The King's Wisdom to Discern Men's Thoughts
The very next moment after Solomon's request for wisdom to govern God's people is answered he is presented with a choice of immense proportions.
1 Kings 3:16–22 (ESV) Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18 Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house. 19 And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him. 20 And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. 21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne.” 22 But the other woman said, “No, the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine.” Thus they spoke before the king.
1 Kings 3:27–28 (ESV) Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.” 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.
When I read this I think of how wonderful it would be to have a wise Solomon in the high office of government today. We need it, don't we? We need wisdom for the very difficult and divisive issues of our day in America and around the world. On top of this, many of our arguments are like these women - with both sides sounding earnest!
In the end, the passage points us to our need for a true leader and King who will judge the people with fairness and equity. One small hint that this passage points us to Jesus is that the woman of the living son gave birth on the third day after the woman of the dead son. When she was willing to give him up to spare his life, we see a picture of grace which Jesus showed to us - being willing to give Himself up for we who were dead.
The person to judge the living and the dead perfectly has been given to us in Jesus Christ. He will make every wrong right and punish the evildoer. He will expose the deeds of all and give justice to each one.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
1 Kings 3:16–22 (ESV) Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18 Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house. 19 And this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him. 20 And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. 21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne.” 22 But the other woman said, “No, the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine.” Thus they spoke before the king.
Solomon's wisdom will be put to the text and exemplified not by the king's edict or inscribed law. He will not negotiate trades with other nations or wax philosophically after receiving wisdom. No, instead he is presented with a choice between two women. Not just women, but mothers who are both prostitutes.
1 Kings 3:23 (ESV) Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; and the other says, ‘No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’ ”
The first thing we have to notice about Solomon's wisdom is that he does not bother to press either woman. He doesn't seek earnestness from either woman. He knows he will only hear the same repeated testimony from each. So here's his solution:
1 Kings 3:24-25 (ESV) And the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought before the king. 25 And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.”
The king makes a profound move here exposing the heart of the true mother by offering to kill the child. When the real mother sees this she seeks to spare her son's life even by handing him to her enemy. The result is amazing:
1 Kings 3:27–28 (ESV) Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.” 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.
When I read this I think of how wonderful it would be to have a wise Solomon in the high office of government today. We need it, don't we? We need wisdom for the very difficult and divisive issues of our day in America and around the world. On top of this, many of our arguments are like these women - with both sides sounding earnest!
In the end, the passage points us to our need for a true leader and King who will judge the people with fairness and equity. One small hint that this passage points us to Jesus is that the woman of the living son gave birth on the third day after the woman of the dead son. When she was willing to give him up to spare his life, we see a picture of grace which Jesus showed to us - being willing to give Himself up for we who were dead.
The person to judge the living and the dead perfectly has been given to us in Jesus Christ. He will make every wrong right and punish the evildoer. He will expose the deeds of all and give justice to each one.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
We must remember that Solomon got this wisdom from God after he was exalted to the throne by God. He is a picture of Christ, who grew in wisdom and stature and was given a throne from the Father to rule and reign in righteousness.
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