Burning Bush Blogs
Equipping Believers with Biblical Knowledge and Leadership Skills
Category: Personal Study
Thread: Game of Thrones
Post Topic: King Solomon Makes a Believer of the Queen
Post in Thread: #30
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Next: Great Wisdom can lead to Great Hubris
Scripture: I Kings 10:1-13
Imagine
Ishban reached a hand to help his queen dismount from the camel. Every time they touched, it sent a jolt through his body. He wished he wasn’t so affected by her, but he was young, and his position didn’t afford him the opportunity for contact with other women. They all seemed so childish anyway.
Was that an extra squeeze she gave before brushing the dust off her cloak? “Thank you, Ishban,” she said with a knowing smile.
“Of course, my queen.” He stepped in front of her as the massive gates swung open. I’d protect you with my life.
Ishban and the others gaped at the sight in front of them. The city swarmed with activity. The top of the temple had been visible over the walls, but in full view, it was stunning. An outer courtyard held a sacrificial altar, but deeper inside, the main sanctuary towered over everything. It glittered in the sunlight.
And then there was the greeting party. A line of heralds and harpists and trumpeters played music like Ishban had never heard before. Companies of mounted soldiers flanked them, swords at the ready. And most shockingly, the man who must be the famous king, Solomon, stood in front of them all. Not in any kingdom that they’d passed through had the king personally greeted them in such a manner.
Ishban didn’t like the way Solomon looked at his queen. He moved to protect her, but she was already brushing past. He managed to bite his tongue. It wasn’t his place to stop her. But what if he had ill intent?
“King Solomon, I presume?” she said with a curtsy.
At least she wasn’t falling prostrate before him. Still, the way she was engaging him…
Solomon bowed before her, his deference shocking Ishban. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all…
“The Queen of Sheba!” Solomon said. “You have traveled a great distance. You honor us with your presence. And you—you’re even more beautiful than they told me. Come, let me show you my palace.”
Ishban ground his teeth. Don’t push it, Hebrew.
If the queen was impressed, she didn’t let on. “The palace can wait. I’d like to know more about this temple of yours. They say you sacrificed over a hundred thousand goats when you opened it? What kind of a god requires such a thing?” She kept her jaw set.
Solomon hesitated.
Ishban grinned. That’s my queen. Don’t make it easy on him.
“Not just goats.” Solomon waved a hand toward the temple. “Sheep and cattle too. Come. Let me show you where it happened.”
Key Verses (but read entire passage):
I Kings 3:6-9
6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.”
Observations
Context
We read about the account of the Queen of Sheba visiting King Solomon after a passage that summarizes Solomon’s achievements. So it is difficult to place exactly the time period of her visit. But it was far enough into his reign for his fame to have traveled to the far reaches of the known world, as ancient Sheba was located at the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula.
King Solomon Overwhelms the Queen
The Queen didn’t trust the reports she’d heard. She decided to take the trip for herself to meet this Solomon character. Verse 1 says that she came to “test Solomon with hard questions.”
But Solomon was up to the task. He answered all her questions with ease. His wisdom astounded her. In addition, all his opulence impressed her—the food, the officials, the servants, the sacrifices to the Lord—the text says she was overwhelmed.
King Solomon Makes a Believer of the Queen
Starting in verse 6, the Queen of Sheba admitted that everything she’d heard was true. In fact, his wisdom and achievements exceeded what she’d heard. The queen gave praise to the God of Israel. She said that God had placed Solomon on the throne to bless his people of Israel.
Gift Exchange
She gave Solomon huge quantities of gold and precious stones. But the text makes special mention of the spices. It says that never again were so many spices brought into Israel. In return, Solomon provided her with anything she asked from the royal storehouses.
Interpretation
Author
The author of 1 Kings and 2 Kings might have been the prophet Jeremiah, but there is no certainty of that.
Genre
Historical narrative. I and II Kings record the monarchical succession of the leaders of Israel and Judah, seeking to provide a detailed factual description of events. The writer is a historian, a theologian, and a storyteller.
Takeaways
The Queen was a Skeptic, but a Truth-seeker
The fame of Solomon had spread far and wide. She’d heard about his wisdom and about his God. She was skeptical of both. In verse 7, she admitted that she did not believe. But rather than just scoffing at her messengers, she packed up a caravan, traveled around the Red Sea, and went to see for herself.
She arrived with great riches, but also with hard questions. She didn’t shy away from testing Solomon’s wisdom. She was a truth-seeker, and this was part of the processes of discerning the truth.
Solomon – God’s Ambassador
What do you suppose the bulk of the questions were about? I imagine that many were similar to today: What is the meaning of life? is there a God? What is the path to God? Are there multiple gods and pathways? What is man, that God is mindful of us? What system of government works best and why? Do you rule with an iron fist or a gentle hand?
Verse 3 says that nothing was too hard for Solomon to explain. Given that Israel had been a theocracy before the kings, Solomon’s relationship to God had to be front and center of all conversations. And the queen came away impressed. In verse 9 she gave praise to the Lord, and proclaimed the Lord’s love for Israel. Whether she gave up her own gods is unknown, but she certainly came away believing that the God of Israel was real and powerful.
Solomon treated this woman with dignity and respect. He was a powerful witness to this foreigner, who undoubtedly took back what she’d experienced to her land. He was God’s ambassador on earth.
Correlation
What did Jesus say about the Queen of Sheba?
Did King Solomon Make a Believer of the Queen of Sheba? Based on a quote by Jesus that we find in two gospels, I think she did:
Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31
In this story, Jesus is called “the prince of demons” by his biggest adversary, the Pharisees. After he refutes them, they ask for a sign. How many miracles did they need to see?
Again, Jesus rebukes them. He says that on the day of judgment, the Queen of the South will rise up and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. See the contrast? She had a hunger to know the truth. She traveled a great distance to find it. The Pharisees had The Truth standing right in front of them, and they refused to listen.
Application
Generic Applications
Are we seeking the truth as the Queen of Sheba did? Here are a few things we can learn from her:
- Surround ourselves with men and women known for their wisdom and discernment.
- Don’t be afraid to seek their counsel. People like Solomon like to be asked for advice.
- Don’t be afraid to challenge people, even our mentors (but be respectful when doing so).
- The queen was a skeptic. She tested Solomon with hard questions.
- Testing our leaders and teachers is biblical. Paul even said to verify what he was teaching.
- The queen saw the results of Solomon’s wisdom. The people revered him. He achieved wealth and peace. God honored him. Results are evidence of wisdom (but not proof).
Personalize it
- Take a moment to consider the people you surround yourself with. Are they wise? Are they people that you can question? Is there someone who comes to mind that could steer you toward truth?
- Are you open to hard questions when people come to you for advice?
What would you have asked Solomon?
What question would you have asked King Solomon? Drop a comment and let us know.
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.