“Baby, You’re Mine”
One Year Bible (June 8, 2022)
I Kings 3:3-4:34
“Baby You’re Mine"
“Baby mine, don’t you cry. Baby mine. Dry your eyes. Rest your head close to my heart, Never to part, baby of mine.” (Baby Mine, by Bette Midler)
What do you say to a mama that has just lost her baby?
What emotions does a mama (who lost her firstborn baby boy) feel when she sees her living son sitting on the throne as the King of Israel?
What thoughts does a father have when he sees his 20-ish-year-old son take his place on his throne, holding his sword, and building his father’s dream of a palace and tabernacle?
I cannot begin to imagine, but it puts a large lump in my throat.
Today’s “changing of the guard” shows a monumental change. We need to stop and really take this in. The Mighty Warrior has fought his final battle, and his son picks up his sword, but the shift in focus, purpose, and person will be VASTLY different.
The embodiment of God’s promises to David is about to come to life before our very eyes. David will have a small glimpse of his son’s wisdom as he is ready to pass from this world… “The Light of Israel” is now to be passed on to a new generation. Can you feel the hope filling the palace? I like this young man already!!
There are three words that jump off the page at me today: Palace, Throne, and Sword.
Now, I know that these are not unusual words at all when we are talking about a king, but they are each mentioned in a very UNUSUAL way in this passage. They are not at all what I would have expected when reading about Solomon…
Let’s begin with the word, “PALACE”.
“That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, ‘What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you’.” (I Kings 3:5)
Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father David because he was honest and true and faithful to you.” (Vs. 6) “Now O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours.” (3:7-9)
Did you see the word, “Palace” or “Kingdom” anywhere in his words? That is what is so unusual! All of his brothers were literally "killing" to get into the palace. Solomon doesn’t ask for a kingdom or a fancy palace. He asks for “wisdom to govern his people well”. He is not focused on a PLACE. He is focused on PEOPLE.
The Lord was so pleased that Solomon asked for wisdom that he promised to give him a “wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!” (vs. 12)
Here is what is said of Solomon, “No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!”
God also promised to give him what he did NOT ask for, riches and fame! In essence, God gives Solomon everything that he could possibly need to face the great challenges that Solomon has lying ahead of him. He will build the Palace, The Tabernacle for God, and a Dynasty of Peace.
Here is what we are told about Solomon’s new kingdom. “So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon’s grip.” (I Kings 2:46b)
Did you get that, Solomon didn’t even ask for a kingdom or palace and he is given a “solid grip” on the kingdom at a young twenty-ish years of age, and that isn’t the half of it…
Next, let’s look at the word, “Throne”.
Remember Adonijah, his half-brother who tried to steal the throne from Solomon? Well… he’s BACK! He comes to Solomon's mother, Bathsheba, and asks her to go to Solomon for him and give him permission to marry Abishag. I am sure that this seemed like a peacekeeping mission to Bathsheba. Mamas are gifted “Meddlers”.
I love this next part. Solomon invites his mama into the throne room and asks his servants to “pull up” an extra THRONE for her to sit next to him. I love that the word, “THRONE” is used here, and I love the way that he respects and treats his “Meddling Mama”.
Solomon loves his “Kibitzer Mama” and will do whatever she asks of him. Except This!
Already Solomon is blessed with the wisdom to see that this is a “big boy ploy” to take over the kingdom. You can look it up in the playbook, “Tattletale 101” under the chapter, “Run to Mama”. Solomon knows how to handle his mama too! This is a Win-Win! Wise Man!!
The woman who had “no voice” with David and was taken into his kingdom through sin had lost her first baby. Now she is sitting next to her second baby and he is providing a THRONE for her to sit right next to him.
What was she thinking? I am pretty sure I know the song in her heart, “Baby You’re Mine!”
One final word used in this passage in an unusual way is the word, “SWORD”.
Perhaps you have heard the Bible story about Solomon dealing with the mothers who are fighting over the baby. Evidently, in Sunday School they didn’t cover the part about the two women being PROSTITUTES. Did you realize that part of the story? I know that I didn’t. But as I reflect upon it, I think it is one of the most important aspects that we dare not overlook.
The new King of Israel stoops down to listen to the heated argument, heartache, and hopes of two lowly broken women. Secondly, he uses an understanding heart to decide the life and destiny of a tiny baby. What happens next?
Ah, the SWORD! The sword that took his father to endless wars where blood was shed, is now the King’s sword that will GIVE LIFE rather than take it. Solomon offers to split the baby “In Half”. One mother is fine with that, and one would willingly hand over her baby rather than see it harmed.
This story is not just about two women tarnished by sin that found grace and hope in the new kingdom. It is a story about what is to come…A Palace. A Throne. A Sword.
Can’t you just hear the soft lullaby playing in the background again?
“Baby mine, don’t you cry. Baby mine. Dry your eyes. Rest your head close to my heart, Never to part, baby of mine.”
Yes, I think I know what both mamas were singing softly through their tears of joy, “Baby, You’re Mine."
