**The Wisdom of King Jedidiah**
In the ancient kingdom of Israel, during a time when the land flourished under the rule of a wise and discerning king, there lived a ruler named Jedidiah, beloved by his people. His name meant “Beloved of the Lord,” and indeed, the Lord had granted him wisdom beyond measure. The words of Proverbs 20 were etched upon his heart, guiding his every decision.
One evening, as the golden sun dipped behind the hills of Jerusalem, the king sat in his court, listening to the petitions of his people. The scent of burning olive oil lamps filled the air, casting flickering shadows upon the marble pillars. A dispute had arisen between two merchants—Reuben, a seller of fine linens, and Eliab, a trader in spices.
Reuben, his face flushed with anger, stepped forward. “My lord king,” he began, his voice trembling, “this man has cheated me! I gave him a hundred shekels for a shipment of myrrh, but when the goods arrived, half the jars were filled with nothing but dust!”
Eliab, a stout man with shrewd eyes, folded his arms. “The accusation is false, O king! The jars were sealed when they left my warehouse. If they arrived empty, it was surely the work of thieves along the road!”
The king leaned back on his throne, his fingers tracing the carvings of lions upon its arms. He remembered the words of Solomon: *”Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”* (Proverbs 20:1). He had seen many disputes fueled by anger and deceit, but wisdom demanded patience.
“Bring me the jars,” the king commanded.
Servants hurried forward, placing three clay vessels before the throne. The king examined them carefully, noting the unbroken seals. Then, he lifted one and shook it gently. No sound came from within. A murmur spread through the gathered crowd.
Jedidiah’s eyes gleamed with understanding. *”Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?”* (Proverbs 20:9). He knew that only the Lord saw the depths of a man’s heart, but wisdom gave discernment.
“Eliab,” the king said, his voice steady, “if the jars were full when they left your hand, why does this one bear no weight?”
Eliab’s face paled. “I—I cannot say, my lord.”
The king turned to Reuben. “And you, my son, did you inspect the goods before payment?”
Reuben bowed his head. “No, my king. I trusted in our agreement.”
Jedidiah sighed. *”The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.”* (Proverbs 20:7). He saw now the truth—Eliab had deceived, but Reuben had been careless.
“Eliab,” the king declared, “you have acted falsely. You will repay Reuben double the amount he gave you, for deceit is an abomination to the Lord.” Then, to Reuben, he said, “And you, my son, must be wise in your dealings. Trust, but verify, for even honest men may be tempted.”
The crowd murmured in approval, for the king’s judgment was just.
Later that night, as the stars glittered above Jerusalem, the king walked the palace gardens, his heart heavy. His advisor, Nathan, joined him. “You judge with wisdom, my lord,” Nathan said.
Jedidiah shook his head. *”Even small children are known by their actions, whether their conduct is pure and right.”* (Proverbs 20:11). “But wisdom is a gift, Nathan. It is the Lord who gives understanding.”
Nathan nodded. “Then let us pray for more of it, for the days ahead are uncertain.”
And so, under the watchful eyes of heaven, the king knelt and sought the wisdom of the Lord, knowing that only in Him could true justice and righteousness be found.
**The End.**
