Editorial February 27, 1926 Issue

"An understanding heart"

Duncan Sinclair

Solomon's dream, recorded in the third chapter of I Kings, is familiar to the student of the Old Testament. In the dream "the Lord appeared to Solomon," and "God said, Ask what I shall give thee." In response Solomon, after pleading that he was "but a little child" who knew "not how to go out or come in," made the request, "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" The answer came: "Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart."

The desire which Solomon entertained for an understanding heart should animate every Christian—every Christian Scientist. For are we not constantly being faced with the same problem which presented itself to Solomon—namely, to be able to discern between good and evil, and accordingly to judge righteous judgment? The situations relative to our fellow-men with which we are confronted may not be the same as those in which the wise king found himself, may indeed greatly differ from them, but our desire is the same as his, and the necessities are parallel.

What, then, is the position which presents itself to the Christian Scientist? Broadly speaking, he is faced with the many problems which arise out of the belief that evil is real, beset by the beliefs of the world in sickness, sin, weakness, pain, hopelessness; and, as Christian Science shows, every phase of human suffering and sin has its seeming origin in the fallacy that evil is real. The problem to human sense seems a formidable one. The Christian Scientist does not ignore it; and how earnest, how sincere, is his prayer to God for "a wise and an understanding heart," that he may help to remove the burden which often bears so heavily on mankind.

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