“One time the king went to Giv‘on to sacrifice there, because that was the main high place. Shlomo offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there. At Giv‘on Adonai appeared to Shlomo in a dream at night; God said, “Tell me what I should give you.””-1 Kings 3:4-5
Yesterday, we answered two very important theological questions.
The first one is…
“Do conditions have to be perfect to worship God?”
The answer is no.
And it’s demonstrated here by Solomon presenting 1000 burnt offerings to the Lord at the high place in Gibeon.
The number 1000 is NOT a precise figure, by the way.
The Hebrew word is ELEPH, and it represents the biggest number unit.
The idea is that a ton of sacrifices were offered up.
The second question we answered is…
“Will God accept our imperfect worship?”
The answer is yes.
And it’s demonstrated by the Lord appearing to Solomon in a dream after his worship and assuring Him that He still watched over his people, Israel.
A beautiful and prophetic picture is portrayed for us here
A joyous crowd had gathered on the hills of Gibeon, and they were worshipping the Lord together with their king.
I imagine what the young King Solomon must’ve been thinking as he gazed over the huge crowds.
“How in the world can I properly govern such a diverse and chosen people?”…is what was probably going through his mind.
Well, that very night, as if in answer to the doubts that had surfaced, the Lord Himself appeared to Solomon in a dream.
“Ask! What shall I give you?” the Father asks Solomon.
Now, this was nothing like a genie suddenly manifesting and saying, “Your wish is my command,” fantasy nonsense.
The Lord was actually testing Solomon.
We’ll stop here for today.
But not before leaving you with an inspiring takeaway.
So here’s the thing.
The Lord our God is omniscient and knows everything.
So when He asks you a question, it’s not because He doesn’t know and is seeking information.
It’s because He is testing you and your heart.
Just as He tested Adam and Eve in the Garden when He asked them if they had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge.
And just as Yeshua tested Peter when he asked him, “Do you love me?” following Peter’s three times denial of him.
When the Lord asks you a question, He is testing your response.
The answer you give will reveal what’s really in your heart and tell you more about where you stand in your relationship to your Father in Heaven than a thousand Bible studies can.
Ya feel me?
So lemme ask you this.
Deep down in your heart, what question do you feel the Lord is asking you recently?
As for me, these days I feel like the Lord is asking me if I can really trust Him despite all of the uncertainties in my life connected to finances and health.
“Can you really trust that I will take care of you?”
That’s what I feel He is asking me.
But what about you?
What question has the Lord been placing on your heart these days?
Would love to hear from you!
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