I Kings 3:9-10 “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.”
I Kings 3:11-13 “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also give thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.”
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed away on April 12th, 1945 in the midst of his fourth term and at the climaxing part of World War II. Three days later he was buried, and the day after that, newly sworn-in President Harry S. Truman stood in front of a joint session of Congress.
Throughout his speech, President Truman called for the need and the necessity of Divine guidance. He closed the speech with these thoughts:
“At this moment, I have in my heart a prayer. As I have assumed my heavy duties, I humbly pray Almighty God, in the words of King Solomon: ‘Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?’ I ask only to be a good and faithful servant of my Lord and my people.”
It was said of this speech: “Truman had but a fraction of FDR’s gift for oratory, but his voice was steady and firm. For twelve years the president who addressed the world from this pulpit spoke in the intonations of the moneyed East Coast establishment. This voice was different. It was the voice of a common man, asking God for guidance, and the response was the loudest affirmation Truman’s ears had ever encountered.”
Experts have said that “the first four months of his administration should rank as the most challenging and action-packed of any four-month period in any American presidency.” Truman certainly needed the understanding heart that topped the King Solomon’s prayer list.
So do we, and so do our leaders today!
PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO PRAY FERVENTLY FOR AN UNDERSTANDING HEART TO DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD. King Solomon implored God for such wisdom, and it pleased the Lord that he did so. Such prayers, for ourselves and for our leaders, are needed and necessary. Putting this request at the top of our prayer lists would please the Lord today.
ADMIN: The quoted thoughts above come from A. J. Baime’s “The Accidental President.”
