In 1 Kings 3, Solomon had a sacred experience seeing the
Lord. Read 1 Kings 3:9–28; 4:29–31.
Answer the following questions:
Why do you think Solomon asked for an understanding
heart? Why do you think his choice was pleasing to the Lord? What would more
worldly people have asked for?
I think that he asked for an understand heart because he
was humble enough to recognize his weakness as a leader. In verse seven he
said, “…I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.” In verse
nine he recognizes that is the leader, and the one who is supposed to judge the
people. However, he doesn’t know how it should be done.
More worldly people may have asked for the things the
Lord was pleased that Solomon didn’t ask for: a long life, death of enemies,
riches and honor.
How did Solomon demonstrate that he had received this
spiritual gift at the beginning of his reign?
He settled a dispute between two women. They were both
claiming a living baby was theirs, and the dead child was the others. Solomon
commanded the baby be cut in half and one half given to each woman. One woman
freaked out and said not to do it, but the baby was the other woman’s child.
The second woman in essence said to just do it. Solomon knew that the woman who
cared more for the child’s life was the child’s real mother. He didn’t cut the
child in half, but gave it to the real mother instead.
How could this spiritual gift help you in your life? What
do 1 Corinthians 12:31 and Doctrine and Covenants 46:8, 28, 30 explain about
how you could develop more gifts of the Spirit?
This spiritual gift could help me understand my husband a
lot better. It could help me in some personal things I am going through right
now. Also, it could help me better understand others, so maybe I would be more
compassionate towards them. Corinthians says to seek after the best gifts.
Doctrine and Covenants also says to seek the best gifts and adds to “remember
why they are given” (vs. 8). Doctrine and Covenants also gives another key item
to receiving gifts of the Spirit. It says to ask in the Spirit, which will be
the will of God, and then the person will receive what they have asked for in
the Spirit. In application I think this would mean to study and ponder
spiritual gifts; seek to find and know what they are. Then, to feel; feel the
Holy Ghost and find what gifts of the Spirit one should ask for. Next, asking
for the gift through prayer, in faith, and receiving it. Receiving it through the
Spirit I feel is learning the gift through the Spirit. Solomon didn’t learn
that wisdom by reading books or philosophy; he learned it from the Spirit. We
can learn how to use our gifts through the Spirit as well.
How do 1 Kings 4:1–25 and 1 Samuel 11–20 relate to each
other?
I am not sure which reference in Samuel this is referring
to, because we’re missing either a chapter and a colon or just a colon. So, I
am choosing to compare 1 Kings 4:1-25 to 1 Samuel 1:1-20. In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah
earnestly sought one of the best gifts – motherhood. She so wanted to be a
mother, and took her plea to the Lord at His house. She then received a promise
that she would be blessed with a son, and she was. 1 Kings 4 relates to this
because it is showing that the Lord did keep his promise to Solomon. He did
bless him with such wisdom as never was or will be in all that land. As
promised, he was also blessed with riches and honor.
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