Reading of July 26, 2026: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
In this issue:
Children’s story: God grants King Solomon a wise and understanding heart
Trivia Question
Bible Accent: More about King Solomon’s wisdom
Spotlight on the Saints: St. Louis IX of France
Puzzle: Circle the correct answer
Not long before he died, King David fulfilled a promise he had made to his wife Bathsheba.
David and Bathsheba had a son named Solomon. Even though Solomon was one of David’s younger children, David decided that Solomon would succeed him as king of Israel.
David gave Solomon some advice for his reign. He told Solomon to keep God’s statutes, commands, ordinances and decrees as written in the law of Moses so that he would be successful in everything he set out to do.
Once Solomon became king, he went to Gibeon to sacrifice on the high place there. While Solomon was in Gibeon, God appeared to him in a dream.
“Ask something of me and I will give it to you,” God said.
“O Lord, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong,” Solomon replied.
God was very pleased with Solomon’s request.
“Because you have asked for this — not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right — I do as you requested,” God said. “I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.”
God was so pleased with Solomon’s answer that he gave the king even more than what he had asked for.
“In addition,” God said, “I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days. And if you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and commandments, as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
When Solomon awoke, he went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, sacrificed burnt offerings and communion offerings, and gave a feast for all his servants.
READ MORE ABOUT IT:
1 Kings 3
Q&A
1. What did God ask Solomon in a dream?
2. How did God react to Solomon’s answer?
Trivia Question
How many princesses did King Solomon marry? (Hint: 1 Kings 11:3)
Answer: 700.
Bible Accent
In 1 Kings 3, we can read more about King Solomon’s wisdom.
Beginning in verse 16, we learn that two women came before the king. They were living in the same house, and each gave birth to a son within three days of each other.
“This woman’s son died during the night when she lay on top of him,” the first woman said of the other. “So in the middle of the night she got up and took my son from my side, as your servant was sleeping. Then she laid him in her bosom and laid her dead son in my bosom. I rose in the morning to nurse my son, and he was dead! But when I examined him in the morning light, I saw it was not the son I had borne.”
“No! The living one is my son, the dead one is yours,” the second woman argued.
The women continued to argue back and forth over the living child.
“Get me a sword,” King Solomon said. “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other.”
“Please, my lord, give her the living baby — do not kill it!” the first woman said.
“It shall be neither mine nor yours. Cut it in two!” the second woman said.
“Give her the living baby! Do not kill it! She is the mother,” King Solomon said of the first woman.
When all Israel heard of the king’s judgment, they were in awe of him, because they saw that the king had in him the wisdom of God.
Spotlight on the Saints: St. Louis IX of France
St. Louis IX was born in 1214 and became king of France in 1226. He was well-liked by his people because he was pious and good.
He took part in two Crusades to the Holy Land. During his first one, he and his men were taken prisoner in Egypt in 1250. Louis secured everyone’s freedom by paying a large ransom and returning a city he had captured.
During his second Crusade in 1270, he died of dysentery in Tunisia.
We remember him on Aug. 25.
Puzzle
Using the hints provided, circle the correct answer to each sentence about King Solomon.
1. Solomon composed 1,005/3,005 songs. (1 Kings 5:12)
2. When Solomon built the Temple, he had the interior covered in gold/diamonds. (1 Kings 6:21)
3. It took Solomon 12/20 years to build the Temple and his home. (1 Kings 9:10)
4. The Queen of Sheba/King of Egypt tested Solomon’s wisdom. (1 Kings 10:1)
Answers: 1. 1,005; 2. gold; 3. 20; 4. Queen of Sheba
