126 - The Queen of Sheba Visits King Solomon
- Gwen Diaz
- May 6, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 3
May 6 - Nº 126 1 Kings 9:1 – 10:25; 2 Chronicles 7:11-22; 9:1-24
After the Temple Solomon built was dedicated, and when all the celebrations had ended, the Israelites returned home. Everyone was filled with joy because of all the good things God was doing for their nation.
Over the next 13 years, Solomon built a magnificent palace for himself. In addition, he built several more cities to house the wealth he kept accumulating. Israel had never experienced such abundance prior to the reign of Solomon.
The Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s wisdom, his wealth, and his relationship with God. She couldn’t believe that everything she was hearing was true, so she decided to see for herself. She arrived in Jerusalem with a caravan of camels carrying gifts. The queen also brought a list of difficult questions for Solomon to answer.
King Solomon welcomed her and showed her around. He also answered every one of her questions. She was amazed by his wealth—and his wisdom! Everything--from the food Solomon ate to the way his servants dressed--impressed her. "All that I heard about you is true," she exclaimed, "but I didn’t believe it until I saw it for myself. And what I heard isn’t even half of what is really true!” She was astounded by everything she had witnessed.
The Queen of Sheba praised God for blessing Israel by giving them such a wise and righteous king. Then before she left, she and Solomon exchanged gifts. In addition to large amounts of gold and precious stones, the queen presented more spices than had ever been seen in Israel before. In return, King Solomon gave her anything she wanted.
Year after year, people from all over the world came to visit King Solomon. They wanted to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart. And everyone who visited brought gifts. Each year he received more than 25 tons of gold as gifts, plus a lot more gold came into his treasury from traders and merchants.
Solomon had a fleet of trading ships that returned every three years carrying gold, silver, and ivory. (In addition it brought exotic animals such as apes and baboons.) With the gold he accumulated, the king made 200 large shields and covered each one with 15 pounds of gold. In addition, he made 300 smaller gold shields. He placed these in a second palace he built for himself in the Forest of Lebanon. He covered all the household items in this palace with gold, including his drinking cups and his dishes. (He didn’t use silver because it wasn’t considered valuable enough!)
The throne King Solomon sat on was covered with ivory and overlaid with gold. It had six steps leading up to it, and on both sides of each step was a golden lion. Two more lions stood beside each of the armrests. Nothing like it had ever been made before.
After Solomon achieved everything he desired, God appeared to him again. And again He warned the king to remain faithful. He cautioned Solomon to obey all of His commandments if he wanted these great blessings to continue. Unfortunately, Solomon was beginning to focus on the things that he owned, rather than on the God who had given them to him.
Is there something in your life that keeps you from focusing on God? It could be a person, a possession, or a place that captures your time and your heart.
No matter how good something may seem, if it is not drawing you closer to God, it is leading you further away from Him.
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