Daily Devotional for Friday, February 28

Solomon Demonstrated His Wisdom

“Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other,” 1 Kings 3:23-25.

In today’s reading, we encounter a striking illustration of King Solomon’s wisdom. The passage recounts the judgment of Solomon in which two women came before him, each claiming to be the mother of a living child. Solomon’s response to this dilemma revealed not only his exceptional intellect but also his deep understanding of human nature and justice.

The narrative unfolds with two women appearing before Solomon, both with infants. One of the women asserted that the other woman’s child died during the night, and she swapped the deceased baby with her own while she was asleep. The other woman vehemently denied this accusation, claiming that the living child was indeed hers.

Faced with this perplexing situation, Solomon employed a shrewd tactic to uncover the truth. He proposed to divide the living child in half, giving each woman half of the child. The true mother, filled with maternal love and compassion, immediately pleaded with Solomon to spare the child’s life and give it to the other woman instead of dividing it. In contrast, the false claimant showed no concern for the child’s well-being, agreeing to Solomon’s proposal.

Solomon’s wisdom shone brightly as he discerned the authenticity of the maternal bond. He understood that a genuine mother’s love would prioritize the safety and welfare of her child above all else. By suggesting the division of the child, Solomon provoked a reaction that exposed the true mother’s identity.

DAILY CHALLENGE

Godly wisdom allows mere humans to discern human nature and intent with great clarity. 

Steven Ridings