Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
Proverbs 4:1-15 ESV
It is very apparent that king David had a profound impact on Solomon's life. We see Solomon here, fondly reflecting on the precepts and knowledge that his father had drilled into his young mind, and entreating his readers to listen, heed, and cherish the wise instructions of his father.
As a young man, David had indoctrinated Solomon to seek after one thing in life. “Son, if there is one thing in life that you should seek to obtain, it is wisdom. Whatever you do, seek knowledge and insight with everything that is within you.” Now let's fast-forward several decades in Solomon's life, and we are in the middle of the night at Gibeon:
“...the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, ‘Ask what I shall give thee.’”
Only careful, intentional training prepares a person for a moment like this. I can well imagine that David's counsel, having been lovingly, and repeatedly instilled in Solomon's young mind, was the first, and only, thing that echoed and re-echoed through his mind:
“Son, if there is one thing in life that you should seek to obtain, it is wisdom!”
I don't think there was a moment's hesitation in his response to the Lord. He knew from a child what his goal was in life, and this was simply the one chance that he had in his life to fulfill that goal. He jumped for it, and God was well pleased with his choice. God was also well pleased with the wise influence of Solomon's father, which guided him in his choice.
We, as fathers, have a holy responsibility to impart this kind of purpose into our children. Do your children KNOW why they exist? Have you prepared them for something so grand as God himself coming down and asking what they desire in life? If you haven't, now is the time to start.
Your children will rise up, and call you blessed. (Proverbs 31:28)