Solomon became the king of Israel when he was just a young man, probably around the age of twenty. His father, King David, even with his wrong choices, was considered a great leader of the nation. When Solomon was to become king, he went to Gibeon, the most sacred place at that time. (The temple in Jerusalem had not yet been built).

Solomon “loved the Lᴏʀᴅ” (1 Kings 3:3) and went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Lord on that altar. While in Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream saying, “Ask what I shall give you” (v. 5). Solomon, grateful for God’s “steadfast love,” responded to God saying, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (v. 9). Solomon’s response to God is one of the best definitions of the meaning and value of God’s wisdom.

First Kings 3:10 says, “It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.” God is pleased when we understand our need for his wisdom and ask him for “an understanding mind” so that we can know God’s will and “discern between good and evil.” When last did our prayers please God in that same way? Will our next prayer requests please God?

Pleasing God is easy when we understand and trust that he is God. Our Bibles reveal all we need to know in order to trust his greatness. Solomon knew he was a young, inexperienced man who was now the king of Israel. He knew God’s wisdom was what he needed most. And Scripture says that knowledge pleased the Lord. 

It was then that God told Solomon, “Because you have asked this . . . . I give you a wise and discerning mind” (vv. 11–12). Solomon didn’t ask for riches and power, but his wisdom and his obedience to God led him to gain both.

Wisdom is pleasing God. When we know how to please God and live obediently with that goal, we have gained God’s wisdom and his blessings.