1 Reis 10

1 Reis 10

Spurgeon - Sermon Notes - 1 Kings 10:1—“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.” We may profitably consider the Queen of Sheba in her visit to Solomon, for she is given as a sign to us. Matt. 12:42. Surely she came from Arabia the Happy; but it is to be feared that many around us are dwellers in Arabia the Stony, for their hearts are hard as rocks. Jesus is greater than Solomon in wisdom, for he knows the Father himself, and all the riches of wisdom and knowledge are treasured up in him. It will be to our advantage to go to Jesus with all our doubts and troubles, and prove his love and wisdom. I. LET US ADMIRE THE QUEEN’S MODE OF PROCEDURE. 1. She would prove the king’s wisdom by learning from him. The best way of knowing Christ is by becoming his disciple. 2. She would prove him with many questions. Many are the knots in the line of life. “If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God.” 3. Those she asked were hard questions. Beyond herself. Beyond her wise men. But not beyond the capacious mind of Solomon. To ask such questions was to use the rare opportunity before her. Great wisdom deserves hard questions. Use Jesus as he is. “An Interpreter, one among a thousand.” To be asked such questions would please Solomon. Would show her belief in the report of his glory and learning. Would also ease her own mind; for many a perplexity would be removed for ever. The same is true of Jesus. II. LET US IMITATE HER EXAMPLE, AND PROVE OUR GREATER SOLOMON WITH HARD QUESTIONS. Here are a few of them to begin with,— 1. How can a man be just with God? 2. How can God be just and the Justifier of him that believeth? 3. How can a man be saved by faith alone without works, while yet it is true that a saved man must have good works? 4. How can a man be born when he is old? 5. How is it that God sees all things, and yet no more sees the sins of believers? 6. How can a man see the Father, who is invisible? 7. How can it be true that that which is born of God sinneth not, and yet men born of God daily confess sin? 8. How can a man be a new man, and yet have to sigh because of the old man? 9. How can a man be sorrowful yet always rejoicing? 10. How can a man’s life be in heaven while yet he lives on the earth? We read that Solomon told her all her questions, and we may rest assured that Jesus will teach us all that we need to know, for “in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”: Col. 2:3. III. LET US ATTEND TO CERTAIN QUESTIONS OF A TRULY PRACTICAL CHARACTER. How can we come to Christ? How can we ask hard questions of Christ? How can he reply to us? By his Word, his Spirit, his Providence. How is it that none can come but those whom Jesus draws, and yet him that cometh to him he will in no wise cast out? Try both truths in your own experience, and they will prove themselves. How is it that there is a set time and a limited day, and yet the Lord bids us come to Jesus at once? Come and see. How is it that we have not come long ago? Why should we not come at this very moment? APPLES OF GOLD FOR BASKETS OF SILVER Philosophy was born a Pagan; but she may become a Christian, and should be christened “Mary.” She may be proud to sit at Jesus’ feet Hellas coming to Judea’s Messiah is a rarely beautiful sight.—Dr. Duncan. Questioners must be teachable. When Haydn was in London, a nobleman came to him for lessons in music, but found fault with all that Haydn said. At last, out of patience, the musician exclaimed, “I see, my lord, that it is you who are so good as to give lessons to me, and I am obliged to confess that I do not merit the honour of having such a master.” Do not suppose that Wisdom is so much flattered at having you for a pupil that she will set you easy lessons, and yet give you the gold medal.—T. T. Lynch. An example of the strange riddles of Christian experience is given in one of Ralph Erskine’s “Gospel Sonnets”:— “I’m sinful, yet I have no sin; All spotted o’er, yet wholly clean; Blackness and beauty both I share, A hellish black, a heavenly fair.” The pilgrims when staying in the house of Gaius spent their time in asking and answering such riddles. Those who lose their way because they will not ask are rather to be blamed than pitied. Men pay a great deal to obtain the opinion of a great physician; what shall we say of sick persons who will not consult the infallible Healer, though his cures are without fee? Jesus waits to be enquired of; but the most of men had rather follow their own crude thoughts than accept his infallible teachings. Let us not be among, these; but having the golden opportunity of intercourse with such a. Teacher, let us bring before him every difficulty, and, like Mary, sit at Jesus’ feet, and learn of him. The hard questions of life prove us, and make us see our own ignorance and folly. Yet we would not be without them, for they also prove Jesus and display to us his knowledge and wisdom. We can remember hard questions in Providence which we could not answer, but he has made them clear as noonday; hard questions of inward conflict, which he has fully resolved; hard questions as to apparently unfulfilled promises, which we now comprehend; and hard questions of gospel doctrine, which we now see to be the truth in himself. Let us go on proving our Lord, but yet never tempting him. Every fair test, though it be far more stringent than those which Sheba’s Queen imposed upon Solomon, Jesus is more than able to endure. James Smith - SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA; OR, CHRIST AND HIS SERVANTS 1 KINGS 10:1–10 A greater than Solomon is here (Matt. 12:42). We have perhaps a picture here of the glory that shall yet characterise the “Greater Solomon” and His servants in the age to come (Isa. 60:1–6). What brought the Queen of Sheba to behold the wisdom and glory of Solomon has brought many a humbler one to behold the greater glory of Jesus, viz., “the hearing of faith.” We might consider— I. What She Heard. “She heard of his fame.” 1. THE FAME OF HIS RICHES. “Silver was nothing accounted in his days” (v. 21). But what are the riches of Christ? (Eph. 3:8; Col. 2:9). 2. THE FAME OF HIS WISDOM. This was the wisdom that cometh from above (1 Kings 3:12). Many seek after wisdom (v. 24) who reject Christ, the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24–30; James 1:5). 3. THE FAME OF HIS POWER. Concerning the Name of the Lord. If Solomon’s intimacy with God made him great, what must we say of Him who was “God manifest in the flesh?” (Phil. 2:9). II. What She Did. She did not make light of it, like those in Matthew 22:5. Nor postpone it like Felix (Acts 24:25). 1. SHE CAME TO HIM. This was much better than merely thinking about him. When the prodigal came to himself he came to his Father (John 6:37). 2. SHE COMMUNED WITH HIM. “She told him all that was in her heart” (v. 2), and the king hid nothing from her (v. 3). A full confession brings fullness of blessing (Psa. 32:5–7). Oh, the joy of telling Jesus! Cast thy burden on the Lord (Matt. 14:12). III. What She Saw. 1. SHE SAW HIS WISDOM. Having come to Christ, the wisdom of God in the scheme of redemption has greatly amazed us (Eph. 1:4–8). 2. SHE SAW HIS HOUSE. The Church of Christ as an house fitly framed together is the next marvel (Eph. 2:19–22). 3. SHE SAW HIS TABLE. The great and liberal provision God has made in Christ for His own (2 Cor. 9:8). 4. SHE SAW HIS ASCENT. (Probably the arched viaduct that led from his house to the Temple.) The ascent of the “Greater than Solomon” was much more glorious (Acts 1:9). 5. SHE SAW HIS SERVANTS. (a) Their position—“Sitting” (Luke 10:39). (b) Their privilege—“Continually with thee hearing thy wisdom” (v. 8; John 6:45). (c) Their pleasure—“Happy are these, thy servants” (v. 8; Psa. 100:2; Rom. 5:11). IV. What Followed. The results were manifest— 1. SHE WAS HUMBLED. “There was no more spirit in her.” Seeing the Lord means a downfall (Acts 9:4; Rev. 1:17). 2. SHE CONFESSED. “It was a true report.” Those who come to Jesus will be forced to acknowledge the truth of the Gospel. 3. SHE PRAISED. “Blessed be the Lord.” This is the result of a satisfied soul (Psa. 103:1–5). 4. SHE GAVE. “She gave the king gold” (v. 10) “Yield yourselves unto God” (Rom. 12:1, 2). James Smith - A ROYAL INQUIRER 1 Kings 10:1–13 “You are not guilty because you are ignorant, but you are guilty when you resign yourself to ignorance.”—MAZZINI. The coming of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon may be a fore-glimmering of that time when a “Greater than Solomon” shall reign, and when kings shall come to the brightness of His rising (Isa. 60:1–3). The wisdom of Solomon was the wisdom of God, from whom every good and perfect gift cometh (chap. 3:12). There would be more anxious inquirers everywhere if there were more of God’s servants in possession of this rare gift—a “hearing heart” (chap. 3:9, margin). The Queen of Sheba is mentioned by our Lord and Saviour, as a warning and example to those who, after, should hear of the wisdom of Him who is the wisdom of God (Matt. 12:42). I. She Heard. “The Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon” (v. 1). It should be specially noted that this fame was “concerning the Name of the Lord.” In the report which came to the ears of the “Queen of the South” the wisdom of Solomon was vitally connected with the Name of Jehovah. Is it not so also with the Gospel which has been brought to our ears? There is a oneness between the wisdom and power of Jesus Christ, and the NAME or character of the Eternal God and Father. The secret of His fame was concerning the Name of His Father. Blessed are the ears that so hear (Matt. 13:16). II. She Inquired. “She came to prove him with hard questions” (v. 1). She did not make light of it (Matt. 22:5). She felt that this Heaven-born wisdom of Solomon’s might bring light and comfort to her own beclouded mind; and although she hardly believed all that she heard she would satisfy herself with a personal inquiry. So she came just as she was, with a “very great train” of camels and servants, and “communed with him of all that was in her heart” (v. 2). She was both an anxious and an honest inquirer. Go fhou and do likewise. You have heard of the saving fame of Jesus. Go and prove Him by telling Him all that is in thine heart. You have more encouragement than this queen had, for you have a pressing invitation (Matt. 11:28). III. She Received. “Solomon told her all her questions” (v. 3). There was nothing hid from the king that she required to know. We cannot believe that her questions were in the nature of puzzles. Such trifles would be entirely beneath the dignity of the wisdom of God. We believe that her riddles contained real intellectual difficulties, and that the darkness in her mind was dispelled by the light of Heaven. Oh, how she would marvel as her difficulties one after another disappeared in the dawning of the truth of God as revealed by the Lord’s anointed! So shall it be when a troubled soul communes with Jesus. He is the Truth. He knows what is in man, and all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Him. IV. She was Humbled. “When the Queen of Sheba had seen all there was no more spirit in her” (vv. 4, 5). When she contrasted Solomon’s wisdom, his house, his table, his servants, and his way up with her own, all her pride and self-esteem withered up within her. There was no room for boasting left; it was excluded by the law of heavenly grace and wisdom. When the self-righteous Saul of Tarsus met the Lord of Life on the way to Damascus, and was made to see His power and glory, there was no more spirit in him to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. It will ever be a humbling to us when our own wisdom and righteousness is brought into contrast with His. V. She Confessed. “She said to the king, It was a true report that I heard … Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not told me” (vv. 6, 7). Who hath believed our report? The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, concerning His wisdom, power, and glory, is true, whether men believe it or not. Like the Queen of Sheba, we cannot understand or share personally in this heavenly wisdom until we come. But if we have come and got our own eyes opened, let us not be ashamed or afraid to make full confession to the honour of His glorious Name. VI. She Testified. “Happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom” (v. 8). The enlightened soul covets earnestly the best gifts. The servants of Solomon had a privilege that none others had on the face of the earth. So also has the servants of King Jesus. They see and hear things which many prophets and righteous men desire to see, but did not (Matt. 13:16, 17). But are there not many to whom this high honour is conferred who are not happy in their close relationship to the King of kings? Worldly Christians who have but a poor appreciation of the written Word, which is the wisdom of our God. The happy servant hears the words of wisdom from the King’s own lips. VII. She Praised. “Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee” (v. 9). It is a comely thing for those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious to render praise and thanks unto His holy Name. Yes, blessed be the Lord our God, who delighted in Jesus Christ as our Atoning Sacrifice, and set Him on the throne, “because He loved us for ever.” Every manifestation of His grace and wisdom should awaken every faculty within us to praise and adoration. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. VIII. She was Abundantly Satisfied. “Solomon gave her all her desire, whatsoever she asked” (v. 13). He supplied all her need. But the grace of the “Greater than Solomon” is greater, for He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask. No seeking soul will ever go hungry away from Him. He satisfies with good. “Ho, every one, Hearken diligently unto ME, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in His fullness (Isa. 55:2). 1 Kings 10:2 So she came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. a very large retinue: 2Ki 5:5,9 Isa 60:6-9 Ac 25:23 spices: Ex 25:6 2Ki 20:13 she spoke with him: Ge 18:33 Job 4:2 Ps 4:4 Lu 24:15 THE QUEEN TRAVELED FAR TO MEET SOLOMON So she came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels carrying spices and very much gold and precious stones - With camels indicates that she came over land, not by sea. A very large retinue is probably an understatement in some ways. Just considering the number of camels necessary to carry over 4 tons of gold (over 9000 pounds!) is difficult to imagine (the depiction above may not be an exaggeration). And think of travel in those days which was plagued by bandits and raiders. This means she must have had a significant military accompaniment to travel 1400 plus miles with a very extravagant cargo (not just gold but spices and precious stones)! If Sheba was in Yemen → The Queen of Sheba traveled approximately 1,400–1,500 miles (2,250–2,400 km) north to Jerusalem.If Sheba was in Ethiopia → The distance would be around 1,600 miles (2,575 km). The estimated travel time by camel caravan would have taken two to three months depending on the route and conditions. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. Spurgeon - We may speak of the queen of Sheba coming to Solomon as a type of our coming to Christ. She wanted to prove whether Solomon was as wise as she had been led to believe, and her mode of proving it was by endeavoring to learn from him. She put difficult questions to him in order that she might be instructed by his wisdom. And if we want to ascertain what the wisdom of Christ is, the way to know it is to come and sit at his feet and learn from him. He has himself said, “Take up my yoke and learn from me” (Mt 11:29). The queen came to ask Solomon many questions, and “Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her” (v. 3). She questioned him about all sorts of things, but I am persuaded she also talked about higher things, things of God; for the text says she came because of “Solomon’s fame connected with the name of the LORD.” So we may rest assured that she put to him many difficult questions concerning the state of her heart, her character, her present position before God, and her future relationship to Israel’s God. Likewise, if we want to know the wisdom of Christ, we must ask him many questions. He knows the things of God as nobody else knows them, for he is one with the Father and with the Spirit. We may come to him, then, with every question that has ever puzzled us and with every doubt that has ever staggered us. When the night is darkest, we may ask him for his light. When the way is roughest, we may lean more than ever on his arm. When the storm is the most fierce, we may trust the Pilot of the Galilean lake. When all around us rocks and reels to and fro like a drunken person, we may find a sure shelter and hiding place in the Rock of ages. We may prove the Lord Jesus in every possible way, for he loves to be tested. John Butler - Fame of Solomon (1 Kings 10:1) SOLOMON became a very famous king. Our verse speaks about this fame spreading to other nations and how one person reacted to it. In this verse is the publicity of his fame, the piety of his fame, and the proving of his fame. Publicity of his fame. “When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon.” The nation of Sheba has been mostly identified as either Ethiopia of Africa or Yemen of southern Arabia. Regardless of which nation it was, it says the fame of Solomon had spread over a wide area. Traders would be the logical ones to spread the fame. Coming to Jerusalem to do business, these merchants would observe the greatness of Solomon’s reign and would carry the story of Solomon’s greatness to nations far off from Israel. Piety of his fame. “Concerning the name of the LORD.” The fame of Solomon was inseparably connected with God. How noble then was his fame. This fame was probably connected to the grand Temple that he built for Jehovah God. But whatever the case, Solomon’s fame honored the Lord. His fame was related to his achievements on behalf of God. We hear little of that sort of fame today. Few are famous because of their faith. Few have a fame that honors God. Most fame today is fleshly and does nothing to honor God. Proving of his fame. “She came to prove him with hard questions.” All fame needs to be tested to determine its character. And it needs to be tested by “hard” questions that will indeed reveal the character of the fame. People are greatly influenced by what is famous and popular. Therefore, we need to know the character of the fame and its popularity lest we are swept off our feet by evil. Why is a politician, book, preacher, movement, or film famous and popular? Is it because of promotion and propaganda or because of genuine merit. Do not be deceived, defrauded, or defiled by artificial fame and popularity. Solomon’s fame was tested and proved of high character. That is the only fame that is acceptable. Spurgeon's Sermon Notes - 1 Kings 10:2—“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.” It is not generally a wise thing to tell out all your heart. Samson reached the climax of folly when he did this to Delilah. Yet if we could meet with a Solomon who could solve all our difficulties, we might wisely do so. We have a greater than Solomon in Jesus, who is incarnate Wisdom. The mischief is, that with him we are too silent, and with worldly friends too communicative. This evil should be rectified. I. WE OUGHT TO COMMUNE WITH HIM OF ALL THAT IS IN OUR HEART. 1. Neglect of intercourse with Jesus is very unkind; for he invites us to talk with him, saying, “Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely”: Solomon’s Song 2:14. Shall our heavenly Bridegroom be deprived of the fellowship of our souls? 2. To conceal anything from so true a Friend betrays the sad fact that there is something wrong to be concealed. 3. It shows a want of confidence in his love, or his sympathy, or his wisdom, if we cannot tell Jesus all that is in or upon our hearts. Between bride and Bridegroom there should be no secrets, or love will be wounded. 4. It will be the cause of uneasiness to ourselves if we withhold anything from him. The responsibility will all rest with us, and this will weigh heavily. 5. It will involve the loss of his counsel and help; for when we unbosom ourselves to him, he meets our case. If we hide our trouble, he may leave us to fret until we confide more fully in him. 6. Reticence towards Jesus is greatly aggravated by our usual eagerness to tell our troubles to others. Will we make a confidant of man, and hide the matter from our God? II. WE NEED NOT CEASE COMMUNING FOR WANT OF TOPICS. 1. Our sorrows. He knows what they are, will comfort us under them, help us to profit by them, and in due time remove them. 2. Our joys. He will sober and salt them. Joy without Jesus is the sun without light, the essence of it is gone. Joy without Jesus would be as evil as the golden calf which provoked the Lord to jealousy. 3. Our service. He was a Servant, and therefore he knows our heart, and will sympathize with our difficulties. Let us speak freely. 4. Our plans. He had zeal and ardour, and was quick of understanding in the fear of the Lord: he will gladly commune with us concerning all that is in our hearts to do for the Father. 5. Our successes and failures should be reported at head-quarters. The disciples of the martyred John took up the body, and went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:12. Our Lord’s own evangelists returned and told what had been done: Luke 9:10. 6. Our desires. Holiness, usefulness, heaven: all these awaken the sympathy of Jesus: he prays for us about these things. 7. Our fears: fears of falling, needing, failing, fainting, dying. To mention these to Jesus is to end them. 8. Our loves. Of earth and of heaven, towards others and to himself. That love which we dare not tell to Jesus is an evil lusting. 9. Our mysteries: incomprehensible feelings, undefinable uneasinesses, and complex emotions, will be all the better for being ventilated in Jesus’s presence. III. NOR SHALL WE CEASE COMMUNING FOR WANT OF REASONS. 1. How ennobling and elevating is intercourse with the Son of God! 2. How consoling and encouraging is fellowship with him who has overcome the world! 3. How sanctifying and refining is union with the perfect One, who is the Lord our righteousness! 4. How safe and healthy is a daily walk with the ever-blessed Son of man! 5. How proper and natural for disciples to talk with their Teacher, and saints with their Saviour! 6. How delightful and heavenly is rapturous converse with the Beloved of our souls! Warning to those who never speak with Jesus. Will he not say at the last, “I never knew you”? Complaint of those who seldom commune with him. “Is this thy kindness to thy friend?” Hint to those who usually live in communion with him. Be sure to keep up the holy intercourse; and to this end be very thorough, unlock every room in your house, and let Jesus enter. Congratulation of those who have long enjoyed his fellowship. THINGS TO STRIKE AND STICK A workman in time of need would part with everything before his tools; for to lose them would be to lose all. Reading the Word of God and prayer are the tools of the Christian’s craft: without them he is helpless. How is it, then, that when time presses, he so often foregoes these, or shortens them? What is this but to sell his tools? If there be anything I do, if there be anything I leave undone, let me be perfect in prayer.—Henry Martyn. Blessed be God that I may pray.—David Brainerd. He oft finds help who doth his grief impart. And to tell sorrow halfens sorrow’s smart.—Spenser. What would be said of a member of a family who refused to speak with his father or his brother? What a source of unhappiness to have such a person in the house! What, then, must be thought of a professed spouse of Jesus who has had no personal intercourse with him by the month together? Lack of holy communion is a very grievous thing. True love is communicative; it cannot bear to keep its secrets from its Beloved, nor to be restrained in its converse with him. Let the believer see to it that he is not like one of whom we asked, “How long is it since you had fellowship with Jesus?” and he answered, “It is so long ago that I have almost forgotten it.” Was not this an evil sign? “Let us be simple with him then, Not backward, stiff, or cold; As though our Bethlehem could be What Sinai was of old.” The believer should be familiar in the house over which Christ is set, and draw near with full assurance of faith. Come and tell him all your wants and desires freely, without concealing anything from him, for that would argue distance and distrust. The stronger faith is, the more wants it tells, and the more fully it tells them. Do you want anything of which you cannot tell your Lord? It argues either no real need, or else little faith. Strong faith hath free communion with heaven, and conceals nothing, but tells all. Eph. 3:12. “In whom we have boldness.” The word translated boldness is “telling all.”—Thomas Boston. Sing a hymn to Jesus, when the heart is faint; Tell it all to Jesus, comfort or complaint: If the work is sorrow, if the way is long, If thou dread’st the morrow, tell it him in song; Though thy heart be aching for the crown and palm, Keep thy spirit waking with a faithful psalm. E. Paxton Hood. F B