“When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.” 1 Kings 3:28
During my high school and college days, I loved school but I hated taking tests. I suffered from major test anxiety, and multiple-choice tests were the worst. It seemed like I would always narrow it down to two correct answers, and then I’d sit and stare at my paper. Both answers seemed correct, so how could I choose between them?
If the goal was to select the correct answer, why didn’t the teacher make it more obvious?
In 1 Kings 3, King Solomon, known for his extraordinary wisdom, finds himself in a similar predicament. Two women had both given birth to a child, but during the night, one of the children died. Both women came to him, claiming to be the mother of the living child. King Solomon had to decide which woman was, in fact, the child’s mother. Talk about test anxiety!
What do we do when we find ourselves in situations like King Solomon’s, where we have to make a decision, but there’s no obvious answer?
We seek and exercise God’s divine wisdom.
Wisdom is the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. When we find ourselves in the middle of life’s “tests,” seeking and exercising divine wisdom will always lead us to the correct answer: one that brings reverence to God, harmony with others, and that leads to inner peace.
Lord, during life’s tests, remind us that Your divine wisdom is available to help us make decisions that honor You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Take Action
Read 1 Kings 3:16-28 to find out how Solomon exercised divine wisdom.