Probably my favorite dream in the Bible is in 1 Kings 3.
I first discovered this in 1982 when I was teaching Bible knowledge in a Public secondary school in Nigeria.
I was a new teacher, following the regular curriculum, teaching Old Testament. The principal also placed me as Dorm Mother to over 100 Nigerian girls. Me, a 24-year-old American in a new to me culture, and even a different kind of English.
I had a lot to learn.
I related to Solomon. Back in Nigeria I prayed Solomon’s request for wisdom often.
Please read the entire text of this favorite dream so we have common context. Better yet, click this link or the one above to read the full chapter.
“5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.”
Wow. This is a direct interaction between God and man, in a dream. It is much like the dream I linked to last week from a current day African. Both of these dreams were fulfilled as God predicted in the dreams.
In obedient response, Solomon immediately went to Jerusalem, worshiped and sacrificed to the Lord. His next act was building the temple, following his father’s plans.
He also wrote the books of Proverbs and Song of Songs. Interestingly, these books are all about relationship with our Lord. When we seek the face of God, we also gain people skills.
Does this sound familiar?
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22
Maybe this is why Solomon’s dream is a, if not the, favorite dream of mine. I still need it.
