Wisdom from God
( 1Kgs 3:16ampsim28 )
A discerning heart brings us the wisdom from God wisdom that is practical not abstract that we can apply in our life. In order to revive others, we need this wisdom, which calls for our crucifixion. Lets think about what the wisdom from God is like.
1. It comes from listening heart, one that listens without discrimination. After making a resolution to use his gift for his people, Solomon faced a challenging case of two prostitutes as the first case of his reign. He watched the two women standing before him as his servants just as he stood as one before God. He took care of his people humbly enough to allow them to appeal their cases to him regardless of their status, sex, and wealth even a prostitute appealed to him, a king. Solomon must have asked, 'Lord, what should do?' Then he listened to the story of each prostitute without discrimination with a discerning heart. Thus we need to be impartial to enjoy the grace of Gods wisdom.
2. It reveals reality. Everything is unveiled before an impartial heart. The women tried to have their own child as their support in their old age. They had relied on each other, living in the same house since they delivered their child. However, when a trial came, they turned their back on the other and testified against each other. Notice how fragile human love is and how untrustworthy man is. Both of the women claimed the live baby is mine and the dead one is yours. At a loss, the true mother of the living baby had to bring her case to the kings jurisdiction. However, there was no practical evidence only circumstantial. The two women must have lived together to serve their own interest. The cheating mother might have helped the other in many ways by her crafts. The real mother should have remembered that she could be the victim of a cheater. We should not trust anybody just because the person helped us by cheating others. As things went against her, the murderer mother repeated in an endless loop 'My son is alive and your son is dead.' Thus she chased her own interest without repentance, unable to accept that she was a cursed woman who killed her own child. This paternity suit was so challenging to the king because both of the suitors were widows living a tough life and their morality was not upright. However, the wisdom of God reveals the reality of the case.
3. It sometimes makes us look heartless. Solomon noticed that the case couldnt be solved in a normal way and that the two women were the only witnesses to the case. He also knew that one woman must have stolen the baby out of jealousy and the other would try to have the baby survive at any cost. And he made an initial decision that seemed merciless. The decision of God is always made for the sake of truthful people in difficult situations. Without the perspective of redemption history, few of the affairs in the world can be reasonably resolved. Solomon was able to command that the baby be cut into two because of his full understanding of human nature. And he made this heartless decision thanks to the divine wisdom that responded to his discerning heart. The sword refers to the Word. Thus God wants us to resolve our problems with the Word. In order to solve our problems, we need to see our sins through the Word, cut off and pierce our sinful nature, and finally turn away from it. If we resist the Word and insist on our own will without seeing our sins, God may run out of patience, bring his sword, and strike our idol of happiness and success with the sword of bankruptcy or disease. Yet we can survive by listening to the Word of Gods wisdom and taking the cross as our road.
4. It is love with burning compassion. The two women applied Solomons prescription differently one applied it from the perspective of redemption history and the other from a worldly viewpoint. The real mother understood the Word and saw her sins through it, laying down everything. But the other asked Solomon to cut the baby into two. This inhumane request shows that her attachment to the baby was not from real love, but from her jealousy and possessiveness. Her request to 'Cut him in two' sounds like a call for fairness and justice. Yet it is actually hurting a person. Without repentance, both an offender and a victim of jealousy suffer distress. If we compare our child with others, not accepting the child as he or she is, we are like the fake mother. Gods wisdom comes from the perspective of salvation. While the real mother focused on salvation and life, the false mother wanted even half of the baby. To her, the baby was something to possess. Meanwhile the real mother had burning compassion for her son, the source of Gods wisdom, which calls for suffering. Suffering makes us focus on the essential things, helps keep us balanced in key issues, and guides us in spiritual affairs. To her, letting her son die was the greatest suffering. So she decided to save her sons life by laying down her own rights. Christians catch phrase is 'Let me die. You survive!' However, the real mother who accepted death revived. God wants to show us his heart through Solomons judgment. He teaches us to see everything from the perspective of life and salvation, not as the objects of possession.
5. It is dreadfully awesome. The wisdom that God gave Solomon is what the world cannot understand. It is the wisdom to save the world. Solomon, called Jedidiah, who enjoyed Gods love, regarded himself as a little child, and humbly asked God to give him a discerning heart. As a result, he was able to discern the truth by the power of love at the critical moment. After passing through Gods training of Neros persecution, Paul, an old man, withering in a prison, became a great apostle, who lead the whole world to Gods salvation. Christianity is the fruit of our faith-forefathers patience and their burning compassion. When you make your resolution to obey the Word of God, even though you think you are not ready to accept it, you receive the wisdom of God to save your household.
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. (1kgs 3:28)
