Plenary,

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Official Report 320KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection. Our leader today is Pastor Paul Coventry of Stranraer Baptist church. I am delighted to invite him to lead our first time for reflection in the Parliament's third session.

Good afternoon. I thank very much the Presiding Officer for giving me the honour of addressing the Scottish Parliament today.

As MSPs, you have a daunting task as you seek to meet the competing demands of your constituents, and to deliberate over critical decisions that will be made in this chamber. One thing that you may be desperately in need of from time to time—perhaps the Presiding Officer more than most in this finely balanced Parliament—is the wisdom of Solomon: a phrase that comes from the biblical story of King Solomon. As a young man of about 20, Solomon finds himself the king of Israel. There he is, thrust into leadership, feeling only too well his inadequacies and his lack of experience, but God comes to him and says:

"Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

What an offer.

"Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

I wonder what you would ask for.

Here is Solomon's reply, which I offer you as a fitting prayer for every MSP here:

"I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties … give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

I am not suggesting that you do not know how to carry out your duties, but I want you to capture something of Solomon's language—his humility and honesty at the prospect of governing a great people. The secret is that he goes on to recognise that in the difficult business of leading a nation and administering justice, he must look beyond his own human abilities, to the living God who alone provides true wisdom. In the Bible, wisdom is always more than just having lots of information and knowledge at your fingertips: it is the ability to apply that knowledge properly so that you do what is right and good and true.

God commends Solomon. He is pleased that Solomon did not ask for the usual things that kings request. God said to him:

"Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies"—

I am sure that you would never ask for that for your political opponents—

"but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart".

So this is my reflection for you: to serve with humility; to serve with the good of the nation at heart; to desire above all things a wise and discerning heart; and to recognise that there is a God who can guide you and grant you wisdom if you will only look to him.

God bless you.