Yesterday we read God’s warning to Solomon about what would happen if he or his descendants turned their backs on the Lord – disaster. Israel is to be the demonstration of the sovereignty of the Lord, either because of the blessings they receive through their obedience, or because of the demonstration of what happens if they turn their backs on the Lord.

Having said all of that, the writer of Kings now moves on to focus on the blessings and, as if to demonstrate Israel’s role in demonstrating the sovereignty of God to the nations, we are shown the impact of God’s provision for Israel through the eyes of a visitor from over 1,000 miles away.

Sheba was in Arabia, in the area that today is called Yemen, or perhaps in Oman. It was a nation that had become rich from trade in spices and incense, so the Queen of Sheba was used to wealth and power. Yet still, she was overwhelmed by what she saw at Solomon’s palace.

It wasn’t just the size and grandeur of the palace, the abundance of the food, the number of servants and attendants and the displays of wealth all around. It was also the immense wisdom that Solomon displayed in conversation. The Queen had come to engage in wise debate to see whether Solomon had the makings of a reliable ally. What she found was a man with a level of wisdom she had never encountered before.

The result? The Queen acknowledged the sovereignty of God.

The wisdom that Solomon displayed was given to him by the Lord. It was what Solomon had asked for. What have we asked the Lord to bless us with so that we might serve him? Let us not be afraid to ask the Lord for the gifts he has prepared for us, and then let’s use them so that all around us will have the opportunity to see the Lord at work!

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH