Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Scott Tunseth.
When I attended Concordia College in Moorhead (eons ago) I remember attending Berthold Brecht’s play the Caucasian Chalk Circle. By the way, the very first English language performance of the play was at Carlton College in Northfield in 1948. It’s a complicated play with various scenes but tied together by a young woman named Grusha who has saved a poor peasant child Michael and cares for him.
In scene five, which is called “The Chalk Circle,” Grusha finds herself before a judge and the wife of the Governor, who claims the boy as her own. She and her husband need an heir so they can keep the estate they have amassed. Without an heir they will be forced to give their estate back to the city.
In the trial that follows, things start to turn against Grusha, and the judge draws a circle on the ground and puts the boy Michael in the center. The judge says that the true mother will be able to pull the child from the center of the circle. But if they both pull, the child will be torn in half and each will get half of him. Grusha refuses to pull, knowing that Michael will then be given to the Governor’s wife. You can see the deep sadness Grusha feels. When asked a second time to pull, Grusha refuses. She cannot harm the boy. The judge recognizes Grusha’s selfless act and declares that she is Michael’s true mother.
Today’s text (1 Kings 3:16-28) is really an ancient version of this same story, and King Solomon is the judge between two women who each claim the same baby as her own. The outcome is similar. When Solomon suggests the baby be divided in half, the real mother begs Solomon to give the child to the other woman while the other woman says the child should be cut in two. And Solomon, whom God has granted wisdom and a discerning mind, knows who the real mother must be.
Decisions dot our days. Some are small and mundane; others may be life changing. May all your decisions be attuned to the wisdom of God’s Spirit.
God of wisdom, your Holy Spirit guides our ways and orders our days. Help us listen to the Spirit’s guidance in all things. Amen.