Wisdom, Nature, and Universals
Captain's Log: Table Time ~ Monday, September 1st, 2025 ~ Vespers
7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
The children knew the story of Solomon’s prayer for wisdom well. But I noticed that his request was not just the right request for him. He asked the Lord for something that would be a blessing to others. I’d not applied the passage this way before, but it seemed right to add this to our thinking about prayer. I mentioned that although wisdom is a good thing for anyone to ask of God, it is especially fitting for Solomon because he was a King. It was fitting for him in his station and calling. I asked the children, 'How often do we ask God for things that we intend to bless others with?' We all agreed this was rare.
We spent some time thinking about Solomon’s understanding and discernment with the mothers. I asked Lydia, “What did Solomon know?” I realized there was something to discover here. The children reported what happened in the story, what Solomon knew would happen in this particular case. I asked Lydia if she could double-click on her answer. She nearly jumped out of the chair to try. But no one could go deeper. So we went on a little journey.
It turns out that when children (mine, at least) engage well with stories, it’s not the universal principle that jumps out at them, not without some training.
I reminded the children that recently we’ve been seeing in the Bible not only what happened, but what happens. God shows us not only how He ruled in certain situations, at certain times, but how He rules His world at all times. To put it differently, I am trying to teach the children the ability to identify a universal principle in a local story. It turns out that when children (mine, at least) engage well with stories, it’s not the universal principle that jumps out at them, not without some training.
So we thought about ‘pushing in’. 'Let’s imagine a story where John Doe pushes in at Costco. How are people going to respond to him?' 'Angry!' 'Right.' 'But is that only true of John Doe and Costco? Or does this story teach something about the way the world - and people - work?' Some cogs grinding. I asked if the children could imagine people anywhere else applauding someone pushing in. They could not. This is specifically true in the story, and generally true in the world. John Doe’s story is not just about what happened. It is also about what happens.
I clarified the distinction between a universal truth and a local one. 'Where do people drive in Canada?' 'The right side of the road.' 'Right. I mean, yes. How about in Singapore?' 'The left!' 'Ah, OK. That people drive on the right side of the road is locally true - it’s true here. But it’s not true everywhere in the world. Whereas ‘pushing in is bad’ is true (all things being regular) everywhere. It’s a universal truth, not a local one.
Shockingly, the children were awake at this time and not a little engaged. I tried to land the plane. 'When Solomon looked at the two mothers… he knew a universal truth… 'Oh, yeh!!!' both older children called in unison. 'He knew that mothers won’t want to hurt their babies,' Lewis cried out. Critically, he said “mothers,” not “the mother.” I have to admit my heart leapt as the children came alive with genuine realization, learning, and insight. Ordinarily, it’s slow, cumulative growth. Repetition and mimicry. But sometimes, little breakthrough moments are given, and they are very sweet.
After the fear of the Lord, if we cannot recognise the patterns God has built into His creatures and world, how will we make decisions that are blessed by Him and that bless those around us?
The double-click I wanted for the children was that Solomon knew human nature. God had given him insight into how people work, which is also to say, how God made the world. These are important things to know if one is to rule a large people, and not without sin on the part of all involved. This merged nicely with my side quest of growing the children in their ability to see in stories not only what happened, but what happens. The more I think about this (and the more we read Proverbs), the more I realize this ability is integral to wisdom. After the fear of the Lord, if we cannot recognise the patterns God has built into His creatures and world, how will we make decisions that are blessed by Him and that bless those around us?
He knows man, as Solomon did. But Jesus knows even more than Solomon. He knows every individual man and woman.
We finished with a reflection on Jesus, who knows us. It is striking to call to mind the occasions Jesus interacts with individuals in the gospels. He knows man, as Solomon did. But Jesus knows even more than Solomon. He knows every individual man and woman. What a thought. This comes through beautifully with the woman at the well, with Zacchaeus, Nicodemus, the rich young ruler… It is good to have a King rule over us who knows us.
It is also good to have a King rule the world who is able to govern. If Solomon was able to govern, by God’s equipping, how much more Christ? I suggested this is a comforting thing when the world doesn’t look the way we wish it did. Jesus can be trusted with the governing of the world, whatever the state of it is. Pearlyn mentioned that Jesus can also be trusted when He calls us to things we don’t like or understand. Or when He keeps from us things we believe are good for us and long for. One greater even than Solomon is here, with us, reigning. Praise the Lord.
