Amen. Let's go to God in prayer. Father God, Lord, we thank you so much, God, for your word that you preserved for us, God, in these last days. Thank you that we can go to your word to learn the things that you would have us to know, God. And just pray that you would help us to be attentive to your word today, Father. I pray that you'd be with me as I deliver this message, Lord, that whatever Content is in it that you would have us to understand God that it would be delivered clearly and if there's anything Lord That is not of you God. I just pray that you would just Just move it out of the way Lord. Thank you for the opportunity to preach to these brothers and sisters God this church body that you have preserved here in This community God and just prayed you'd help us to grow in Jesus name. Amen Amen I'm not going to read the title of my sermon, because maybe that would spoil the ending. So, it's going to start in Proverbs chapter 1. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity, to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion, A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. To understand a proverb and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their dark sayings, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. I've preached before on wisdom and foolishness. It's a topic that can be found throughout the Bible. Ultimately, I believe that a wise man will believe the scriptures, and in doing so will believe the gospel for salvation through Christ, while a fool will seek out foolishness wherever it may be found, rejecting the wisdom that God has freely offered to everyone. I hope that this message will not be a bunch of rambling on about wisdom and foolishness without an applicable teaching for your lives, but I'm going to go through some scriptures which I think is always profitable, and hopefully we'll hear some things to consider as we go. 2 Timothy 3, 15, and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. The Bible gives us many examples of wise men, but some of them are noted for their wisdom. of Daniel and his three friends. The Bible says that God gave them knowledge and skill and all learning and wisdom. Daniel 1 verse 20 says, And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them 10 times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. That sounds like very high praise. Nebuchadnezzar was not what I would consider a wise man. He was proud, vain, and arrogant, and his advisors would manipulate him because of it. But he seemed to be aware of this, and as a king, he understood the value of truly wise counsel over flattery, even if sometimes it was a little too late. And he had to recognize that Daniel's God was greater than his own God's on several occasions. Daniel 3 says, Then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any God except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that every people, nation, and language which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill, because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort." The most notable wise man in the Bible is, of course, Solomon. The Bible says that his wisdom was known throughout the world. The Queen of Sheba, we are told, could not believe the things that she had heard about him. and decided she needed to investigate those things for herself. In 2 Chronicles 9, it says, And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bear spices in gold in abundance, and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions. And there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers and their apparel, his cupbearers also, and their apparel, and his assent by which he went up into the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, it was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit, I believed not their words until I came and mine eyes had seen it, and behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me, for thou exceedest the fame that I heard. Verse 22, and King Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom, and all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart. So how did Solomon get to be so wise? In 1 Kings chapter 3 we read, In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, Ask what I shall give thee? And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with thee. And thou hast kept for him this great kindness, and thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father. And I am but a little child, I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this, thy so great a people?" And the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment, behold, I have done according to thy words. Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee." So Solomon, Solomon asked God for wisdom, for understanding, to be able to rule wisely. I think Solomon showed humility in acknowledging that he was not up to the task, being a young man with little experience in such matters. Much like Saul was in the beginning, he was small in his own eyes, and God was pleased by this and honored Solomon's request and gives him even the things he didn't ask for. James chapter 1 verse 5 says, if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. God can bestow wisdom and knowledge upon those whom he chooses. When God commanded Moses to build the tabernacle and the altar and the furniture and the garments for the priests, he provided workmen that he had filled with the knowledge to produce these items. Exodus 31 says, And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of her of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the spirit of God and wisdom and an understanding and a knowledge and in all manner of workmanship to devise cunning works, to work in gold and in silver and in brass and in cutting of stones to set them and in carving of timber to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him a holy ab, the son of Ahissamach, the tribe of Dan. And in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted, I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee. The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, and the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, and the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office, and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place, according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do." God doesn't say in what manner He filled them with this knowledge. It's possible that they were trained in these arts while they were in Egypt. But it's also possible that God just chose them and gave them the knowledge they needed to accomplish the task at hand. It could be both. When someone is exceptionally good at something, we often say they have a gift for that thing. We say this because we know that it is God that gives us the abilities that we possess. Some of these gifts are what we might call supernatural or spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant, you know, that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore, I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed, and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another diverse kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues, Some of these gifts, we would say, have ceased to operate in the church. The gift of tongues is not, I believe, something that we see any longer, its purpose having been fulfilled. But that doesn't mean that someone cannot apply themselves to learning new languages and have an aptitude for such learning. And we could say that was a gift that God had given them. So God gave wisdom to Solomon. In Ecclesiastes, we also see that Solomon devoted himself to obtaining wisdom. Ecclesiastes 1 verse 12, I, the preacher, was king over Israel and Jerusalem, and I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven. This sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem. Yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge, and I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceive that this also is vexation of spirit, for in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. Solomon wrote his Proverbs to pass his wisdom on to those who are simple, to those who are young and lack wisdom. This is something that we should try to do in whatever way we can to pass down the things that we have learned to our children, that they could benefit from the grief and sorrow that went into obtaining that knowledge without having to rediscover it themselves. So let's look again at Proverbs chapter one. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity, to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. That verse four caught my attention. It says the Proverbs are to give subtlety to the simple. In the context, we can assume subtlety is related to wisdom, and it is. but it seems to be more practical, having to do with the application of wisdom and knowledge in order to achieve a goal. The Bible uses the word subtle or subtlety in a few places, but it often is used in a negative context. The first place we see it is in Genesis chapter three. Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden, We know what happened here. The serpent made an argument to Eve and caused her to doubt God and to disobey the one prohibition that we know was given to her and Adam. So it is not surprising to see, if we look up the definition of subtle, that one of the definitions in Webster's is the sixth definition, deceitful, treacherous. We also have the fourth definition, sly, artful, cunning, crafty, insinuating as a subtle person, a subtle adversary. The third definition says acute, piercing, a subtle pain. The primary definitions of subtle are thin, not dense or gross, a subtle air, subtle vapor, nice, fine, delicate. The definitions for subtlety are slightly less treacherous. You have thinness, fineness, in a physical sense as the subtlety of air or light, the subtlety of sounds. The second is refinement, extreme acuteness. third is slyness in design, cunning, artifice. We can presume that the subtlety of the serpent was more along the lines of being sly and cunning and less about being thin. When Esau heard the words of his father, this is Genesis 27 verse 34, and when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried. with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? For he hath supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? In this case, we know how Jacob deceived his father to steal the blessing that was going to be his brother's. This time it wasn't originally Jacob's subtlety, but his mother's, but he was able to cunningly put her plan into action to accomplish the things that she devised. I won't go into the moral implications of Jacob's actions, but obviously Esau was not impressed by his subtlety. Second Samuel 13. But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shemeah, David's brother, and Jonadab was a very subtle man. Here we have Amnon, David's son, who is in love with his half-sister Tamar. He has a subtle friend who concocts a plan for him to employ to get his sister alone in his quarters, and then he takes advantage of the situation. Absalom eventually kills Amnon because of this. David's other sons flee from Absalom, probably wondering if they're going to be next. In verse 30, it says, It came to pass while they were in the way that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. Then the king arose and tear his garments and lay on the earth, and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. And Jonadab, the son of Shimea, David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have been slain all the young men of the king's sons, for Amnon only is dead. For by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. Was this Jonadab's intention all along? Perhaps Jonadab was more subtle than Amnon knew. We have another Jonadab, the son of Rechab. You remember the Rechabites in Jeremiah, Jeremiah 35. And I sat before the sons of the house of the Rechabites, pots full of wine and cups, and I said unto them, drink ye wine. But they said, we will drink no wine. For Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father commanded us, saying, ye shall drink no wine, neither ye nor your sons forever. They were told not to build houses, but to live in tents, and to sow no seed, nor plant vineyards. They sound like classic nomads. You can just imagine them riding their camels through the desert with their tents and all their stuff strapped to the side. Verse 18 says, And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he hath commanded you, therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me forever. I just want to illustrate that this Jonadab is not the same Jonadab. It's a good Jonadab. Well, this Jonadab got involved with Jehu in 2 Kings and helped him to destroy the worshipers of Baal in 2 Kings chapter 10. And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jonadab, the son of Rechab, coming to meet him. And he saluted him and said to him, is thine heart right as my heart is with thy heart? And Jonadab answered, it is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand and he took him up to him into the chariot. And he said, come with me and see my zeal for the Lord. So they made him ride in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria till he had destroyed him according to the saying of the Lord, which he spake to Elijah. And Jehu gathered all the people together and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu shall serve him much. Now, therefore, call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. Let none be wanting, for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal. Whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal, and they proclaimed it. And Jehu went through all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. They thought they were coming to a Baal party. Jehu invited them to see his sacrifices that he was going to make. And he said unto him, that was over the vestry, bring forth vestments for all the worshipers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. And Jehu went, and Jonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look, that there be here with you none of the servants of the Lord, but the worshippers of Baal only. And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed four score men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, I think that's like a bathroom. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. How be it from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them to wit the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan. And the Lord said unto Jehu, because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. So God commends Jehu for what he's done. Naturally, the question arises here, was Jehu's subtlety sin? I think that some people who have an incorrect doctrine of lying would say yes. Matthew Henry seems to be of this opinion. He says, "...contriving the destruction of all the worshipers of Baal. The service of Baal was the crying sin of the house of Ahab. That root of this idolatry was plucked up, but multitudes yet remained that were infected with it and would be in danger of infecting others." The law of God was expressed that they would be put to death. But they were so numerous and so dispersed throughout all the parts of the kingdom and perhaps so alarmed with Jehu's beginnings that it would be a hard matter to find them all out and an endless task to prosecute and execute them one by one. Jehu's project, therefore, is to cut them all off together. By a while, by a fraud, he brought them together to the temple of Baal. He pretended he would worship Baal more than Ahab ever had done. Perhaps he spoke this ironically, or to try the body of the people, whether they would oppose such a resolution as this, and would resent his threatening to increase his predecessor's exactions, and say, if it be so, we have no part in Jehu, nor inheritance in the son of Nemshi, but it rather seems to have been spoken purposely to deceive the worshipers of Baal, and then it cannot be justified. The truth of God needs not any man's lie. I wonder why some are so quick to condemn that which God has not, or has even commended. We know from recent events what troubles arise from trying to have such a strict understanding about deceit, that it is never permissible for a Christian to lie. Rather, we are supposed to believe that deceits like this in the Bible are somehow really not deceits because of some clever wordplay, or it was wrong for him to deceive the Baalites, but it was right for him to kill them, so God just overlooked it. when the simple truth is just that it is sometimes permissible to lie to your enemy in a wartime situation. Proverbs 7, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner, and he went the way to her house. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night, and behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot and subtle of heart. Again, we have subtle used in a context that makes it seem like something to be avoided. Verse 21, with her much fair speech, she caused him to yield. With the flattering of her lips, she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks. Interestingly, in this passage, we see that the target of this bad woman's subtlety is a man void of understanding, a youth and a simple one. These are the people that Solomon says the Proverbs are for, to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A few more instances of subtlety in the scriptures. We have Psalms 105 verse 23, Israel also came into Egypt and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham and he increased his people greatly and made them stronger than their enemies. He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtly with his servants. This is speaking of Pharaoh in Egypt, and is referenced again in Acts, clarifying in what way he dealt subtly with Israel. Acts 7, but when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose which knew not Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children to the end they might not live. Acts chapter 13, But Elimas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation, withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him and said, O fool of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled, I'm sorry, 2 Corinthians. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. And lastly, we have in Matthew 26. Then assembled together the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill him. And I think that's about every instance of subtlety or subtle in the Bible. So I think it's clear that the overwhelming usage of subtle or subtlety in the scriptures is negative. With that being the case, how should we understand the statement in Proverbs that Solomon's intent is to give subtlety to the simple? Is subtlety something that the simple should seek after? This clearly causes some people to be uncomfortable. as is evident by the fact that many Bible versions will use some other word in place of subtlety in Proverbs 1.4. The English Standard Version says, to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. The American Standard Version, to give prudence to the simple, to the young man, knowledge and discretion. The NIV says, for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young. The New King James, to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. Starting to see a pattern. The New Living Translation says these Proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. You go back to the Geneva Bible, it says to give unto the simple sharpness of wit, and to the child knowledge and discretion. Is prudence the same thing as subtlety? Just for fun, I looked at some of these versions to see what they said in Genesis chapter three. Some of them said subtle, some said cunning, crafty, but none of them wanted to call the serpent prudent. Webster's defines prudence as wisdom applied to practice. Prudence implies caution and deliberating, consulting on the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes. and the exercise of sagacity in discerning and selecting them, prudence differs from wisdom in this, that prudence implies more caution and reserve than wisdom, or is exercised more in foreseeing and avoiding evil than in devising and executing that which is good. It is sometimes mere caution or circumspection. Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and do means order, season, and method of doing or not doing. And prudent is defined as cautious, circumspect, practically wise, careful of the consequences of enterprise, measures or actions, cautious not to act when the end is doubtful, of doubtful utility, or probably impracticable. Is that a word? Impracticable. The prudent man looketh well to his going, it says. The prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself. It's dictated or directed by prudence as prudent behavior, foreseeing by instinct as the prudent crane, frugal, economical as a prudent woman, prudent expenditure of money, wise, intelligent. Prudence and prudent are used extensively in the King James Version. Proverbs 12, a fool's wrath is presently known, but a prudent man covereth shame. A prudent man concealeth knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. Proverbs 13, every prudent man dealeth with knowledge, but a fool layeth open his folly. In Proverbs 8, I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. Ephesians 1.8 says, wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence. I'm not sure how I'd feel about the last one if it had said subtlety, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace, wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and subtlety. I think prudence is better. But the King James does say subtlety in Proverbs 1.4. And I know how we've seen over and over again that little changes can have big consequences in doctrines. Just changing the word but to and, for instance. So I am bound to accept the KJV reading of subtlety and know that Proverbs is to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. What of discretion then? Webster's defines discretion as prudence or knowledge and prudence, that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution, Nice discernment and judgment directed by circumspection and primarily regarding one's own conduct. A good man will guide his affairs with discretion. Psalms 112. My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion. Proverbs 3. Second definition is liberty or power of acting without other control than one's own judgment. as the management of affairs was left to the discretion of the prince. He is left to his own discretion. Hence, to surrender at discretion is to surrender without stipulation or terms and commit one's self entirely to the power of the conqueror. I think perhaps that subtlety can be understood to be a tool that must be used with discretion, much like a sword. The sword is not the answer to every problem, But for some problems, the sword is the best solution. Luke 22, verse 36. Then said he unto them, but now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his script. And he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say unto you that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me. And he was reckoned among the transgressors, for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, it is enough. Understanding how the serpent beguiled Eve through subtlety is learning subtlety. You need to understand guile in order to defend against it. Eve was obviously simple in regards to the serpent's deception and was basically defenseless. Matthew 10, verse 16, Jesus says, behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of doves. I'm sorry, in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves. To be wise as serpents may require subtlety. To be harmless as doves will require discretion. And maybe when you put them together, you get prudence. I don't exactly know. Proverbs 22, this is a prudent man, foreseeeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. Let's look at 1 Kings 3. This is Solomon and probably the most well-known example of his wisdom. Then came there two women that were harlots unto the king and stood before him. And the one woman said, oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. And I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered that this woman was delivered also. And we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house save we two in the house. And this woman's child died in the night because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me while thine handmaid slept and laid it in her bosom and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead. But when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, nay, but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, no, but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, the one saith, this my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead. And the other saith, nay, but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. Solomon understands the conundrum. At this point, he could have answered, this is all too confusing. I'm going to wait for God to reveal the truth, but I'm not going to get involved. I'm praying for you both. But that isn't what he said. The king said, bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, divide the living child in two and give half to the one and half to the other. And then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son. And she said, oh, my lord, give her the living child and know why I slay it. But the other said, let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it, she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment. In my view, Solomon demonstrated how to employ subtlety in a righteous manner to discern the truth of the situation, to restore the child to the right mother. In no wise do I believe that Solomon was going to cut a baby in half, but he was the king and had the power to do so. The woman who had tried to steal the other woman's baby did it out of envy and had no regard for the life of the child. And Solomon was able to discern which of the two truly cared for the child. Hebrews 4.12 says, for the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Amen.