The Queen of Sheba
Click for source
1 Kings 4:29-34; 10:1-13
We love to tell jokes about stupid politicians. Here’s one:
The President’s aide briefs him about international affairs: “‘Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed.”
“Please no! How terrible!” exclaims the President, aghast. His staff are amazed at such emotion. He continues: “Tell me again, how many is a brazillion?”
Such jokes abound. We are ever-ready to think the worst of our leaders’ intellect. Why? Because, deep down, we crave Someone with the wisdom of Solomon.
Here is how Solomon’s rule was described:
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. (1 Kings 4:29-34)
A wise ruler! Such a phenomenon attracts the notice of the whole world. And his most famous admirer was the Queen of Sheba:
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice”. (1 Kings 10:1-9)
Have you ever had your questions properly answered? Not just brushed under the carpet or drowned in jargon or side-tracked with answers to every question you didn’t ask? Have you ever had your inquisitive itches truly and satisfyingly scratched?
And then, have you looked at the house of the person who answered them? And have you seen a corresponding peace and integrity to their lives? The Queen of Sheba experienced this on a palatial scale.
But you and I can experience it on a cosmic scale. There is a peace, a prosperity, a happiness and a wisdom to the rule of King Jesus that will take our breath away.
The queen of the south… came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42)
We can all have what was shown to the Queen of Sheba. Only better. And without the camel trains. When Jesus said “Come to me and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) – He was talking about an intellectual rest as much as anything. The context of this offer of rest is the invitation to know Jesus. (Matthew 11:27). Jesus reveals the mind of God by His Spirit of Wisdom. And when we learn from Him like little children, we find tremendous satisfaction and joy.
So don’t despise your leaders. But don’t expect from them “the wisdom of Solomon” either. There is a Ruler with supreme wisdom. And whether you’re a queen or a commoner you can seek your answers and your happiness in Him.
Comments are closed.
