Post by Lee on Aug 11, 2014 1:53:02 GMT
WISDOM is knowledge practically applied to the best ends. Solomon asked God that He be granted an understanding heart, to judge God's people Israel, that he might discern between good and bad. And accordingly Solomon's request was granted, and there came unto him of all people to hear his wisdom. Solomon's wisdom was of God, the only Source of all true wisdom; and we likewise are instructed by James (1:5)— "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, Who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it SHALL be given him."
Today the wisdom of God through Solomon and others by the Spirit is an open door before us. If we are governed by His words and wise council, it will lead us along the pathway of life without wavering, and, into the glorious presence of the Master at his coming, for, as Solomon writes— "Get wisdom, get understanding, forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth" (Prov. 4:5).
The incident where Solomon was made to display the wisdom he had been granted, appears to be in the early part of Solomon's life. It is in 1 Kgs. 3:16-28, and it brings into our minds many practical things. It was concerning two mothers, one whose baby was found dead on arising in the morning. It brings into our minds another occasion of great vividness, in the life of Jesus when he was crucified on Calvary's cross, and 2 thieves were crucified with him. One chided Christ, saying— "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." While the other rebuked the first for his rash statement, as he feared God, and requested he be remembered when Christ came into his Kingdom. And so the mother of the living child (tho both described as being harlots—yet the facts of life had given her a mind of wisdom and understanding) would give up her child if it meant that its life would be spared. And what wonderful wisdom Solomon did display! And we must remember that this incident comes within the category of things "written aforetime for our learning." The important issue appears to be in v. 24, where Solomon calls for a sword. And what great significance this incident brings to our mind! It was a real sword, and to all intents and purposes, Solomon was going to divide the child. How this points us to life in Christ! Our sword is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, dividing asunder between flesh and Spirit. In the case of the child, what good would a half child have been? A dead body, half or whole, is of no account. The apostle Paul furnishes us with the proper view of things in Rom. 12:1 where we are reminded that a LIVING sacrifice is holy and acceptable unto God. So the real mother cried out— "Give her the child!"
We belong to Christ; we are not our own. Hence then the apostle shows us (in the following verses in Rom. 12) the Way of Life that leadeth unto Christ: no half measures, no dead sacrifices, but a living unto God. We are of the One Body all intact. Any half measures are dead and unacceptable in our ministry: many members, but all must be alive and working together, as we rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation. The one mother said, "The living child is my son." "No," said the other, "it is my son." The world today tells us we belong to the world, and so many love to have it so. , Solomon with keen discernment displays that true wisdom that he had received from above. The true mother, as her bowels yearned upon her son, said, "Oh, my Lord, give her the living child!" But the one whose son it was not said, "No, let it be divided." We can see the true wisdom, as King Solomon decreed that the real mother be granted the child that was really hers. A dead half child would have given no joy to either at all.
So, brethren and sisters, we draw from this incident words that can and will suffice in our daily lives as we dip into the things of the Spirit, as we use "the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God," as Paul says in Eph. 6:17. And we are reminded in Heb. 4:12 that this sword, the Spirit-Word, is— "Quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." For if the Truth is worth anything, it is worth EVERYTHING; nothing in this life can be compared to it. Nothing can be allowed to interfere with it. Nothing can stand beside it in our lives. Again come the words of life from the pen of Paul— "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). And that by the Word of God, that in due time we may— "Prove what is that good,and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
We go back and take another look at the wisdom of King Solomon— "Give her (the real mother) the living child, in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof." How the call goes out to us all to render unto God that which is our all. No half measures will suffice; a half sacrifice is not sufficient. But rather as we read in the concluding words of Paul's letter to the Romans (16:26)— "But now is made manifest, and, by the Scriptures of the prophets (and to us the writings of the apostles), according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." There is no excuse and there will be no room for any in the day of account, for God has granted that we be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" by His Word.
And all Israel heard of the will hear of the good and wise good judgment that the king had judged, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment. Let us hope that all in the day of Christ, including ourselves, judgments in regard to the will of God that we have made, in this brief day of our probation and opportunity to lay hold of the complete and living Word of Life! —W.J.P. 1970 Berean 308
Today the wisdom of God through Solomon and others by the Spirit is an open door before us. If we are governed by His words and wise council, it will lead us along the pathway of life without wavering, and, into the glorious presence of the Master at his coming, for, as Solomon writes— "Get wisdom, get understanding, forget it not, neither decline from the words of my mouth" (Prov. 4:5).
The incident where Solomon was made to display the wisdom he had been granted, appears to be in the early part of Solomon's life. It is in 1 Kgs. 3:16-28, and it brings into our minds many practical things. It was concerning two mothers, one whose baby was found dead on arising in the morning. It brings into our minds another occasion of great vividness, in the life of Jesus when he was crucified on Calvary's cross, and 2 thieves were crucified with him. One chided Christ, saying— "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." While the other rebuked the first for his rash statement, as he feared God, and requested he be remembered when Christ came into his Kingdom. And so the mother of the living child (tho both described as being harlots—yet the facts of life had given her a mind of wisdom and understanding) would give up her child if it meant that its life would be spared. And what wonderful wisdom Solomon did display! And we must remember that this incident comes within the category of things "written aforetime for our learning." The important issue appears to be in v. 24, where Solomon calls for a sword. And what great significance this incident brings to our mind! It was a real sword, and to all intents and purposes, Solomon was going to divide the child. How this points us to life in Christ! Our sword is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, dividing asunder between flesh and Spirit. In the case of the child, what good would a half child have been? A dead body, half or whole, is of no account. The apostle Paul furnishes us with the proper view of things in Rom. 12:1 where we are reminded that a LIVING sacrifice is holy and acceptable unto God. So the real mother cried out— "Give her the child!"
We belong to Christ; we are not our own. Hence then the apostle shows us (in the following verses in Rom. 12) the Way of Life that leadeth unto Christ: no half measures, no dead sacrifices, but a living unto God. We are of the One Body all intact. Any half measures are dead and unacceptable in our ministry: many members, but all must be alive and working together, as we rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation. The one mother said, "The living child is my son." "No," said the other, "it is my son." The world today tells us we belong to the world, and so many love to have it so. , Solomon with keen discernment displays that true wisdom that he had received from above. The true mother, as her bowels yearned upon her son, said, "Oh, my Lord, give her the living child!" But the one whose son it was not said, "No, let it be divided." We can see the true wisdom, as King Solomon decreed that the real mother be granted the child that was really hers. A dead half child would have given no joy to either at all.
So, brethren and sisters, we draw from this incident words that can and will suffice in our daily lives as we dip into the things of the Spirit, as we use "the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God," as Paul says in Eph. 6:17. And we are reminded in Heb. 4:12 that this sword, the Spirit-Word, is— "Quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." For if the Truth is worth anything, it is worth EVERYTHING; nothing in this life can be compared to it. Nothing can be allowed to interfere with it. Nothing can stand beside it in our lives. Again come the words of life from the pen of Paul— "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). And that by the Word of God, that in due time we may— "Prove what is that good,and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
We go back and take another look at the wisdom of King Solomon— "Give her (the real mother) the living child, in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof." How the call goes out to us all to render unto God that which is our all. No half measures will suffice; a half sacrifice is not sufficient. But rather as we read in the concluding words of Paul's letter to the Romans (16:26)— "But now is made manifest, and, by the Scriptures of the prophets (and to us the writings of the apostles), according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." There is no excuse and there will be no room for any in the day of account, for God has granted that we be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" by His Word.
And all Israel heard of the will hear of the good and wise good judgment that the king had judged, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment. Let us hope that all in the day of Christ, including ourselves, judgments in regard to the will of God that we have made, in this brief day of our probation and opportunity to lay hold of the complete and living Word of Life! —W.J.P. 1970 Berean 308