Wisdom

 DEVOTION

1^ST KINGS

WISDOM

1 Kings 3:16-28

16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, "My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. 19 "During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. 20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. 21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son — and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne." 22 The other woman said, "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours." But the first one insisted, "No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine." And so they argued before the king. 23 The king said, "This one says, 'My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, 'No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.'" 24 Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other." 26 The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" But the other said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!" 27 Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother." 28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

NIV

This is a well-known story of the two women arguing over one baby. Although that seems to be the main plot, the real story is about the wisdom or the discerning heart the LORD gave Solomon and how he delivered his verdict in the case of the one baby and two women. Of course, there is also the truth of a mother's love for her child, as that is how Solomon was able to determine the true mother. But that also takes us to what the true love of the Father is for his children. The mother was willing to give up her child before letting Solomon have it cut in two. The Father was willing to send his Son to be treated with hatred, having some hate him so much that they wanted to kill him. Although Jesus did die on that cross, no man killed him, for he gave his life as a ransom for many. Jesus decided that the moment he would take his last breath, it would be in his hands, his will, not the will of men. It was also the will of the Father to raise Jesus up so that we have a living Savior. This is true love at its finest. The mother demonstrated enough love to give up her child so it would live. But this wisdom of Solomon, who the LORD said no one was ever like him, or would ever be, yet we are told that if we lack wisdom, we are to ask and the Lord will give it to us generously without finding fault. We can have wisdom, and the implication is that it would be the wisdom of God. That would seem really far-fetched to think we could have the wisdom of God, but surely we would not be as wise as God, or have an equal amount of wisdom, for our minds are not capable of that level of wisdom. Yet are they? If we are created in the image of God, and they made us in their image, we should be capable of anything he designed us to be, and desires us to be. He would not have given us all those commands to get rid of certain traits and behaviors if we were not able to comply. The same goes for all the traits, attitudes, and behaviors we are to take on. Although everything is about our faith in Jesus, and not in our works, or being perfect. However, at the same time, we can have wisdom and a discerning heart so we know right from wrong. We also have far more of the word of God than Solomon had, and we have the work of Jesus, which Solomon did not. Yet he still serves to show us that if we ask for wisdom, God will give it to us.