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Mercy or Malice

Malakim Aleph (1st Kings) 3:26 
Then spoke the woman whose the living child was to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, "If it please adoni, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it.”  But the other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.”

This is one of the most famous court cases of all time.  The wisdom of King Sh’lomo was beyond compare, even in our world today.  YHWH quickly gave him understanding about how to test what was in the hearts of these two women.  Then upon understanding what was in their hearts, righteous judgment was easy to ascertain. 

The rightful mother would truly have compassion upon her own child.  The other mother had already exhibited traits that were unmerciful and uncompassionate and completely self-centered when she exchanged her own dead baby for the living child.  So the king already knew that the condition of the hearts of these two women standing before him were at opposite ends.  All he had to do was to get them to expose themselves and what was in their hearts.  This he did with a simple command.  Immediately upon issuing the command to cut the baby into two pieces and give half to each mother, these two women revealed what was in the depths of their hearts.  In one was mercy and in the heart of the other was malice.  It is right here we want to focus our study today.

The mother of the one living child surely exhibited the fruit of the Spirit when she had compassion upon her own son, and would have allowed the other woman to raise her son so that he could at least live.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.

This is contrasted to the mother of the dead son who would have had the other woman’s child slain simply because she could not have him.  The meanness, wickedness, malice, and jealousy of this woman is nearly beyond comprehension. 

Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
21 envying, drunkenness, reveling, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of Elohim.

The contrast between these two women is also the same contrast between the mindset of one who is in Babylon and one who is in Israel.  Here these two women had been living in the same house for quite some time and supposedly they were friends.  At least the woman with the kind and tender heart surely would have thought she had a friend.  However, the other woman, the woman with the heart full of malice and all sorts of other unclean things, apparently was the type of person to use other people simply to gain what she wanted in life.  If a person could not help her on her way to getting what it was she wanted, then she most likely did not have any use for them.

We see these types of attitudes portrayed a lot in our world today, particularly in the business and corporate world.  It is a “dog-eat-dog” world, and so many take the stance of using other people to climb upon to ascend the corporate ladder of success.  Such people will not even take a second thought about stepping on another person or hurting another person if it means gaining a little bit of success.  These types of people look out for themselves and don’t care about others in the least.  It surely is a sad existence, albeit a very common one.  These types of attitudes are frequently portrayed in television and movies as a good thing, something to be envied.  However, such people are not to be envied, for their end is a terrible end indeed.

Notice how this psalmist looked on the prosperity of the wicked with envy.

Tehillim (Psalm) 73:2-7
2              But as for me, my feet were almost gone;
My steps had well nigh slipped.
3              For I was envious at the arrogant,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4              For there are no pangs in their death;
But their strength is firm.
5              They are not in trouble as other men;
Neither are they plagued like other men.
6              Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck;
Violence covers them as a garment.
7              Their eyes stand out with fatness;
They have more than heart could wish.

However, after seeing this, notice how he viewed them after coming into the house of YHWH.

Tehillim (Psalm) 73:12-19
12           Behold, these are the wicked;
And, being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13           Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart,
And washed my hands in purity;
14           For all the day long have I been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
15           If I had said, I will speak thus;
Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
16           When I thought how I might know this,
It was too painful for me;
17           Until I went into the sanctuary of Elohim,
And considered their latter end.
18           Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19           How are they become a desolation in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.

Those who seem to have everything they want and desire now, will one day come to utter destruction.  When that day comes, their destruction will be complete, in a moment of time.

Brothers and sisters in Mashiach, it seems that the world has entered into a season of change.  It will most likely affect each and every person in some way.  Each person needs to make sure he is in a right relationship with YHWH Elohim and with His Son Yeshua Mashiach.  Each person must be walking in the fullness of His Spirit day by day and moment by moment.  It is only in this way that one will be able to get through whatever it is that is ahead.  Please know this, YHWH knows exactly where each person is right now and each moment that is to come.  Each person should put his trust in YHWH and he will not be disappointed.  Do not trust in a man.  Each individual should make sure the person he is following is Yeshua, for if he is following a man, then he will surely stumble at some point along the journey. 

Above all, one needs to exhibit the fruit of His Spirit at all times.  In this way YHWH will be able to deliver to him the blessings He has available.  However, if one walks in the flesh, then he stops up the flow of blessings from His hand.  Be careful not to let the root of bitterness creep in and take root like it had done in this woman whose son died.  Regardless of what happens, be thankful for the many manifest blessings from the hand of our heavenly Father.  Do not withhold compassion and mercy when it is possible to give it.  Sow the seeds of righteousness at all times and in all places as He leads and as He allows.

ABBA YHWH, teach us to be merciful and to give that mercy whenever possible; in the name of Yeshua our Mashiach.  Amein.

Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
www.onetorahforall.com
zerubbabel@onetorahforall.com

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