So we're told that King Solomon was given a 'wise and discerning heart' in 1 Kings 3. Furthermore, we're told that there will never have been anyone like him in this area, before or since. Then, in typical foreshadowing style, we're instantly whisked away to a story of two moms and two babies. One baby dies and mayhem ensues. Each mom insists that the living baby is theirs and they go back and forth in front of the king. I've always imagined this to be a scene comparable to the Jerry Springer show. But I digress. We're about to see Solomon's wisdom.
The king asks for a sword and gives the order to have the baby cut in half so each mom can have a half. Are you kidding me? Is this really the wisdom from the wise King Solomon? Split a pizza? Sure! Go halfsies on the cost of gas for a long trip? You bet! But to suggest splitting a baby seems like threatening not to give your kids ice cream simply because they are misbehaving.
Then I saw this wisdom in real life. Two of my children, one 6 years old and one 3 years old, were fighting over a toy. Nodding to my wife, I told them I would cut the toy in half and they could each have a half. My wife sat in awe as she suddenly realized she was in the presence of great wisdom.
What happened next shocked me. My 6-year old cried out and said no. My 3-year old chuckled an evil laugh and said, 'Yeah, cut it in half.' The maniacal attitude of my 3-year old aside, I was surprised that it actually worked.
The toy, safely and in one piece, was given to my son and my lesson was learned. We should never ever doubt the wisdom of the Bible. The stories we have learned as children and re-learned as adults are always true, always relevant, and always reliable. When we think we're beyond the wisdom of Scripture, we show our foolish colors. As Paul correctly told Timothy, this whole book is from God and "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (1 Timothy 3:16-17).
The king asks for a sword and gives the order to have the baby cut in half so each mom can have a half. Are you kidding me? Is this really the wisdom from the wise King Solomon? Split a pizza? Sure! Go halfsies on the cost of gas for a long trip? You bet! But to suggest splitting a baby seems like threatening not to give your kids ice cream simply because they are misbehaving.
Then I saw this wisdom in real life. Two of my children, one 6 years old and one 3 years old, were fighting over a toy. Nodding to my wife, I told them I would cut the toy in half and they could each have a half. My wife sat in awe as she suddenly realized she was in the presence of great wisdom.
What happened next shocked me. My 6-year old cried out and said no. My 3-year old chuckled an evil laugh and said, 'Yeah, cut it in half.' The maniacal attitude of my 3-year old aside, I was surprised that it actually worked.
The toy, safely and in one piece, was given to my son and my lesson was learned. We should never ever doubt the wisdom of the Bible. The stories we have learned as children and re-learned as adults are always true, always relevant, and always reliable. When we think we're beyond the wisdom of Scripture, we show our foolish colors. As Paul correctly told Timothy, this whole book is from God and "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (1 Timothy 3:16-17).
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