Lesson 259 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (I Corinthians 2:9).
Cross References
I Fame of Solomon
1. The Queen of Sheba, in a distant land, heard of Solomon's fame concerning the name of the Lord, [1KG:10:1]; [JOS:6:27]; [1KG:4:29-34]; [ISA:66:18-19]; [MAT:4:23-25]; [MAT:9:26], [MAT:9:31].
II Pilgrimage of the Queen of Sheba
1. The Queen came to Solomon to prove him with hard questions, [1KG:10:1]; [PRO:1:5-6]; [MAT:22:46]; [LUK:14:6].
2. The Queen of Sheba told Solomon all that was in her heart, [1KG:10:2]; [LUK:2:19]; [ACT:8:30-31]; [ACT:16:30].
3. Solomon answered all the questions the Queen asked, [1KG:10:3]; [ISA:11:2]; [MAT:13:54]; [ROM:11:33]; [JHN:2:25]; [JER:32:17-19].
III Solomon's Glory
1. The glory of Solomon's kingdom completely awed the Queen, [1KG:10:4-5]; [DAN:8:17]; [DAN:10:8]; [REV:1:17]; [REV:19:10].
2. The Queen of Sheba testified she had heard a true report of Solomon's God, and gave Him the glory, [1KG:10:6-9]; [JHN:4:29]; [JHN:9:38]; [JHN:20:25].
IV King's Bounty
1. The Queen of Sheba presented Solomon with rare and costly gifts, [1KG:10:2], [1KG:10:10-12]; [PS:72:10], [PS:72:15]; [MAT:2:1-2], [MAT:2:11].
2. Solomon gave the Queen all her heart's desires, [1KG:10:13]; [PS:144:10]; [PS:149:4]; Mathew 15:28; [JHN:14:14]; [EPH:3:20].
3. Solomon's great wealth, wisdom, knowledge, honour, and glory were typical of the splendour of the Lord and His kingdom, [1KG:10:14-29]; [DAN:7:13-14]; [LUK:1:32-33]; [PS:145:13]; [REV:21:1-2], [REV:21:22-26].
Notes
Call of God
The Scriptures say of Pharaoh of Egypt that it was of God's doing that he was the Pharaoh. "Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth" [ROM:9:17]; [EXO:9:16]).
God raised Solomon to a greatly exalted position that the name of the Lord would be known throughout the world. We know this is true, for our text states that the Queen of Sheba, living in a far and distant country, heard of the fame of Solomon, concerning the name of the Lord. It was not merely of Solomon's fame she heard, but of the fame concerning the God he served. This was God's method of arousing men of that day to the knowledge that God is, and that there is none like unto Him! (See [ISA:46:9].)
Solomon, still a young man when he ascended the throne of Israel, had wisely asked God for understanding that he might be able to rule Israel with righteousness. God was so well pleased with this request that He gave Solomon not only wisdom such as men have never had since " with the exception of Jesus Christ -" but immense riches and prosperity with it. (Read [1KG:3:5-13].) Solomon was signally blessed of the Lord, and the Lord used this to magnify Himself in a mighty way. Thus the Queen heard of the Lord and came to visit Solomon that she might prove him with hard questions.
How much we should appreciate God's goodness to His creatures as we think of the great efforts God makes to call one sinner to repentance! A whole nation was raised to prominence, a man was given unheard-of wisdom, riches and honour, all that the Lord might draw all men unto Himself.
As we read of the Queen of Sheba's first knowledge of the Lord, the prophecy of Isaiah comes to mind: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined" [ISA:9:2]).
Hard Questions
It was no idle journey that the Queen made when she visited Solomon. She came to prove the report she had heard. This journey must have entailed much hardship, and no doubt many hazards, It was a long journey; and the fact that this woman who was a ruler of an empire of her own would venture out on such an enterprise proves to us that she was moved by something a great deal greater than any superficial idea of curiosity or diplomatic courtesy.
To say that the Queen came to visit Solomon for any reason other than to seek answers to questions vitally concerning her soul and eternal welfare would be to disparage the quality of this woman's character and soul. She was a seeker after Truth, and she evidently considered no journey too long, nor any hardship too severe, to prevent her from getting the answers to those haunting questions to which there seemed to be no answer.
Would to God there were more people in the world today with such a thirst for the correct answer to their problems of life! Men seek after the phantom riches of the earth with a ceaseless urge and undying devotion. There seems to be no end to the legions of human souls who enter into the lists for worldly crowns and laurels. The field of life is strewn with sin-wrecked souls who have fallen into eternal death as they strove for the vain riches of life which perish with the using.
A rare soul indeed is the one who seeks after the Fountain of Life -" Jesus Christ -- and desires Truth for Truth's sake. Those who earnestly and honestly desires the answers to their soul's problems will not fail to find Him who can answer correctly.
A Greater than Solomon
The Queen of Sheba did not make her long journey in vain. The text states: "Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not" [1KG:10:3]). God did not let her go away unrewarded for her efforts. He gave to Solomon the answers to every question. God does not draw men to Him and then refuse to heed their questions. (Read [JHN:6:37].)
When Jesus was condemning the Jews for their unbelief in Him, He highly commended the Queen, and held her up as an example for others to follow. Jesus was the express image of God; He was the Light of men; and He was greater than Solomon. Yet Israel rejected Him! He told them: "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here" [MAT:12:42]).
The Queen of Sheba took advantage of the source of wisdom that was available to her, though she had to come from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear that wisdom. Therefore, she shall arise in judgment against those who have had the eternal truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ within hand's reach, and yet have not listened. Woe be to the world when that judgment is set! What excuse will suffice for sin when the provision made for the pardon of sin was unsought and undesired? When the Queen gives testimony of the great journey she made to learn of the wisdom of Solomon, what excuse will avail for men who have made no effort to learn of Christ? Jesus Christ is Truth personified, and we may come to Him and inquire the way of life and truth. In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [COL:2:3]). (See also [JHN:14:6].)
We shall do well, then, if we learn to inquire of Jesus for the true answer to all eternal questions. Then we can arise with the Queen of Sheba in the last day to testify that all those questions were answered.
A True Report
"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."
Can anyone describe the longing and the anxious hope with which one comes to God as he seeks pardon for the sin in his life? With what slender threads of human hope God often draws people to the knowledge of His saving grace! It may have been that the Queen of Sheba had many misgivings about how successful her journey would be. Still she went in hope, despite all the recurring doubts, that Solomon would be able to tell her the answer to the secrets of her heart. When she received that which she had come so far to see and hear, she could not refrain from exclaiming, "The half was not told me."
Similar testimony, "The half has not been told," has often been given since by those who have heard of the story of salvation, and have then come and felt the power of redeeming grace in their own lives. What one feels when his sins are forgiven is greater than any words can describe.
Majesty Enthroned
"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 cup-bearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her." The Queen, is, not the first nor the last to be impressed by the manner of dress, and the actions of the children of God, and the spirit of worship and praise unto God that influence everything Christians own and do. God's people are living epistles, known and read of all men; and everything they do, as well as the words they speak, is a testimony to those outside the Kingdom of God.
The splendour and elegance of Solomon's court was unrivaled in his time, and it was no doubt magnificent in every respect. Yet we believe the Queen saw more than met the natural eye. Magnificence of architecture, pomp and ceremony, kingly attire, rich-robed servants, and elegance of all things do not constitute the real grandeur of majesty. Majesty comes from a personality -" and the majesty of God was in Solomon's court. There have been other great monarchs and kings with courts of splendour that perhaps equaled Solomon's in earthly glory; but Solomon's court had the glory and majesty of another world. The glory of God rested in his courts, and the splendour of the God of creation made His presence felt in every person, and in every person's worship.
It was the glory of God which the Queen of Sheba saw, and it was the presence of Almighty God which she felt, that made her spirit bow in obeisance to that God. We know it has been the experience of every child of God who has prayed the fervent, effectual prayer of faith, that, he has felt himself to be in the very presence of God, and he has come away with an overwhelming and awe-inspiring sense of the majesty of God that tongue cannot tell. When one feels that he is standing alone before God in the Spirit, he experiences a rapture he cannot explain. Through the medium of prayer he travels into a "far country" and consults with the King of kings, and has his hardest problems solved.
King Solomon gave unto the Queen all her heart's desire, and in addition he gave her of his royal bounty. Doubtless the rigours of her journey home were lightened by many pleasant memories, a heart filled with peace, and the knowledge she had travelled so far to obtain.
So it is with a sinner who comes to God for mercy and forgiveness. He finds his heart's desire, and receives with it a portion of the King's bounty. He returns to his home with a heartfelt peace, and, a knowledge of sins forgiven.
Questions
1. How did the Queen of Sheba hear of Solomon's God?
2. Why did the Queen desire to visit Solomon?
3. Do you think much effort was necessary for her to get to Solomon's court?
4. Why did Jesus commend the Queen of Sheba?
5. How is Solomon a type of the Lord?
6. How do we know the Queen received the answer to her questions?
7. Why was the Queen so impressed with Solomon's court?
8. How does a Christian know anything about the courts of the Lord?