The Sweetness of Forgiveness

Cut that baby in half!!!

Are you familiar with this story?

 1 Kings 3:16-28. Two women that were harlots lived in the same house and both had an infant son.  Each claimed that the other had exchanged, the other's dead son for her living child. Of course, the other woman denied this and so both women continued back and forth before the King, claiming to be the mother of the living son and said that the dead boy belonged to the other.

After some deliberation, King Solomon called for a sword to be brought before him. He commanded that the surviving son be split in two, each woman receiving half of the child. Upon hearing this terrible verdict, the boy's true mother cried out, "Oh Lord, give the baby to her, just don't kill him!"  But the other woman in her bitter jealousy, exclaimed, "It shall be neither mine nor yours...divide it!"

At this response, the king declared the woman who wished to spare the baby and that no harm be done to the living child as the true mother.  As a result King Solomon's judgment became known throughout all of Israel and was considered an example of profound wisdom! 

Today, the world struggles to figure out how to divide in the indivisible without killing it. But there is no way to divide the indivisible and it remain a whole, that indivisible is the land of Israel; the most fought over and most prime real estate known to mankind. Nevertheless, despite Israel's great misrepresentation of God's Holy Name, God is intentional about fulfilling this promise to vindicate His Name even while Israel entertains the idea with its enemies to divide Jerusalem further. The very portion that King David, Solomon's father had purchased and named in honor of God. A location dedicated to God Himself, by this King who prophesied over Jerusalem even through his son's leadership and wisdom. The decision to give the true mother the child was not based on the Kings biased opinion, but was influenced by the harlot that demanded - divide it! 

What nations are siding to divide the land of Israel? What economy is being threathened to crashed at best halted? Is this coincidence? Time will tell. For God is not slack concerning His promises. What He says He will do is already done.

I will leave you with yet another glimpse of God's intentionality as seen through the eyes of Ezekiel 36:21-23. "...But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went. 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 

Some have arrogantly or ignorantly claimed that Israel or that Jerusalem in particular would never exist as city after its destruction in 70AD. 

Yet, Ezekiel is among many of Israel's prophets that God used to echo His intention to restore Israel as a nation and Jerusalem as His Capital forever. That means those calling or negotiating for it to be divided, or even destroyed will be on the other side of the fence - in every sense.

Where you sit on that fence will determine where you will stand, with the sheep or with the goats. The looming situations surrounding the state of Israel demand that we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, like we never have before. Psalm 122:6.