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Solomon went to Jerusalem, and
there offered more sacrifices to the Lord. And now he began to show
his great wisdom. Two women came to the king for judgment.
They had with them two little babes. One was alive and well, but the
other was dead. The women were angry, and quarrelling with each
other. One said, "O my lord, I and this woman live together in
one house. We had each a little son. Her child died in the
night; and when she found it was dead, she carried it to me, and laid it
in my arms, when I was asleep, and stole away my own baby from me; and
when I awoke, and looked at the dead child in my arms, I knew it was not
mine." But the other cried angrily, "The living child is
mine." So they spoke before the king. It was sad to see
them so angry and passionate, but what could Solomon do? How could
he know the right mother of the living child? His wonderful wisdom
which God had given him, helped Solomon to judge rightly. He said,
"Bring me a sword." His servants brought the sword, and
then Solomon said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to
one woman, and half to the other." Was Solomon cruel? No,
he wanted to know who was the right mother. He knew she would be
very sorry to see her child killed, and would cry to have it saved; but
the other woman, who was not the true mother, would not care so
much. And he thought rightly. The true mother cried, "Oh,
do not divide the child. Give it to the other woman, she may have it
all; but O do not kill it." But the other woman said,
"Yes, let it be divided;" for she did not care much for the
baby, because it was not her own child. Then Solomon said, "I
know now who is the right mother of the living child. It is the
woman who loves it so much that she cannot bear to have it killed.
Give her the child, and let them go." So Solomon gave the
living babe to the right mother, and sent the women away; and all the
people wondered at Solomon's wisdom. There
is one parent who loves His children more than any mother can. Who
is this? God, our heavenly Father. He says to his children,
"A mother may forget her little ones, but I will never forget
you." Earthly parents may die, and leave their children, or go
away and forget them; but those are happy children who have God for their
father, for He will never forsake them. David says, "When my
father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up." Psalm
27:10.
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