One time I asked God for something. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said to ask for sovereignty. You found David asked for only one thing, while Solomon asked for two, as it says (Proverbs 30:7-8), "Two things I ask of You; do not deny them to me before I die. Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches; provide me with food in my allotted portion." (Proverbs 30:9) "Lest, being sated, I renounce and deny You and say, 'Who is the Lord?'
Or, being impoverished, I take to theft and profane the name of my God." He asked him which was the harder of the two, and he said the latter. Why did God give up on idolatry, sexual immorality, and murder, but not on desecration of His name, as it says (Ezekiel 36:39), "As for those who follow their abhorrent practices, they will suffer the consequences. I will place their conduct on their own heads, declares the Lord God," and "But you, House of Israel, shall no longer profane My holy name with your gifts and your abhorrent things."...