Wisdom in the Name of the Lord

1 Kings 10:1-13

    1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 3 So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. 6 Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. 7 However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. 8 Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness."
    10 Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11 Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of almug wood and precious stones from Ophir. 12 And the king made steps of the almug wood for the house of the LORD and for the king's house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day.
    13 Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.

Solomon was given wisdom unmatched by any other mortal man.  This fame spread out into the world until it reached to the bottom of the Arabian peninsula to the kingdom of Sheba, whose queen came to test Solomon’s wisdom.  She and a list of extremely difficult, enigmatic, and perplexing riddles to challenge and test this purported God-given knowledge and understanding put into solving such obscure problems such as the ones she had prepared.  There was nothing too hard for Solomon to explain.  She saw this in wonder, then the splendor and riches of the kingdom the LORD had given him, and was completely overtaken by it all.  The queen told Solomon how the truth of the wisdom and provision of God given him far surpassed what she had heard; the wisdom and prosperity made the fame of these pale in comparison to the reality.  She then related how blessed were those who were in his presence and under his rule to hear such things of wisdom from the LORD God, and how He must delight in His servant Solomon!  She praised the LORD for putting him on the throne because of His infinite love for His people.  The placement was acknowledged as being for the purpose of doing justice and righteousness as king.  The queen then gave lavish gifts of gold, spices, and jewels, and he gave her all she asked in return, beyond what he already gave her.  We see a parallel here with Christ who has so much more wisdom than the wisest man Solomon (Luke 11:31)!  He is divine, and so are His wisdom in absolute rule of justice and righteousness with precious gifts for we His people who are in His grace.  He rules as absolute Sovereign over all, and whose words as God’s are true and eternal wisdom.  We are so blessed to sit at His feet (Luke 10:39-42) and hear these words of wisdom and grace for eternal life, now and forever as citizens of His heavenly kingdom!  Matthew 13:52 therefore tells us to learn the wisdom of this kingdom to tell and teach others of its wonders that we all may sit in awe of His wisdom, power, and glory.  Amen and amen.  Let it be so.