2 Chronicles 1:7-12 In that night did God appear to Solomon, and said to him, Ask what I shall give you.… Nowadays it is impossible to say that God never does speak to men in dreams, but it is not often that He does so. For one good reason — the Bible is now complete, and there His will may be learned, and there it is made known. Yet there are some dreams that certainly are remarkable!" I. First let us talk s little about THE PERMISSION: "Ask what I shall give thee! Suppose I were to put this question to each one here present, what a lot of singular requests would be heard. One old woman was once heard praying thus: "O Lord, give me plenty to eat and plenty to drink, and that's all I want." God wished Solomon to ask himself, "What do I really need most of all?" Of old the shopkeepers used to cry aloud, "What — do ye lack?" This is a good rule in prayer, to say, What do I actually want at this very moment? If you find out in what you are most deficient, you will learn your true character. Look around, and say now, "What do I really need? What ought a boy or girl just beginning life to possess? What — do I lack?" Perhaps you do not know how much you need some things, nor will you without inquiring. Tradesmen fill their shop-windows with toys, pictures, books, and dresses, so that people may feel inclined to want them, and come in and purchase. The Bible is full of descriptions of things that every one should require. Look at what it says, and you will find out what you want most, and first of all II. God asked this question of Solomon for another reason; He desired to show us the TRUE WAY TO OBTAIN WHAT WE REQUIRE; THAT IS, BY PRAYER OR ASKING. Solomon had received great gifts from his father David without asking for them. God, too, had given him many most valuable blessings, many of them without asking. "Now," says God, "ask and you shall have." You cannot purchase some things with money; no rich man has sufficient wealth to buy health or happiness. And you cannot buy the blessings of the gospel; you must receive them as a gift from the Lord Jesus. (N. Wiseman.) Parallel Verses KJV: In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.WEB: In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you." |
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