This morning, my reading of I Kings 3 brought me back to the part of last evening's LCM Program which seemed to be the most difficult for us to embrace. I am referring to the discussion about advocacy - of how it is that we speak up and speak out for those who need our support.
In I Kings 3 we read the story of two women who come to King Solomon, asking him to decide whose child is living and whose child has died. The two women share a home, each bore a child, but one dies. There is a dispute as to which is the living child. Solomon asks for a sword that he may divide the living child; each will get a half, but neither will get the whole child. The one woman tells him to proceed. The other says, "No. Let her keep the child." To this woman Solomon gives the living child.
The final verse of this story says that all of Israel stood in awe of the King, and "the wisdom of God in him, to render justice."
The wisdom of God is revealed as Solomon seeks to be the servant of Israel. The wisdom of God is not a trait which leads to his becoming self-important or self-imposing. Wisdom allows him to establish justice.
Justice is a slippery thing. Striving for justice means making judgement calls about what is right and fair. Seeking justice means taking action - action which another is likely to oppose.
It takes God's wisdom to know what is just and fair and right. It takes God's wisdom to seek that which is beneficial to God's Kingdom.
If we are to be in service to others, then we must also be prepared to step out in the pursuit of justice. We must be ready to address the systems and structures which allow for some of God's children to prosper while others languish.
Solomon asked God for a discerning mind. Solomon used that gift to address the abuse of one and to expose the sincerity of another. Let us pray for such wisdom and let us put it into service in seeking justice.
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