Post by Woody Williams on Jul 25, 2005 6:45:18 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- I Kings 3:16-22, 22, 24-28
Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One woman said, 'Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne.'
But the other woman said, 'No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours.' The first said, 'No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine.' So they argued before the king. So the king said, 'Bring me a sword', and they brought a sword before the king.
The king said, 'Divide the living boy in two; then give half to one, and half to the other.' But the woman whose son was alive said to the king-because compassion for her son burned within her-'Please, my lord,give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!' The other said, 'It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.' Then the king responded: 'Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.' All Israel heard of the judgement 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 execute justice.
Devotional
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Wisdom is a remarkable gift. How great it is to be able to perceive the right action at the right time. Solomon had prayed for wisdom when he became king and God gave it to him. The deepest wisdom is knowing the movement of God and the expression of God's will in human life. Wisdom sees through the folly of deceit, self interest or indifference. When Solomon heard the loving, compassionate response from the true mother of the child, he knew where wisdom lay. When we face major decisions it is important to seek God's wisdom. Take time to listen and tune your mind and heart to the voice of God.
Prayer
Lord, above all else, give me wisdom. Amen
Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One woman said, 'Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne.'
But the other woman said, 'No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours.' The first said, 'No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine.' So they argued before the king. So the king said, 'Bring me a sword', and they brought a sword before the king.
The king said, 'Divide the living boy in two; then give half to one, and half to the other.' But the woman whose son was alive said to the king-because compassion for her son burned within her-'Please, my lord,give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!' The other said, 'It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.' Then the king responded: 'Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.' All Israel heard of the judgement 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 execute justice.
Devotional
----------
Wisdom is a remarkable gift. How great it is to be able to perceive the right action at the right time. Solomon had prayed for wisdom when he became king and God gave it to him. The deepest wisdom is knowing the movement of God and the expression of God's will in human life. Wisdom sees through the folly of deceit, self interest or indifference. When Solomon heard the loving, compassionate response from the true mother of the child, he knew where wisdom lay. When we face major decisions it is important to seek God's wisdom. Take time to listen and tune your mind and heart to the voice of God.
Prayer
Lord, above all else, give me wisdom. Amen
