What is the meaning of 1 Kings 3:26? Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king – The true mother does not remain silent; she steps forward. • In crisis, authentic love drives us toward righteous authority. Solomon’s throne pictures God’s own throne, where “we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). • Her initiative echoes Esther’s courage before Xerxes (Esther 5:1–2) and the persistent widow before the unjust judge (Luke 18:1–5). • God honors those who seek justice; “Blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times” (Psalm 106:3). because she yearned with compassion for her son – A mother’s heart mirrors God’s. • “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13). • Isaiah compares God’s unfailing love to a mother’s: “Can a woman forget her nursing child? … I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). • True compassion is visceral; the word pictures an inner stirring. Such mercy distinguishes the righteous from the wicked (Proverbs 12:10). “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!” – Love sacrifices rights to preserve life. • Her plea is humble (“Please, my lord”), self-denying (“give her the living baby”), and protective (“Do not kill him!”). • This echoes Christlike love: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). • Paul’s heart for Israel reflects the same willingness to surrender personal joy for another’s good (Romans 9:3). • Philippians 2:4 calls believers to “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!” – Envy and bitterness expose a counterfeit heart. • Cain’s spirit resurfaces: “We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother” (1 John 3:12). • Jealous rage is destructive: “Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4). • Jesus identifies the devil as “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44); the second woman reflects that murderous impulse. • God uses this stark contrast to reveal truth; Solomon will soon declare, “Give the living baby to the first woman… she is his mother” (1 Kings 3:27). summary 1 Kings 3:26 contrasts sacrificial love with spiteful envy. The genuine mother would rather lose her claim than see her child harmed, illustrating parental love rooted in God’s own compassionate nature. The impostor, consumed by jealousy, prefers death to another’s joy. Solomon’s test uncovers the heart, showcasing the divine wisdom granted to him and affirming that true love protects, yields, and gives life. |
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