“When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand.
“I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.”
The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”
1 Kings 2:19-20 (NIV)
This scripture really describes the honor, respect and influence the mother of a king had in ancient Israeli-Hebrew culture. King Solomon had many wives, but only his mother, Bathsheba, sat on the throne at his right side. Bathsheba exercised her influence on her son’s decisions, which was an accepted custom for a mother of a king to make requests of her son.
In this scripture, Bathsheba is speaking to Solomon on behalf of a marriage arrangement, which she was asked to intervene in. The example of the powerful influence of a Jewish mother, goes back thousands of years, to the most ancient of times in Israel.
Most people went directly to the king to settle their grievances, while others implored Bathsheba’s help and intercession. She took the people’s needs to King Solomon, her son, since he would never refuse her. Her boldness on behalf of others, reminds us of another mother in scripture.
We can see this same influence in Mary’s interaction with Jesus at the wedding of Cana. Jesus attended the wedding as a guest, but His time to reveal Himself as Messiah had not officially arrived yet. Mary, being close friends with the hosts of that celebration, knew the wine had to last for more than three days.
When the wine ran out on day three, Mary turned to Jesus and simply said “They have no wine”. (John 2:3) Jesus answered, “Why does your concern affect me, my hour has not yet come ?” Up to that point, Jesus did no public miracles, and He was trying to stick to the plan, of not revealing Himself as the Messiah yet.
Mary was focused on the needs of her friends, and not only asked Jesus to help, but turned to the servant and told him, “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5)
It may not have been His time yet, but at His mother’s persuasion, Jesus performed His first public miracle, of turning 30 gallons of water into wine.
Jesus was a divine king from birth, and Mary knew it, but she also knew her role as a Jewish mother of a king. She saw a need, and became the influence, by speaking up, not for herself, but for her friends.
Interceding for someone is defined as asking a higher authority for something on another person’s behalf. We do it every time we pray for someone. Whenever we ask God to grant someone else’s request, it is intercessory prayer.
Without overstepping their authority, both mothers took the needs of others close to their heart, all the while, knowing their sons had the power to grant their requests.
They were both exemplary Jewish mothers, and women of influence, in a humble, yet assertive way. They cared about the needs of others and instead of hoping for the best, they took action and decided to be the influence, through their intercession.
We don’t have to be Jewish mothers to go to Jesus, our King who sits on a throne today. He shed His blood, to give us full access to Him, and we too can make requests on behalf of others. He made the way and He wants us to draw near to Him, with a sincere heart and the full assurance of our faith. (Hebrews 10:22)
God has given both men and women certain natural and spiritual gifts. He has placed each of us where we are for a reason. He gives us the desire to speak up, and intercede for those in need, both in the natural as well as in our prayers for others. We are all called to be the influence, in some way. Our next step is to simply take Mary’s advice, look to Jesus and
“do whatever He tells us.”
Lord, help us to follow the examples of Mary and Bathsheba, by seeing the needs of others. Give us the boldness and compassion to be the influence you have called us to be, in our actions and prayers for others. Amen