June 19: Wisdom Challenged!

Our gracious God was delighted at Solomon’s request for wisdom and an understanding heart.

Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart . . . And I have also given you what you have not asked; both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 1 Kings 3:11-14  

King Solomon’s request for an understanding heart was graciously answered by the LORD with the gift of a wise and understanding heart plus a generous list of other blessings, above and beyond what was asked! Solomon was soon confronted with an intriguing test of the wisdom he had been divinely given.

Now two women who were harlots came to the king, and stood before him. And one woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then it happened, the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth. And we were together; no one was with us in the house, except the two of us in the house. And this woman’s son died in the night because she lay on him. So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. vv.16-20

The first of these two women, the one that is speaking here, is telling the truth. Make note of that which is mentioned four times: these two women dwell in the same house. They are both identified as harlots. Bear in mind that the word translated “harlot” is from a Hebrew word that may also mean “innkeeper.” Remember also that a woman is a prophetic symbol for a church.

Viewed through prophetic lenses, these two women symbolize two categories of people in the house of God: one represents truth and one represents error. Whether they are harlots or innkeepers is irrelevant, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

We will hear from the other woman tomorrow. She would lie before the king, which is not only an attempt to deny the reality of the death of her own baby, but also she seems to believe that she would be happy with stealing another’s child, deflecting her own loss onto another. But at what cost? She will do anything to soothe her own feelings. Through negligence, she caused a death. This was followed by kidnapping and then lying to the king. The layers of self-deception are piling on. Solomon’s wisdom is indeed being challenged!

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3