Wisdom & Justice
Can you recall a time someone made a comment that caused you to pause, reflect and see things differently? As I write I am recalling several times I’ve heard someone bring clarity to a confusing situation, bring peace to an argument or bring an exhortation that helped those holding a popular opinion to consider a different perspective. I’m fascinated by these moments. What internal thought process has the person gone through to arrive at such an impactful conclusion before they articulated it? What circumstances have they experienced which enabled them to glean such insight? How can I learn from them?
The Bible contains several stories about people who marvelled at the teachings of Jesus (Mk 1:27, 6:2). But I’m fascinated by a phrase that Scripture uses to articulate how people regarded the wisdom of King Solomon. “…They perceived the wisdom of God was in him to do justice” (1 Kgs 3.28).
This is the concluding statement of the story in which Solomon was asked to settle a dispute between two women who both claimed an infant was their own. It was a seemingly impossible task. In that moment Solomon had no access to a birth certificate, hospital records, DNA tests, or, it would appear, even the testimony of family or friends. He, as King, was responsible to make a decision. Seeing through the emotional clutter of opposing opinions, Solomon relied on the most basic of human truths – a mother will sacrifice her own desires to protect the life of her child.
Word about the ruling, and the King’s wisdom, spread throughout the region and Scripture summarises the popular view that the people ‘perceived the wisdom of God was in him to do justice’.
I try to imagine what it must have felt like for those Officers in the King’s Court who witnessed this ruling. How many wise rulings had they seen Solomon deliver? Were they surprised at this display of insight? Were they confused by his initial out-of-the-box approach to solving the dispute? If we allow ourselves to enter the story, we can almost identify with a palpable relief the people must have felt, along with their wonder at Solomon’s clever twist of perspective.
The people were able to perceive, to recognise, to see and understand, that Solomon was blessed with wisdom from God to adjudicate and resolve disputes. This ability to perceive wisdom is, itself, a display of an inherent leaning toward righteousness. The Book of Proverbs is full of reminders that those who have understanding will grow in wisdom (Pr 1:5; 4:7; 10:13; 14:6; 15:14, etc) and those who position themselves to learn from the wise will become wise (Pr 13:20). So, the humble recognition of wisdom in (or from) others is one way an individual can begin to become wiser themselves.
But, even more than the peoples’ recognition of Solomon’s wisdom was their resonance that this wisdom was displayed for the purpose of administering justice. Something resonates within us when we see justice being done – especially when justice is being won for the most vulnerable and marginalised individuals. There is a connection between the display of wisdom and carrying out justice.
When injustice is being perpetrated, wisdom is needed to sort through the cloud of confusion to clarify the fundamental rights and wrongs in the situation. This is not simple, and it is rarely easy. Which is why wisdom is so noteworthy in society and culture.
When we turn our ear to wisdom and apply our heart to understanding, then we will find the knowledge of God. For He gives wisdom, guarding the way of justice… enabling us to understand righteousness, justice and equity and every good path (see Proverbs 2:1-10).
As we intentionally lean the ears of our heart toward His wisdom and, in humility, obediently choose to actively love our neighbour we will be better positioned to display the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3.10).
Sean Copeland
June 2024