Slices
Prepare
As you come before God, acknowledge any unjust suffering you have encountered. If you have suffered pregnancy or infant loss, ask God to wrap his loving arms around you before reading today’s passage. Allow God to comfort you tenderly.
Bible passage
A wise ruling
16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, ‘Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.
19 ‘During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. 20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. 21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son – and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.’
22 The other woman said, ‘No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.’
But the first one insisted, ‘No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.’ And so they argued before the king.
23 The king said, ‘This one says, “My son is alive and your son is dead,” while that one says, “No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.”’
24 Then the king said, ‘Bring me a sword.’ So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: ‘Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.’
26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, ‘Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!’
But the other said, ‘Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!’
27 Then the king gave his ruling: ‘Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.’
28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
Explore
Can you imagine the weight of responsibility Solomon faces when presented with two distraught mothers, knowing he has to choose who keeps the living baby (vs 16–22)? Today, we would use science to resolve the issue. Solomon has to rely upon the gift of wisdom that God has bestowed upon him. Solomon’s bold actions are nauseating to read about. Who would threaten to kill a baby to settle a dispute (v 25)? What could be more barbaric? Yet, this horrific ultimatum enables Solomon to uncover the truth and administer justice (v 27).
For both mothers, the pain of losing a child will have been unbearable. It is easy to imagine how, inside, both mothers are dying. But, no matter how insurmountable it may seem when we are hit with grief or the threat of loss, we are still called to be Christlike. The compassion, selflessness and sacrificial love of the true mother of the living baby are godly qualities that prevented one tragedy from spiralling into another (v 26).
God was there amid a devastating situation. It would still have hurt, even though God was there. But we can face overwhelming, impossible and helpless circumstances with God.
Respond
Thank God for the political leaders who shoulder unimaginably difficult decisions. Ask God to give them the wisdom of Solomon.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Numbers 32,33; Acts 24
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the south region as they look to increase the number of Faith Guides and Faith Guide churches. Pray for clarity for the team as they seek to find the right priorities, look to God for the right strategy and make connections with potential partner churches.
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
