1 Kings 3:16–27

Solomon knows he needs the help of Jehovah to fulfil the duties before him. Through the grace of God, he shows a state of heart about this which pleases Jehovah… The judgment he gives shows the wisdom he had asked for, and the people acknowledge that it comes from God.

Though it concerns prostitutes, nothing changes this judgment. Men always let the character of those who speak to them shape their judgments. It is not so with God. What matters to Him is the heart, not the outward character. Solomon's judgment rests on the affections the heart shows. Claims and denials were worth the same here, so judgment could not rest on them… The question was not which of the two women was more worthy — both were prostitutes. It was not whether the actions complained of were likely or had happened — there had been no witness. It was not whether the true mother could recognise her child by some outward sign — there were none.

No ruler better than Solomon shows that the heart of kings is unsearchable… Did one soul see into his heart when he called for a sword? He said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other." The false mother was as willing as the true one was not, but who could have anticipated it except the king? What sounded cruel turned out wise and kind.

It was not love for the child that moved her, but jealousy toward the other woman. Solomon knew that if she was dishonest enough to steal the child, his test would reveal her motives.

When the true mother saw the sword lifted over her child, "her heart yearned for her son." The object loved matters more to us than our love for it. This is how one tells what is real, and who the true mother is… Only divine wisdom can tell, by the state of the heart, whether a profession of faith is real. How often there is profession without reality! Where are the affections for Christ? Where is the devotion that sacrifices even its lawful advantages and rights for Him?

The king's judgment was this: self-sacrificing love has the unbreakable right to hold and enjoy the object it loves. And all the power of his throne stood behind his judgment to make it good. Solomon's judgment declared the law of God's universe, and there is none greater than it.

The sentence of death had been passed on us and the enemy of God claimed us as his; not that he cared for us at all. "He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him," said the woman who was not the mother — let it perish. Satan would have been overjoyed if we had been buried for ever in the depth of hell. Then God and Christ would have lost us for ever. But the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep.

The king's action made a deep impression on the people generally. "And all Israel heard of the judgment 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 do justice." But the incident reminds us that Solomon's glorious reign did not reach perfection. No one could ever bring such a sordid case before Solomon's greater Son, God's "Holy One."

Two women who were prostitutes came to Solomon to have him judge a controversy between them. The complainant stated her case first. She claimed that after she had given birth to a child, the other woman had smothered her own child by lying on him at night. Then, while the first mother was sleeping, the other woman had swapped the babies. When she awoke in the morning, she said, she found the child dead, but in examining him, found this was not her child.

After the understanding to worship before the ark, which was the first sign of his wisdom, we find in Solomon "the wisdom of God… to do judgment" (v. 28). Though it concerns harlots, nothing changes this judgment. People always let the character of the speaker sway their judgments; it is not so with God. What is important for Him is the heart, not the outward character.

Claims and denials carried equal weight in this case, and no judgment could rest on them. What could establish judgment was the showing of the heart. The question was not which of the two women was the more worthy — both were harlots. It was not whether the actions complained of were likely or had taken place — there had been no witness. It was not whether the true mother could recognise her child by certain outward signs — there were none.

No sovereign better than Solomon shows that the heart of kings is unsearchable. See his decision of the dispute between the mothers, whose was the dead child, and whose the living one. Was there one soul who saw into his heart? He asked for a sword and said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other." The false mother was as willing as the true was not, but who could have expected it except the king? What sounded cruel turned out wise and kind.

One of them loved the child with a mother's true love. The other had no love for him at all. She wanted him only because she could not bear to see true love in possession of what it loved. "Bring a sword and divide the living child," said the king. For that moment the child was under the sentence of death, with the sword hanging over it, ready to strike. How could anyone save him from the carrying out of the sentence? True love found the way of salvation for it. But it was the way of sacrifice, and that was the only way… The king's judgment was this: self-sacrificing love has a right that cannot be taken away — the right to have and enjoy the object it loves.

The sentence of death had been passed on us and the enemy of God claimed us as his; not that he cared for us at all. "Let it be neither mine nor yours, but divide it," said the woman who was not the child's mother — let it perish… But the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep.

The suggestion to divide the baby with the sword was new and bold. It was probably without precedent in the world's history. But it brought out the feelings of the true mother with such a rush that it became clear whose the child was… But the incident reminds us that perfection was not reached in Solomon's glorious reign. It is unthinkable that anyone would bring such a sordid case to Solomon's greater Son, God's "Holy One," for judgment.

Though it concerns prostitutes, nothing changes this judgment. People always let the character of the speaker sway their judgment; it is not so with God. What matters to Him is the heart, not the outward character. The question was not which of the two women was more worthy — both were prostitutes. Nor was it whether the acts they complained of were likely, or had even happened — there had been no witness to it. Nor was it whether the true mother could recognize her child by some outward sign — there were none.

They had brought the babies with them, but there were no witnesses. We would think someone else must have seen which child was born first. However, Solomon did not need other witnesses. He called for a sword, and commanded that the living child should be cut in half, with each mother having a half. Of course this would not be a satisfactory arrangement, but Solomon knew who he was dealing with. The real mother protested strongly, saying she would rather the other woman take her child than have the child killed.

He perfectly understood the heart of man; David entered into the heart of God. There was the difference. Solomon understood the heart of man well — no man better; no man so well. God has used him as the vessel of the deepest human wisdom that even the word of God contains. I call it human, because it is about human affairs.

Did one soul see into his heart when he asked for a sword? He said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other. The false mother was as willing as the true was not, but who could have anticipated it but the king? What sounded cruel turned out wise and kind.

The king's judgment was this: self-sacrificing love has a right that cannot be taken away — the right to have and enjoy what it loves. And all the power of his throne lay behind his judgment to give effect to it. Solomon's judgment declared the law of God's universe, and there is no greater law than that.

"Divide it," says the one who is not the mother, giving way to her resentment. A person quickly sacrifices Christ when it is a matter of satisfying his own passions. Only divine wisdom can tell whether a profession of faith is real, and it judges by the state of the heart. How often there is profession without reality!

He will rule or judge wisely, as expressed by Solomon's decree between the two prostitutes. And the sceptre of righteousness in His hand will secure peace.

It is unthinkable that such a squalid case could ever be brought to Solomon's greater Son for judgment.

Two women who were prostitutes came to Solomon to have him settle a dispute between them. The woman bringing the charge spoke first. She claimed that after she gave birth to a child, the other woman smothered her own child by lying on him at night, and then swapped the babies while the first mother slept. When she woke in the morning, she said, she found the child dead — but on looking at him closely, she saw he was not her child.

A claim and a denial carried equal weight here, so the king could not base his judgment on their words. What could settle it was what the heart showed. The question was not which of the two women was more respectable — both were prostitutes. It was not whether the acts complained of were likely or had happened — no one had seen them. It was not whether the true mother could recognize her child by some outward mark — there were none.

Even though the case concerns prostitutes, nothing about this judgment changes. People always let the reputation of the speaker sway their judgment. It is not so with God. What matters to Him is the heart, not the outward character.

The real mother of the child protested. She said she would rather the other woman took her child than have the child killed. The other woman was happy to have the child divided, knowing that then neither of them would have him. Love for the child was not what moved her; jealousy toward the other woman did. Solomon knew that a woman dishonest enough to steal a child would show her motives under the test he gave her.

Did a single person see into his heart when he asked for a sword and said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other? The false mother was as willing to do it as the true mother was unwilling, but no one except the king could have foreseen that. What sounded cruel turned out wise and kind.

One of them loved him with a mother's true love. The other had no love for him at all. She wanted him only because she could not bear to see true love holding what it loved. "Bring a sword and divide the living child," said the king, and for that moment the child was under a sentence of death. The sword hung over him, ready to strike. How could he be saved from it? True love found the way to save him, but it was the way of sacrifice. That was the only way… She was ready to give herself up for the life and good of her child.

The king's judgment was this — self-sacrificing love has a right that cannot be taken away — the right to have and enjoy what it loves. And all the power of his throne stood behind his judgment to carry it out.

The idea of splitting the baby with a sword was new and bold, and probably nothing like it had ever been tried before. But it brought out the true mother's feelings in such a rush that it became clear whose the child was… Still, the incident reminds us that Solomon's glorious reign fell short of perfection. We cannot imagine a case this squalid being brought for decision to Solomon's greater Son, God's "Holy One."

The woman who brought the complaint spoke first. She said that after she had given birth to a child, the other woman smothered her own child by lying on him at night. The other woman then changed the babies while the first mother was sleeping. When she awoke in the morning, she said, she found the child dead. But in examining him, she found this was not her child.

Men always let the character of the person speaking sway their judgment; it is not so with God. What matters to Him is the heart, not the outward character. Solomon's judgment is based on the affections shown by the heart. Statements and denials were of equal value in this case, and judgment could not be based on them. The question was not which of the two women was the more worthy — both were prostitutes. It was not whether the things complained of were likely or had happened, for there had been no witness to it. Nor was it whether the true mother could recognise her child by some outward sign — there were none.

No ruler better than Solomon shows that the heart of kings is unsearchable. See his decision in the dispute between the mothers, over whose was the dead child and whose the living one. Was there one soul who saw into his heart when he asked for a sword? Divide the living child in two, he said, and give half to the one and half to the other. The false mother was as willing as the true one was not, but who could have expected it except the king? What sounded cruel turned out wise and kind.

Solomon used something God has planted in a mother: an instinct of deepest attachment to her own child. You are not likely to find it where there is no direct vital relationship. So there remained not the slightest doubt that the first woman was the mother of the child, and the king ordered them to give the child to her.

One of them loved it with a mother's true love. The other had no love for it at all. She wanted it because she could not bear to see true love in possession of what it loved. "Bring a sword and divide the living child," said the king. For that moment the child was under the sentence of death. The sword ready to strike hung over it. How could it be saved from having the sentence carried out? True love found the way of salvation for it, but it was the way of sacrifice; that was the only way.

Self-sacrificing love has an unbreakable right to have and enjoy the one it loves. And all the power of his throne lay behind his judgment to give effect to it.

"Divide it," says the one who is not the mother, giving way to her resentment. A person quickly sacrifices Christ when it is a matter of satisfying his own passions. Only divine wisdom is able to discern the reality of profession by the state of the heart. How often there is profession without reality! Where are the affections for Christ? Where is the devotion that sacrifices even its rightful advantages and rights for Him?

The king's action made a deep impression on the people in general. "And all Israel heard of the judgment 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 do justice." But the incident reminds us that Solomon's glorious reign did not reach perfection. It is unthinkable that anyone could bring such a sordid case for decision to Solomon's greater Son, God's "Holy One."

They had brought the babies with them, but there were no witnesses. We would think that someone else must have seen which child was born first. However, Solomon did not need other witnesses. He called for a sword, and commanded that the living child should be cut in half, with each mother having a half. Of course this would not be a satisfactory arrangement, but Solomon knew who he was dealing with.

Was there one soul who saw into his heart when he asked for a sword and said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other"? The false mother was as willing as the true one was not, but who could have expected it except the king? What sounded cruel turned out to be wise and kind.

People always let the character of the speaker sway their judgment. It is not so with God. What matters to Him is the heart, not the outward character. Solomon's judgment rests on the affections the heart shows. Statements and denials were of equal value in this case, and judgment could not rest on them. What could settle the judgment was the heart showing itself... For where true ties of love exist, we try to protect at any cost what is dear to us, even at the risk of losing it for ourselves. That is the character of love. Love is not selfish: it sacrifices itself for the object it loves.

"Bring a sword and divide the living child," said the king, and for that moment the child was under the sentence of death. The sword hung over it, ready to strike. How could it escape that sentence? True love found the way of salvation for it, but it was the way of sacrifice; that was the only way... She was ready to sacrifice herself for the life and the good of her child.

The sentence of death had been passed on us and the enemy of God claimed us as his; not that he cared for us at all. "Let it be neither mine nor yours, but divide it," said the woman whose child it was not — let it die. Satan would have rejoiced greatly if we had been buried for ever in the depths of hell, for then God and Christ would have lost us for ever. But the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep.

A divided child is a dead child, a divided heart is a dead heart; and so far it is offensive to the Lord. Is it not this that He means when He says, "Would that you were either cold or hot"? True love can bear no rival; it must have its object; nothing can make up for it. We may give our time, money, talents — it will all be utterly despised. Love cries out for response, for the wholehearted and undivided response of the heart of the one loved.

The suggestion to divide the baby with the sword was new and bold, and likely nothing like it had happened before in the world's history. But it drew out the feelings of the true mother so clearly that there was no doubt whose the child was... Yet the incident reminds us that Solomon's glorious reign did not reach perfection.

Solomon's judgment is based on the affections shown by the heart. Statements and denials were of equal value in this case, and judgment could not be based on them. What could settle the judgment was what the heart revealed. The question was not which of the two women was the more worthy — both were prostitutes. It was not whether the things they claimed were likely or had happened — there had been no witness. It was not whether the true mother could recognise her child by some outward sign — there were none.

We use the heart as the symbol of love, but people of the East more often used the inward parts as the symbol of the deepest feeling of love, pity and compassion. (See Genesis 43:30; 1 Kings 3:26; Jeremiah 31:20; Philippians 1:8; Colossians 3:12; 1 John 3:17.)

For the moment that child was under the sentence of death; the sword ready to strike hung over it. How could it be saved from the carrying out of the sentence? True love found the way of salvation for it. But it was the way of sacrifice. That was the only way… She was prepared to sacrifice herself for the life and the good of her child.

Where true ties of love exist, we seek to protect what is dear to us at any cost, even at the risk of losing it for ourselves. Love is not selfish: it sacrifices itself for the one it loves. The love of Christ has done that for us, and we can do that for Him in return: "For your sake we are being killed all the day long" (Romans 8:36).

The other woman was willing to have the child divided, knowing that neither of them would have the child. It was not love for the child that moved her, but jealousy toward the other woman.

"Divide it," says the one who is not the mother, giving way to her resentment. A person quickly sacrifices Christ when it is a matter of satisfying his own passions. Only divine wisdom can tell whether a profession is real by looking at the state of the heart. How often there is profession without reality! Where are the affections for Christ? Where is the devotion that sacrifices even its lawful advantages and rights for Him?

Was there one soul who saw into his heart when he called for a sword and ordered the living child divided in two, half to each woman? The false mother was as willing as the true was not, but who could have expected that, except the king? What sounded cruel turned out wise and kind.

The king's judgment was this — SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE HAS THE UNTOUCHABLE RIGHT TO POSSESS AND ENJOY THE ONE IT LOVES. And all the power of his throne stood behind his judgment to carry it out. This was the law of God's universe, declared in Solomon's judgment, and there is none greater.

The sentence of death had been passed on us, and the enemy of God claimed us as his — not that he cared for us at all. Satan would have rejoiced if we had been buried for ever in the depth of hell, for then God and Christ would have lost us for ever. But the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep.

Solomon did not need other witnesses. He called for a sword, and commanded that the living child should be cut in half, with each mother having a half. It was not love for the child that moved the false mother, but jealousy toward the other woman. Solomon knew that if she was dishonest enough to steal the child, the test he gave her would reveal her motives.

No king shows better than Solomon that the heart of kings cannot be read. Not one soul saw into his heart when he asked for a sword. The false mother was as willing to divide the child as the true mother was unwilling, and who could have expected that except the king? What sounded cruel turned out wise and kind.

Even though the case concerns prostitutes, nothing changes this judgment. People always let the character of those who speak to them sway their judgments. It is not so with God. What matters to Him is the heart, not the outward character. The question was not which of the two women was more worthy, for both were prostitutes. It was not whether the things they complained of were likely or had really happened, for there had been no witness. It was not whether the true mother could recognise her child by outward signs, for there were none. It was a matter of judging the state of her heart, and only the affections she showed could reveal it.

When the true mother saw the sword lifted over her child, her heart yearned for her son. The object loved means more to us than our love for it. This is how you tell what is real, and who the true mother is. Among people who claim the name of Christian, the one who has never found an object for his heart soon gives himself away. "Divide it," says the woman who is not the mother, giving way to her resentment. People are quick to sacrifice Christ when it suits their own desires. How often there is a claim without the reality! Where is the devotion that sacrifices even its lawful rights for Him?… This is a question of ties created by God, of something given by Him which the soul values. God will never take it away from us. On the contrary, in the trial we shall receive it back afresh from His own hand.

The king's judgment was this — self-sacrificing love has the inalienable right to the possession and enjoyment of the object it loves. And all the power of his throne stood behind his judgment to carry it out. Solomon's judgment declared the law of God's universe, and there is none greater than it.

Our minds at once go back to Calvary, and we think of the self-sacrificing love that expressed itself there. The sentence of death lay on us, and the enemy of God claimed us as his. He did not care for us at all. Satan would have rejoiced if we had been buried for ever in the depth of hell, for then God and Christ would have lost us for ever. But the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep.

The king's action made a deep impression on the people. "And all Israel heard of the judgment 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 do justice." But the incident reminds us that perfection was not reached in Solomon's glorious reign. Such a squalid case could never come before Solomon's greater Son, God's "Holy One."