Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
Back in the middle of the Last Century (I know, that's funny right there!) I was a junior in High School and was asked out on a date with a guy who was a "Beatnik". His Mom (also a Beatnik and a Jazz Musician to boot) had tickets to a Chinese Opera, in Chinatown, in Chinese. Now, none of us were Chinese, nor did we speak the language, but this was a very cool and hip thing to do, so we went, and were the only folks of the Caucasoid Persuasion in the entire building. Being tragically Hip, we sat and nodded at the spectacle and pretended to enjoy ourselves. On stage, the actors in masks and magnificent costumes warbled away in Mandarin. The action and choreography had someone who looked like a king draw a chalk circle on the floor. A toddler was placed in the middle of the circle. Then, two women, who looked like they were concubines, each grabbed a wrist of the child and tried to pull the child out of the circle. The child started to cry, and one concubine immediately let go, so it looked like the other woman "won". Then, the king took the child away from the victorious woman and awarded him to the the one who had "lost". Suddenly, I understood what was going on! It was a variation of the story of King Solomon. I shared my insight with the beatnik and his Mom. It was our first, last, and ONLY date! LOL!
In Exodus 18, we learned how Moses' Father-In-Law Jethro advised him to delegate smaller legal matters so that Moses could be consulted only on the important matters of State and Faith. Evidently, Solomon had not yet studied that portion of the Books of Moses, as here he is handling a very small personal matter between two of the lowliest of his subjects. It is even amazing that these two were able to obtain an audience with Solomon, yet here they are.
Solomon was a brand new king, but he had seen the subterfuge, rebellion, and scheming that had taken place in the court of his father David. People who feel their position threatened sometimes like to "micromanage" everything.
Another possibility is that Solomon wanted his government to be accessible to the People of Israel, no matter how lowly their status. Ancient Eastern Potentates were often considered as unapproachable as the gods, so this is unprecedented.
A third, and most likely, explanation is that God allowed this strange story to happen and be recorded so that nearly 3000 years later, you and I could read it and marvel at this man's wisdom, compassion, and knowledge of human nature.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS