- [Narrator] King Solomon reigned
after the death of King David.
Following King David's death,
the people of Israel began sacrificing on the high places.
A pagan practice learned from their Canaanite neighbors
that violated Mosaic law.
Despite his pagan practices, Solomon loved the Lord
by walking in his father David's footsteps.
He was a Gibeon, which was the most famous high place
that Solomon famously asked the Lord for wisdom.
God began the proceedings by appearing to Solomon
and making an incredible offer,
"What should I give you?"
Solomon's response demonstrated that in some ways
he was wise beyond his years.
When he became king, he was about 20 years old.
The young man was aware of his shortcomings.
He had no prior leadership experience,
but he had been appointed ruler of a large number of people.
What he required was a receptive heart in order to judge
and lead them correctly,
realizing your desperate need for God
is the first step toward becoming a kingdom man,
God was so pleased that Solomon requested wisdom
rather than long life or riches
that He granted the request
and then added what Solomon did not request,
riches honor and a long life.
However, in order for these promised blessings
to become a reality,
Solomon would have to walk in the ways of the Lord
and follow his statutes and commands,
God's promises were certain,
but they could only be obtained through obedience.
Solomon's reaction to the encounter was worship
and feasting, Solomon became what we would call
a Renaissance man.
As a result of God's blessing,
there was no subject of which
he did not possess unrivaled wisdom.
He was a proverbial author, a song composer,
and even a botanist and zoologist.
First Kings 4:32 and 33
And he speak of trees from the Cedar tree
that is in Lebanon,
even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall.
He speak also of beasts and a foul
and of creeping things and of fishes.
His wisdom far surpassed that of all the peoples of the east
and all of Egypt's wisdom was significant
because these regions were renowned for their wisdom.
In fact, the author of Kings stated unequivocally
that there was no comparison.
Solomon was wiser than anyone.
Furthermore Solomon's reputation was well known.
The surrounding nations came to know
and respect Israel's king.
Every king on the planet dispatched emissaries
to hear Solomon's wisdom.
God's kingdom was blessing the kingdoms of the world.
First Kings 4:29-34
God gave Solomon wisdom and great discernment.
His insights were as numerous as sand on the seashore.
Solomon was wiser than any of the Eastern leaders
and wiser than anyone in Egypt.
He was wiser than any one of his day,
wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, Haman,
and wiser than Mahol's sons Chalcol and Darda.
His reputation was known throughout the surrounding nations.
Solomon wrote 3000 Proverbs and 1005 songs.
He described trees,
everything from Cedars that grow in Lebanon,
to hyssop that grows on a garden wall.
He described animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.
People came from everywhere to hear Solomon's advice.
Every king on the earth heard of his wisdom.
It was typical of Kings to send emissaries to Solomon.
However, this Queen came herself to confirm the words
that she had heard.
We previously learned that Solomon's fame had spread widely.
The story of the Queen of Sheba exemplifies this point.
It also demonstrates that God was blessing
the world's peoples through his people,
just as he had promised Abraham.
Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee
and curse him that curses thee.
And in these shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The Queen of Sheba paid a visit to Solomon's court.
She was from an Arabian kingdom in what is now Yemen.
Her country was about 1200 miles from Jerusalem.
The Queen came to see Solomon
because of his fame associated
with the name of the Lord,
which was most likely a reference to the wisdom
that the Lord had bestowed upon him.
She came to put him to the test
with riddles to see if his abilities
lived up to his reputation.
First Kings 10:1.
When the Queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon
and his relationship to the Lord,
she came to test Solomon with hard questions.
She wasn't exactly a pauper herself,
bringing a large entourage of expensive
and exotic gifts with her.
First Kings 10:2.
Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan
with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold
and precious stones.
She came to Solomon and talked with him
about all that she had on her mind,
but Solomon's wisdom and wealth
were far beyond her comprehension.
It took her breath away by the time
she had heard his explanations
and seen his glorious kingdom.
First Kings 10:3-5
Solomon answered all her questions.
Nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her
when the Queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon
and the palace he had built, the food on his table,
the seating of his officials,
the attending servants in their robes, his cup bearers,
and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord,
she was overwhelmed.
The visiting Queen admitted
she had not believed the reports about Solomon
that she had heard,
but she'd seen for herself that he was the real deal.
She then thanked the Lord for putting Solomon on the throne
for the sake of Israel.
First Kings 10:6-8.
She said to the king, the report I heard in my own country
about your achievements and your wisdom is true,
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.
How happy your people must be, how happy your officials
who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom.
She also lavished Solomon with gifts
and he appears to have reciprocated.
First Kings 10:9-13.
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,
and she gave the king 120 talents of gold,
large quantities of spices and precious stones.
Never again where so many spices brought in
as those the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
Hiram ships brought gold from Ophir
and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood
and precious stones.
The king used the all almugwood to make supports
for the temple of the Lord and for the Royal palace
and to make harps and lyres for the musicians.
So much almugwood has never been imported
or seen since that day.
King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba.
all she desired and asked for,
besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty.
Then she left and returned
with her retinue to her own country.
An interesting insight into the Queen of Sheba
is that she did not take people at face value,
whether that be on the basis of their self-reports
or the reputation they had garnered from other people.
In other words, she wanted to see the results for herself.
Another interesting thing the Queen of Sheba demonstrated
was that she did not share any of her gifts with Solomon
or attempt to strike a closer relationship with him,
until she was satisfied that he deserved them.
Later, Jesus mentioned the Queen of Sheba,
also called the Queen of the South in his condemnation
of the scribes and Pharisees.
Matthew 12:42
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment
with this generation and condemn it,
for she came from the ends of the earth
to listen to Solomon's wisdom,
and now something greater than Solomon is here.
She was willing to travel hundreds of miles
to hear Solomon's wisdom,
but while the son of God far exceeded Solomon in wisdom
and glory, the Jewish religious leaders only scoffed at him.
According to Jesus at the final judgment,
the Queen of Sheba will point her finger at them
in condemnation.
They will have no excuse for having rejected the Messiah.
The Bible also talks about Esther.
To watch her video click here.