Solomon’s Wise Judgment

I Kings 3:16–28
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Solomon’s wisdom is put to the test. Two prostitutes, living in the same house, each had a baby three days apart. During the night one of the babies died and his mother exchanged the dead child for the living child. The next morning the other woman realized that the dead son was not hers but the guilty mother refused to admit her wrong doing.

Unable to settle their dispute, they went to the King. It was obvious that one of the women was lying, but which one?  Solomon, in his wisdom, ordered the baby to be cut in half and one half given to each woman. As he had anticipated, this order brought an immediate response from the real mother who quickly volunteered to let the other woman have the baby. When the other woman argued that the baby should be cut in two, it was evident that she had no compassion for the child and was not the real mother. Thus the dispute was resolved.

It is a precious truth to the Christian that God equips us for our calling. God made Solomon king, and God supplied all that he needed to serve acceptably. “Ask and it shall be given you.”¹ To separate truth from falsehood is often difficult. Every situation is not clear cut. Solomon’s wisdom in this case became known throughout his kingdom so that he was admired as a wise administrator of justice.

Application

God gave Solomon great wisdom as he settled this dispute between the two women. I have God’s wisdom available to me as I pray and request it, but, like Solomon I must put it into action. It is important that I always do what I know I should do.