Solomonic Wisdom

Today was Bible study day.
I have the privilege of teaching women the Word of God.
It is an awesome responsibility that I do not take lightly.

We have been studying the Gospels.
First the Gospel of John, then Luke, then Mark, and now Matthew.
Some of us have been together now for four years.
God continues to bring new women each year as well.

We have been through all sorts of things together.
Prayers answered.
Prayers that are still waiting on the Lord for answers.
That is what a faith journey is all about.
Coming alongside each other…encouraging…praying…waiting on Him together.

We have gone through deaths in families, illnesses in families, births of babies.
All the life stages are represented in that room.
As the Bible study teacher, you learn about those in your class.
As the Bible study teacher, you carry a holy burden for the hearts of those in front of you.

I always pray that the women hunger for the Word of God.
I pray that passages, they may have heard their whole lives, come alive for them.
I pray that the women see that they will never get to the bottom of the depths of Scripture.
I pray that the women love the Lord Jesus more today than they did yesterday.
I pray these things for myself, as well.

Today, I sat and looked at all the faces I love.
I thanked God for the joy of opening His word with them.

We are all learning.
I am probably gleaning the most from our study…since the best way to learn is to teach.

One precious woman just had her third child about six weeks ago.
She came to class today with her newborn son.
She sat directly in front of me.

To say it was difficult to teach is an understatement!
That sweet little boy cooing in his mother’s arms…looking at her with such love!
All the women simply melted!
As we should!

God placed that maternal instinct in a women’s heart.
Young, old, mother, grandmother, single woman…that protective instinct is there.
God designed it that way!

Do you ever watch a woman hold a baby?
Whether it is her baby or not, she immediately does the Mommy rock.
You know what I mean…that wonderful swaying that happens…back and forth…with the baby in your arms…snuggled close.

The prerequisite for this maternal instinct is not that you must first be a mother.
The prerequisite is simply being a woman created by God…designed by Him.

Solomon was the son of King David and was the wisest man who ever lived.
God came to Solomon, in a dream.
“Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.” (1 Kings 3:5)

Solomon could have asked for wealth and a long life…but he asked God for wisdom.
Since he was young, he wanted a discerning heart so he could better govern the people.
God was pleased with Solomon and gave him a wise and discerning heart.
But God added, “Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for, both riches and honor, so that in your lifetime, you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in My ways and obey My statutes and commands, as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
(1 Kings 3:13-15)

By asking for wisdom, Solomon showed that he had wisdom already.
God was pleased with Solomon’s unselfish request.

Now two women, who were prostitutes, came to the king and stood before him. One of them said “My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son, and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.” (1 Kings 3:16-21)

The women argued back and forth about whose son was dead and whose son was alive.
The matter was decided by the king.

“Bring me a sword. Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!” Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.” (1 Kings 3:16-27)

Solomon wisely decided this case based on maternal instinct.
It is a powerful thing!

We have dismissed maternal instinct for the sake of convenience…for the sake of choice.
We bear the imprint of our Sovereign, Creator God.
Our God cherishes life.
He breathes the Breath of Life into each of us.

Man or woman…we are guilty of looking the other way as an entire generation has been slaughtered on the altar of choice.

We need to ask God for the Wisdom of Solomon…for the wise and discerning heart that only HE can give.

We are offended when we read the account of the two women.
We marvel at the wisdom of King Solomon.

When we turn our backs, and refuse to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, we are no better than the second woman…who disregarded life.

Our sword may be metaphorical…but it is a sword all the same.