Solomon’s request can hardly be called typical for a ruler. Indeed, having only just established himself on the throne, it would be natural to ask that his power be strengthened, for military might, wealth, and other forms of earthly prosperity. But Solomon does not even ask for the lives of his enemies, and thus begins his reign peacefully, which is entirely unlike the behavior of an ancient king. Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge, yet we understand that for him wisdom is something far greater than a set of practical skills for governing people and a state.

But having asked for wisdom, Solomon receives earthly wealth, glory, and everything else he could have dreamed of as well. This is not surprising: if one chooses the essential thing, one can receive much beyond what was chosen precisely because everything else rests upon that essential thing. If, however, one asks for something, even something truly important and necessary, apart from the essential thing, then even after receiving it one will gain little benefit from it.

Years will pass, and the descendants of Solomon’s subjects will hear the call of the Son of David: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

God's relationship with Solomon differs from the relationship that bound his father David to God. David was a prophet, and prophetic experience was the foundation of his entire spiritual life. Unlike his father, Solomon was not a prophet. But he undoubtedly had experience of communion with God, though not the same as David's. That is why Solomon asks God first of all for wisdom. He understands perfectly that he is still too young to possess the experience necessary for ruling the country. But he recognizes this fact and trusts God completely, confident that God, having made him ruler, will also give him wisdom to fulfill this mission. Such trust in God in other cases prompts God to call the person trusting Him so to prophetic ministry. But in this case nothing of the sort happened, perhaps because the people of God at that moment did not need a prophet on the throne, but needed precisely such a person as Solomon, who proved to be a skillful, decisive, and at the same time cautious politician and reforming ruler, able to create, in place of a patriarchal tribal state formation, a state modern by the standards of his time. It is no accident that Solomon asks God specifically for wisdom: in his time wisdom meant not simply abstract knowledge or general education, but first of all the ability to build relationships with people and govern both one's own house and, if necessary, a whole country. And Solomon copes with the task set before him, because God never abandons those who turn to Him with full trust and with the desire to fulfill His will.