ESOCS Devotional 29 April 2026: A Thousand Burnt Offering

ESOCS Devotional 29 April 2026 – A Thousand Burnt Offering

MEMORY VERSE:  “Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.” 1 Kings 3:4 NKJV

TEXT: 1 KINGS 3:3-15

And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.

⁴ Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

⁶ And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. ⁷ Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. ⁹ Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

¹⁰ The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. ¹¹ Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, ¹² behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. ¹³ And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. ¹⁴ So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

¹⁵ Then Solomon awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

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Solomon had just ascended to the throne of Israel, following in the footsteps of his father David. Though young and inexperienced, he understood something vital: worship precedes wisdom. Before asking God for understanding, Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings, an extravagant act of worship and devotion.

This wasn’t a mechanical religious ritual. It was a statement of total surrender, reverence, and honour to God. In response, God appeared to Solomon in a dream and allowed him to ask for anything. Solomon’s request for wisdom became legendary, but it all began with a heart that worshiped lavishly.

In today’s world, we are often tempted to offer God only what is convenient: a quick prayer, a leftover offering, or a hurried devotion. But Solomon’s example challenges us to ask: What does sacrificial worship look like in my life today?

You may not offer burnt offerings, but you can offer your time, your gifts, your obedience, and your heart, not in part, but in fullness. God still responds to extravagant devotion with abundant grace.

Reflections

1. What does “a thousand burnt offerings” represent in your life today?
2. Have you been giving God your best or only what is convenient or leftover?
3. How might you express deep, sacrificial worship to God this week?
4. What do you need to surrender more fully to honour God with your whole heart?

Action Step:

Choose one area of your life to offer to God today, intentionally and sacrificially. It could be your time in prayer, a fast, generosity toward someone in need, or setting aside a distraction to pursue deeper intimacy with God. Write down what you’re offering and make it an act of worship. Say aloud: “Lord, I give this to you as my offering. Be glorified in my sacrifice.”.

Prayer 

• Father, you are worthy of all my worship.
• Teach me not to hold back but to give you my best not out of obligation, but out of love.
• May my life be an altar of continuous praise and surrender.
• Help me to honour you with everything I am and have, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Further Reading: Exodus 3:13-End; John 2:1-12; Ephesians 5:15-End

ESOCS Devotional 29 April 2026