The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:4-5 NIV, 6-6-14)

Gibeon was a high place. High places were bad, far from God’s ideal. Later kings got in serious trouble for tolerating the high places.

But God appeared to Solomon at Gibeon’s high place and gave him an amazing gift–wisdom. That tells me a couple things.

First, God can still bless me and be pleased with me when I am less than perfect. Even if I haven’t gotten all the sin out of my life, God still loves me.

Second, God gave Solomon wisdom at Gibeon. Now, after Gibeon, Solomon went to the right place, Jerusalem. God wants us to move away from the less-than-ideal, so sometimes to do so He has to meet us in our imperfections and sinfulness.

[Father, help me to accept your love even though I am far from perfect, and believe you can give me wisdom even in my sinfulness.]