1 Kings 10:1-13
The Queen of Sheba’s Praise of Solomon (2 Chronicles 9:1–28)
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.
When the Queen of Sheba heard all about this great king Solomon of Israel after his fame related to the name of the LORD, she journeyed to meet him. Her intention was to test him with hard questions to see if all she heard about his God-given wisdom was true. She came to Jerusalem with a very great company and brought spices, gold, and precious stones to offer as gifts to honor him. When she stood before Solomon, she opened up with many questions for the wise king that filled her restless and searching heart. The answers she received left her speechless, humbled to the core, and in awe of his answers of wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:10) with added immense wealth (2 Chronicles 1:11, 12) surrounding him that had all been given by the LORD God to him for leading his people in wisdom and knowledge to rule with sound judgment. She came dubiously and left in awe and wonder in the face of a truth far beyond her imagination as she saw it all with her own eyes! His wisdom and prosperity exceeded the stories of the fame which was told to her by others. How much more do we who come to know Jesus Christ as the Seed of David, one infinitely wiser than Solomon (Luke 11:31), how much more do we fall to our knees in wonder when we grasp what little we can of His unlimited wisdom and righteous rule over us and the gifts given (Ephesians 4:7-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4, Luke 12:31, Philippians 4:19) in the inner and outer man under the throne of His grace in the kingdom of God within! The Son has been set on the throne at the right hand of power and authority (Matthew 28:18) of the Father to rule over us all in truth and righteousness, with justice and mercy (Psalm 85:10-11, 13) as our all wise (Jude 1:25) and gracious King of kings and Lord of lords. The Queen of Sheba left in awe and wonder as well as priceless gifts in such abundance to her home afterwards, an encouragement to us that we have received so much more (Ephesians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 2:9) than the lives we forfeit (Matthew 10:39, John 12:25) in surrender to the gracious rule under His worthy lordship. May we find this kind awe and wonder of God’s wisdom as the Queen of Sheba did in the presence of the King whose Seed of promise sits eternally in heaven above, but in a more profound and unbounded amount as we stand in awe of Him and fall to our knees in submission and worship of the King of kings.
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