Kingdom Character-4 Series

KINGDOM CHARACTER-IV—1Kings 3:16-28

AKA—Motherhood Potential(Mother’s Day)

Attention:

Opposites Attract!

Two young fellas were talking about what they wanted to find in their mate. One friend said,”I’ve heard from a lot of folks that people with opposite characteristics have the longest & happiest marriages. What do you think?"

The friend replied, "I think they're right. That's why I am looking for a girl with money!"

Is God leading you or has the devil been allowed access to your world because of the way in which you approach your fitness for the Kingdom of God?

Remember our Background/Context:

YaHWeH had approached Solomon “in a dream by night” saying, “Ask! What shall I give you?”(:5).

King Solomon recognized his own inability to rule properly because he saw himself as “a little child” who did not even know how to go out or come in”(:7). On top of that, he was also taken with & humbled by the sheer numbers of God’s people. Also tied into this was an understanding that Solomon’s charge was to lead God’s chosen people(:8). The expectations/responsibilities upon Solomon were great & he felt their weight.

Therefore in answer to God’s question, Solomon requested “wisdom” from the LORD. Solomon knew he needed “an understanding heart to judge” YaHWeH’s people, that he might be able to “discern between good & evil”(:9). He was concerned that he be able to “judge” the people of God wisely & with equity.

Solomon’s desire “pleased” God(:10) so that He responded by giving Solomon the “understanding”he had asked for along with the personal things he had not considered important—long life, riches, & the life of his enemies(:11-14).

The result & proof of God’s bestowing His wisdom upon Solomon was immediately manifested to everyone as follows in our text(:16-28).....

The events surrounding one of Solomon’s official judgments revealed the motherly potential of a harlot.

A person’s character reveals their potential as a servant of God, their fitness for the kingdom of God &/or their citizenship in God’s kingdom.

How is Kingdom character manifested?

Some ways in which Kingdom character is manifested.

So that we also find that...

Kingdom character(or the lack thereof) is manifested in one’s approach to...

1. PERSONAL SIN(:16)

2. TRAGEDY(:17-21)

3. TRUTH(:16-22)

4. JUSTICE(:16-22)

5—Kingdom character is manifested in one’s...

Approach to OPPOSITION(:22)

Explanation:(:22)

:22—“Then the other woman said, “No! But the living one is my son, & the dead one is your son.” And the first woman said, “No! But the dead one is your son, & the living one is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.”

Now the “other” harlot takes opportunity to speak.

She speaks contrary to, or in opposition to, & contradicts the testimony of the “first”(:17) woman. She gives a different story.

The world at large opposes God’s truth, love, design!

Therefore they disregard truth & reality, comforting themselves by actively replacing God’s truth with their own unrealistic(& worldly) version of reality/belief.

“Living one”(See :23)—yx khah'-ee—Adj.—1) Living, alive—1a) Green(of vegetation), 1b) Flowing, fresh(of water), 1c) Lively, active(of man), 1d) Reviving(of the springtime). Noun Masc.—2) Relatives; 3) Life(abstract emphatic)—3a) Life, 3b) Sustenance, maintenance. Noun Fem.—4) Living thing, animal—4a) Animal, 4b) Life, 4c) Appetite, 4d) Revival, renewal; 5) Community. Strong—Alive; hence--Raw(flesh); Fresh(plant, water, year), Strong; also(as noun, especially in the feminine singular & masculine plural)--Life(or living thing), whether literally or figuratively.

Argumentation:

Rom. 1:18—“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

Acts 18:5-6—“When Silas & Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, & testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him & blasphemed, he shook his garments & said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

2Tim. 2:22-26—“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish & ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, & that they may come to their senses & escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

1Cor. 6:1-8[See also Pt.#6--:23-25]—“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, & not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, & that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong & cheat, & you do these things to your brethren!”