May 2002
One day, two prostitutes came and presented themselves before King Solomon.
One of them said, "Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house,
and I gave birth to a baby boy. Only the two of us were there in the
house―no one else was present. Then one night she accidently rolled over
on her baby and smothered it. She got up during the night, took my son from my
side while I was asleep, and carried him to her bed. The next morning, when I
awoke up and was going to nurse my baby, I saw that it was dead. I looked at it
more closely and saw it was not my child. "But the other woman said,
"No! The living child is mine, and the dead one is yours!" The first
woman answered back, "No! The dead child is yours, and the living one is
mine!" And so they argued before the king*He sent for a sword, and when it
was brought, he said, "Cut the living child in two and give each woman half
of it." The real mother, her heart full of love for her son, said to the
king, "Please Your Majesty, don't kill the child! Give it to her." (1
King 3:16-22, 24-26, TEV)
An Unlikely Woman, But a Real Mother
The story about the two harlot mothers, in the above text, was told as a
backdrop to illustrate the wisdom of Solomon. The judgment of Solomon in this
case greatly enhanced his reputation, for when the people heard what had
happened, "*they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the
wisdom of God was in him, to render justice." (1 King 3:28)
This Mother's Day, I want us to remember one of the minor characters in this
story as an unlikely woman, but a real mother. She only provided a cameo
appearance but she leaves us some motherly principles. When the king decided to
cut the live baby in half there was silence. Then, a heart-rending cry broke the
silence, and the real mother of the living baby, in spite of her sinful
character, showed true motherly love. Rather than see her child killed, she was
willing to surrender it to her callous roommate. Throwing herself before the
king she begged him to spare the child, "The woman whose son was alive said
to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, "Oh, my lord, give her
the living child, and by no means slay it; she is the mother."
(1 Kings 3:26)
Well, you say, "What does this have to do with Mother's Day? Surely, you
should be able to find in scripture a better model of a mother than a
prostitute?" Yes, there are mothers in the Bible that have much better
character than her. You are right, it will not be said of her, "Her
children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also,and he praises
her." (Ps. 31:28) First of all, it appears that she does not even have a
husband. Second, the text does not tell us whether this real mother reformed her
ways. Third, there is no evidence that, even without a father, she raised this
child up "in the fear and admonition of the Lord." As a prostitute,
she would not be considered a virtuous woman. But, I believe that what a person
really is will come out in their time of adversity. This unlikely woman, but a
real mother, has some lessons to teach us. Can we really learn anything good
from someone who is bad?
First the mother, though a sinner loved her child. The greatest gift a mother
can give to her child is love. Both the women professed equally to love the
living child; but in the hour of trial, the maternal affections of the women
became known. In the final analysis, it is what we are and not what we pretend
to be that really matters. Many mothers give children things, but not
themselves. Second, the mother was willing to make a self-sacrifice or give up
her child so that the boy could live. If an immoral woman can be merciful for
her son, and cannot forget her little child, how much more should every
Christian mother be ready to offer, when necessary, the heaviest sacrifice to
deliver her child from moral ruin. John 3:16 declares, "For God so loved
the world that he gave*" How many mothers today are willing to make a
self-sacrifice for their children? Hannah was barren and for a long time had
pleaded with God for a male child. After God granted her request, she gave the
child back to the Lord. (1 Sam. 1:28) Third, the mother was a caring woman. This
mother, who heretofore, probably only cared about her next liaison. But, when
her child was in jeopardy, she showed that she cared. The Today's English
translation states, "The real mother, her heart full of love for her
son*" (1 King 26a, TEV) We are not told the living conditions of these two
women. The text indicates that she kept her baby in her bosom. Oh, if more
mothers would keep their children in their bosom. Finally, this mother helps us
to see that there is some good in the worst of us. The pages of the Bible are
filled with questionable characters that were mightily used by God. Moses,
Abraham, David, Jacob, Rahab and many others are examples of Christ's use of
"unusables". We should be glad that God "is long-suffering toward
us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance." (11 Pet. 3-9b) This seemingly worthless woman was used to save
the life of this child.
This Mother's Day, we should celebrate and thank God for the virtuous women and
others who have served well as mothers and surrogate mothers. But, let us not
forget to thank God also for those unlikely women, who were real mothers. Maybe
you know one!
I challenge you, this Mother's Day, to call your mother, or the person who
served in this capacity, and thank them for their role in your life.
Happy Mother's Day.
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