As we read scripture, we must be mindful of the fact that all of scripture is meant to instruct and inspire not just the words on the page. The words move us, but also the setting by which the story is told also instructs us.
For instance, in the book of Genesis ch 15, we find Abraham growing frustrated with God's plan. It isn't fast enough for him. He is approaching 100 years old, and still he has no child. He began to question how God's plan could be fulfilled, a plan that guaranteed Abraham to be a father of many nations, yet he was still not even a father of one.
So, he complained to God.
God told him to go outside and to number the stars so shall be the number of his descendants. Abraham went out and came back in and the scripture says that Abraham believed the Lord.
What is interesting about this passage is that it is day time when Abraham goes out to count the stars. We all know that stars come out only at night, thus, God was simply reminding Abraham that even though you can't see the stars, it doesn't mean they are not there.
The setting instructs as much as the words themselves.
Even in the New Testament, the setting and events can be just as powerful as the words spoken. Jesus never claims to be all powerful, yet the mere fact that he can cure the sick, raise the dead, multiply the loaves and fish, walk on water suggest that in deed he is supreme.
It is important to pay attention to the settings in order to truly get the full impact of scripture.
Take again, our first reading of Solomon. Here God appears to Solomon while he is asleep, in a dream. While Solomon is sleeping, he is able to ask for the right thing, for wisdom to discern, right from wrong. In his sleep he seeks wisdom.
The presumption on the part of the author, is that we who read this passage, are awake. The author is instructing us. He is tellings us that if Solomon, while he is asleep, can ask for the proper thing, how much more should we, who are awake, seek to ask for the noble gift of right judgment.
Most of us, pray as if we are asleep; we fail to seek the highest good in our prayer and thus we live that reality out.
The invitation for the reader in this passage is to make sure that we pray for the greatest gifts not the least, that we pray not for selfish things but for those that will benefit all around.
If we pray for noble things, we shall live noble lives.
Prayer begets desire, desire affects the will, the will moves us to act. If we want to live the fullest and noblest lives we have to pray for the noblest gifts.
We often think that desire should determine what and how we pray. this is not so. Prayer must determine our desire otherwise, we direct our life and not God.
We should begin to pray for wisdom, purity, reverence, faith, hope, love. Thus, we shall see a drastic change in the way we live.
We can't pray for these things once, we must pray for them always. When we stop praying for them, we stop living the honorable life.
May we pray awake as Solomon does asleep: an understanding heart to know right from wrong so that we may live what we pray for and thus give God glory and be conformed to the image of his son.
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