"Above every earthly good, the king desired wisdom and understanding for the accomplishment of the work God had given him to do. He longed for quickness of mind, for largeness of heart, for tenderness of spirit. That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask what I shall give thee.” In his answer the young and inexperienced ruler gave utterance to his feeling of helplessness and his desire for aid. “Thou hast showed unto Thy servant David my father great mercy,” he said, “according as he walked before Thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with Thee; and Thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that Thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. PK 28.1"
"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?"
EGW directly quotes and paraphrases 1 Kings 3:9, highlighting Solomon's desire for wisdom and understanding to judge God's people.
"“And now, O Lord my God, Thou hast made Thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And Thy servant is in the midst of Thy people which Thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 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? PK 28.2"
"And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in."
EGW directly quotes 1 Kings 3:7, referencing Solomon's feeling of inadequacy and inexperience as a young ruler.
"“And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” PK 28.3"
"And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing."
EGW directly quotes 1 Kings 3:10, confirming the explicit allusion.
"“Because this was in thine heart,” God said to Solomon, “and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge My people,” “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 given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor,” “such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.” PK 28.4"
"And I have also given 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."
The EGW passage directly quotes and references the account of God's promise to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:13.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
While the EGW passage quotes 1 Kings 3, the connection to Matthew 6:33 is a thematic parallel. Both passages highlight the principle that seeking God's will first leads to other blessings.