honored his request and gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart. We immediately saw the effects in his reign, and the book of Proverbs codifies much of the wisdom Solomon collected and lived by.

In today’s reading from Acts, we saw the early church realizing (as Solomon had) that the job was bigger than any one person could do. The Greek-speaking believers found themselves in conflict with those who spoke Hebrew because they thought their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. The apostles felt that their primary mission needed to remain focused on sharing the Good News of Jesus, so they invited the community to appoint seven men to serve and care for the needs of the believers. This is how the role of deacon was born.

In both Old and New Testaments today, we saw foundational truths. Without the wisdom of God indwelling us, we do not have what it takes to navigate life and leadership. But without one another, we do not have what it takes to grow and thrive. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to grant us an understanding heart as we celebrate the communities He has placed us in.

PRAYER:

Restore our fortunes, LORD, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.