1 Kings 3:22-28: a reflection

22The other woman said, “No! But the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” The first one said, “No! But the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” They argued like this before the king. 23Then the king said, “One says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead one;’ and the other says, ‘No! But your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” 24The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. 25The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.” 26Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill him!” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide him.” 27Then the king answered, “Give the first woman the living child, and definitely do not kill him. She is his mother.” 28All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

When two women come to Solomon, each claiming the same living child, there seems no way to determine the truth; it is one woman's word against the other's. But Solomon, given wisdom by God, finds a way. He calls for a sword and orders the child divided in two; and at once the true mother, her heart breaking, cries out to spare the child even if it means giving him to the other woman, while the false claimant is content to see him divided. By this Solomon discerns the true mother and does justice. All Israel, seeing it, recognized that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

Notice the source of Solomon's wisdom, and its fruit: it was the wisdom of God, and it did justice. Solomon faced a case that seemed impossible to judge rightly; but the wisdom God had given him found a way to discern the truth and do justice. The people recognized that this was not merely Solomon's own cleverness, but the wisdom of God in him. God's wisdom, given to Solomon, enabled him to discern the truth in a hard case and to render right judgment. The wisdom that did justice was God's gift.

That God-given wisdom for discerning truth and doing justice is worth seeking, for we too face situations that call for wisdom we do not have in ourselves. We face hard decisions, tangled situations, cases where the truth is hard to discern and the right course unclear; and our own wisdom can fall short. But God gives wisdom to those who ask, as he gave it to Solomon. When you face a situation that calls for wisdom beyond your own, to discern the truth or do what is right, do not rely only on your own cleverness; ask God for wisdom, as Solomon was given the wisdom of God. Seek God's wisdom for discerning truth and doing justice in the hard cases you face, rather than trusting only your own judgment, as Solomon judged by the wisdom of God in him; for God gives wisdom to those who ask, wisdom to discern the truth and do what is right, as he gave Solomon wisdom to do justice.

Lord, when two women come to Solomon, each claiming the same living child, there seems no way to determine the truth. But Solomon, given wisdom by you, finds a way. He calls for a sword and orders the child divided in two; and at once the true mother, her heart breaking, cries out to spare the child even if it means giving him up, while the false claimant is content to see him divided. By this Solomon discerns the true mother and does justice. All Israel recognized that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. Show me the source of Solomon's wisdom, and its fruit: it was the wisdom of God, and it did justice. Solomon faced a case that seemed impossible to judge rightly; but the wisdom you had given him found a way to discern the truth and do justice. The people recognized that this was not merely his own cleverness, but your wisdom in him. The wisdom that did justice was your gift. Let me seek that God-given wisdom, for I too face situations that call for wisdom I do not have in myself. I face hard decisions, tangled situations, cases where the truth is hard to discern; and my own wisdom can fall short. But you give wisdom to those who ask, as you gave it to Solomon. When I face a situation that calls for wisdom beyond my own, keep me from relying only on my own cleverness; help me ask you for wisdom, Lord, as Solomon was given the wisdom of God. Help me seek your wisdom for discerning truth and doing justice in the hard cases I face.