1 Kings 3:16-28
Thursday, 17 February 2022
“ …. The people where in awe of the King for they saw the wisdom God had given him…” 1Kings 3: 28 [NLT]
At the beginning of his reign if there was a testimony worth saying about Solomon, was his devotion to God just as his father David (1Kings 3:3). God honored him by heeding to his request for a wise heart to lead God’s people and also gave him riches and fame. Through today’s reading we will learn a few truths about the condition of man’s heart. As you dwell on God’s Word, may you also understand the condition of your own heart.
A Wise Heart – A wise heart is more than just an intelligent heart that would give the right answers at the right time. From Solomon’s life here are the 3 aspects that defines “WISDOM”
A wise heart is available to any needing help - Endowed with wisdom, it is interesting to note that the first case that required Solomon’s wise judgment was given to 2 prostitutes – women who even today are looked down with disrespect. Yet Solomon was willing to take time to settle the dispute between them. Do you use your wisdom to help the under-privileged?
A wise heart listens – Through the narrative we don’t see Solomon speaking until both the women had presented their case. He did not jump to conclusion or assume things, rather listened to both of them (V.23). Do you take time to listen to the heartache of another or only quick to give a remedy?
A wise heart judges righteously – Proverbs 24:23: ”It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.” This is possible only when one’s heart is directed by God and he/she fears God above men and willing to stand for truth. We saw Solomon display this attitude that people feared him for his godly wisdom. Do people see you as one standing for truth at any cost?
It was not only Solomon’s wise heart that we see at work in this story but two other hearts who approached him for justice- as George Herbert says “God sees hearts as we see faces.”
A Tender Heart – When Solomon passed the judgment to divide the baby into two so both the women in contention would receive a half, we come face to face with a true compassionate heart of a mom. We see her love for the life of the baby supersede her desire to win the case (V.26). “She was willing to lose so that he could live.” We are living in days where love is very conditional even with mothers— if children don’t tow their line, they face rejection. If you have faced such parental rejection, God has something to tell you today - “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15) His arms were stretched out on the cross to embrace you-Come to Him today!
A Vicious Heart – Listen to what Jesus has to say in Luke 6:45 “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” True to this statement, we see the response of the other woman in the story. We hear her wicked heart mouth these words – “Let him be neither mine or yours, but divide him” (V.26)
A vicious heart can never rejoice in another’s victories or joys. It is always envious and nasty. We see this displayed in the lives of the Pharisees who wanted to kill Jesus. How did Jesus respond to this? 1Peter 2: 23 says “He entrusted himself into the hands of the one who judges justly.” The real mother of the child did just this and received her baby back. God will set things right at the right time. He will do the same for you!
As you chew on these words, may the Spirit of the Lord help you see the condition of your own heart. What will your family and friends testify about your heart today?
Quote for the day: “The testimony of the lips indicates the state of the heart.” ~Harry Ironside
Listen: 'Come and make'