Lesson 259 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Behold, the half was not told me" (I Kings 10:7).

Notes

A Queen

Solomon had a visitor. She was the Queen of Sheba, to whom Jesus referred as the "queen of the south." She had come "from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon" [MAT:12:42]). Usually when there is a visit from another ruler, it is for the purpose of making a treaty or alliance, to settle a boundary dispute, to make arrangements for commerce and trade, or to have better understanding among the people of the two nations. The Queen of Sheba did not visit Solomon for any of these reasons. Nor was she just traveling through the land! She had a purpose in her visit -" to see for herself the things that she had been told about Solomon, hear concerning the name of the Lord, and satisfy her desire to know about the wealth and wisdom of Solomon.

The visit of this queen was like a sinner coming to the Lord. There were certain steps that she took which are similar to those taken by one who is seeking God. There were qualities in her life, which are like those in the lives of men, women, and children who receive the Gospel.

Hearing a Report

The queen had heard a report about Solomon and his wisdom. We are not told how she happened to hear it, or who told her, or where she was when she heard the report. In some way the news reached her ears. That is the first step for a sinner, too. He must hear about salvation, that he can be saved, and that Jesus died for his sins.

All people do not hear about the Gospel in the same way. Some people hear about salvation at a street meeting, and others are given a religious paper while they are sick in the hospital. Still others are invited to a meeting, or they hear the testimony of their neighbour or relative who is saved. God works in strange ways for people to hear about salvation. It has been reported that one person found only a portion of an Apostolic Faith paper on a lonely trail far from any people; he read that scrap of paper and heard the report of salvation. He believed it and sought God until he knew that he was saved. Only God knows how that portion of a religious paper reached that lonely trail.

Many others who are serving God have heard of the Gospel in a peculiar way " but they heard it! The Lord is faithful to every person. Jesus is "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" [JHN:1:9]).

To Prove for Herself

After the queen heard the report, she was not satisfied until she had journeyed to Solomon to prove him. Perhaps, there were gathered about her in a fine palace many friends and servants, amusements, good food, and rich clothes; but she was dissatisfied. She was a ruler, and was wealthy, but she had heard problems.

A person who does not know God is not satisfied, either. He may have a high position in society and much of this world's goods, yet he has problems and is dissatisfied.

Being a monarch, the Queen of Sheba must have had many qualified people about her whom she could have sent to Solomon. She did not send someone else to prove Solomon. This queen was not content until she had seen the great Solomon with her own eyes.

To have someone else see the beauties of the Lord and even to know that others are experiencing salvation is not enough. Each individual must make contact with God and experience salvation personally. Because one's parents are saved does not necessarily mean that the children are saved. The children must also pray for themselves and know that they are saved. Even if a person has brothers, sisters, parents, other relatives, and friends who are saved, he cannot be satisfied until he has the experience for himself.

A Camel Train

The queen journeyed a long distance to Jerusalem. In her large caravan were many camels, bearing costly and precious gifts. No doubt she had many attendants and much provision. The journey was probably hard and even dangerous. The queen with her caravan probably had many days of travel through lonely deserts and steep-mountain passes, where thieves could have robbed them. No risk was too great! She purposed to see the king. She must have left someone else in charge of her kingdom while she was gone, but she was determined to see Solomon and to ask him her hard questions.

When a sinner is sincerely seeking God, he is willing to put forth effort. He comes to Jesus, willing to meet Jesus' demands, and prepared to give his life and his love to the Lord. To have salvation is worth any inconvenience or hardship we may go through.

Questions

The queen was made welcome. She was given permission to talk to Solomon, the king. She would not have been content to talk to one of Solomon's men. She wanted to see Solomon. She brought all her hard questions before him. She told Solomon all that was in her heart, keeping nothing from him.

The queen tested Solomon and the wisdom that God had given him, by asking him hard questions. Solomon told her the answers. If she has not been willing to tell her problems, she would never have received the solutions.

Solomon is a type of Christ who has the answer and solution to every question and problem. Many people do not test Jesus. They do not go to Him for the solution to their problems. They are not willing to admit that they have problems. If the Queen of Sheba had gone to Solomon with an attitude of knowing everything and having no questions, she would have gone home without her difficulties solved. The queen asked, so she received [MAT:7:7]).

Wealth of Solomon

The queen was amazed when she heard Solomon's wisdom and when she saw his beautiful house. She marvelled at the order and the system, at the many servants and helpers, at the wealth that was shown by their clothes and food, and at the reverence with which Solomon went into the Temple to worship.

There were many things to be seen as one was escorted around the grounds where Solomon's palace had been built. There were six steps, with a footstool of gold, which led to an ivory throne, overlaid with pure gold [2CH:9:17]). On each side of the throne and each side of the steps golden lions stood, and in no other kingdom was there such a throne.

In the house of the forest of Lebanon one might have been permitted to drink from a golden goblet, because there, all the vessels were of pure gold. There were courts and porches with foundations of costly stones [1KG:7:9]). Hiram, a man of Tyre, who was "filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass" made great pillars for the porch of the Temple [1KG:7:14], [1KG:7:21]). The brass pillars were beautiful with figures of lilies and pomegranates worked upon them.

There were beautifully coloured peacocks and the apes, which the ships of Tharshish had brought from faraway places. There were many chariots and horses and mules that had been given as presents to Solomon. Many presents were given to Solomon from the people of "all the earth" who sought to hear the wisdom that God had put into his heart. They brought gifts, that their friendship might continue -" not because they feared Solomon but because they loved and admired him.

In one year the gold that Solomon received amounted to more than 19 million Naira, besides the trade he had with the spice merchants and others. "So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom." No wonder the Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed and "there was no more spirit in her."

A True Report

The words that the queen spoke were like a testimony. She said that what she had heard was true, but not even the half of the glory had been told her. Solomon's wisdom and wealth were much greater than she had ever heard. Many have felt when they first heard of the glories of salvation, and the power Jesus gives to live above sin, that it is too good to be true. But after they have prayed and found the joy of salvation for themselves, they can say as the Queen of Sheba, "Behold, the half was not told me."

Perhaps the queen had doubted that Solomon could be as wise and as wealthy as she had heard he was, but now she knew it was true -" because she had seen for herself. Undoubtedly, she thought that her trip was worthwhile because the truth was greater than Solomon's fame. Her testimony was like that of every other person who has found God and can speak with assurance, that God's promises are true. One who is saved knows that God does answer prayer.

Privilege of the Servants

The Queen of Sheba blessed the Lord for His goodness and kindness to Solomon, and for His love to the people. She acknowledged that the Lord had given the wisdom to Solomon. When he was first made king, Solomon has asked for "an understanding heart to judge" the people [1KG:3:9]). Because Solomon's request was unselfish, and pleased the Lord, God said that He would give to Solomon not only wisdom but also riches and honour and long life if he obeyed God [1KG:3:10-14]).

The queen said that Solomon's servants must be happy people to be able to hear the king continually. Per-haps his servants did not realise their privilege to dwell with Solomon and to hear his words of wisdom. May we, as servants of Christ, appreciate our privileges! We have the Bible, with its words of wisdom, which will bring eternal life if we obey. We can continually dwell with Christ and His people. Can you name some of the other blessings that are given to those who serve the Lord?

Gifts to Solomon

Before the Queen of Sheba returned to her home, she gave gifts to Solomon. They were valuable gifts " gold and precious stones. She gave an extraordinary amount of spices, more than Solomon had received from anyone else. She wanted to give these gifts to Solomon. Has she not heard the wisdom, which God had put in Solomon's heart? Had not Solomon answered her hard questions? In appreciation and gratitude, she gave these gifts. Solomon was wealthy. He did not need her gifts, but he accepted them from her. In return, she received "all her desires, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty." She returned to her own land with all these gifts, besides having seen Solomon and having heard his wisdom! All this besides having her questions answered! All this besides having been satisfied!

Greater than Solomon

How much like one who is saved! Do not the saved give their lives in consecration to God as the queen gave gold? Do not the saved give their talents to God as she gave an abundance of spices and precious stones? A person consecrates to God and receives of the Lord's royal bounty. His hard problems are answered. He is satisfied. His desire is granted; whatever he asks in Jesus' name [JHN:14:14]) and in faith believing [MAT:21:22]; [MAK:11:24]) he shall receive [MAT:7:7]).

How wonderful it must have been to see Solomon! But we can know the One who is "greater than Solomon." Solomon could not give salvation to anyone; but Jesus, the Son of God, saves us from our sins. Through prayer, we can commune with Him of all that is in our heart, hiding nothing. We have a privilege greater than that of the Queen of Sheba " we can go to Jesus Christ, God's own Son, the One who is greater than Solomon.

Questions

1. Who was Solomon's visitor?

2. Why had she come to Solomon?

3. What did she take to Jerusalem with her?

4. What did she ask Solomon?

5. What did she mean when she said, "The half was not told me"?

6. What did the queen receive from Solomon?

7. What did she give to Solomon?

8. Why did the Queen of Sheba bless God?

9. What people today are like the Queen of Sheba?

10. Who is the One greater than Solomon?