Solomon and The Queen of Sheba
The quality of a person's life is many times measured by his endeavors to be his best. The lazy man rarely reaches out beyond the confines of just existing. The one who seeks to be better, will embark on an adventure of learning and growing - in search of excellence.
One of the more notable examples of someone's search for excellence is the Queen of Sheba. Most people would have thought because of all her riches and prestige, that she had already "arrived" to success. But the Queen of Sheba in her search for excellence sought out King Solomon, whose reputation was that of the wisest and most powerful king in the world.
This fascinating story of perhaps the 2 most prestigious individuals of their time, amazes most people because of all the riches and wealth involved. It would be like Bill Gates and the Queen of England getting together to talk about their successes. But there is a richer lesson to be learned, as we will soon observe.
I Kings 10:1-3:
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.Solomon was very impressive! He answered every question. He didn't even need a "life-line"! But there was more to Solomon's life, that caught her attention, besides his great wisdom.
I Kings 10:4-6:
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 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.Not only was she impressed by his wisdom, but also how he organized and took great care of everything and everyone around him. In fact she was so flabbergasted by everything she witnessed it took her breath away ("there was no more spirit in her"). Her response to all this is quite interesting.
I Kings 10:7 and 8:
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.She witnessed more than she expected. She was in awe at not only his wisdom and riches, but the quality of the people around Solomon who were very content. But, perhaps her best observation was her recognition of Solomon's source for his great success.
I Kings 10: 9:
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.She clearly recognized the source of Solomon's success originating from God Almighty. And how right she was!
Solomon from the beginning of his reign sought out God's help to fulfill his responsibility as king. And evidently he had the right attitude of heart before God to get His help. One night God talked with Solomon and asked him, "Ask what I shall give thee" (I Kings 3:5). Solomon responds by stating how his Father David walked with God, "in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee" (I Kings 3:6). Solomon admitted that he was but "a little child: I know not how to go out or come in." (I Kings 3:7). His request to God was that God would give him "an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad for who is able to judge this Thy so great a people." (I Kings 3:9). Solomon did not ask for riches or honor, and this impressed God. So, God's response to this was, "I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart" (I Kings 3:12). God also gave him riches and honor like no other king ever had before.
The one condition God required for Solomon's continued success was to "walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as thy father David did walk" (I Kings 3:14). There was a second time God talked with Solomon in regard to being successful as the king of Israel as recorded in I Kings 9:1-9. In this section, God reiterated the requirement to "...walk before me as David...in integrity of heart...to do according to all that I have commanded thee..."(verse 4). Solomon's success came by putting God first and walking for Him.
The Queen of Sheba could not have picked a better person to investigate in her search for excellence. She discovered that Solomon's kingdom was blessed and prosperous because he walked for God.
What can we learn from this story? Perhaps the most important lesson to gain is to seek excellence within the framework of God's Will, which is His Word. While the world is consumed with seeking excellence by way of riches and honor; we seek to walk uprightly for God. As sons of God we have the privilege to walk and talk for Him, who has so graciously blessed us with His eternal life spirit.
Colossians 1:9 and 10:
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.- Bob Lindfelt
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