I wonder if the Queen of Sheba was a bit cynical. Surely she heard of the glory of many kings. She herself had quite the entourage—perhaps an indication of her shrewdness. Showing up in Jerusalem, far north of her homeland, it wasn’t just a prosperous trading caravan she brought with her but an arsenal of questions to test these sensational claims of wisdom.
She didn’t hold back. Her full-fledged encounter with Solomon’s ability to discern between good and evil emptied her of any doubt. She saw the gift he had for seeing things as they were and the visible fruit of acting on that knowledge. Solomon’s accomplishments and wisdom were beyond human capacities; the overwhelming blessings seen among his people and land demonstrated the source of his wisdom. Solomon had asked to be taught this discernment by God to receive wisdom as a gift.
In Solomon, the Queen of Sheba saw a taste of what God’s wisdom brings to His people: happiness and longevity. “Because your God loved Israel enough to establish them forever, he has set you over them as king to carry out justice and righteousness” (2Chronicles 9:8).
Solomon’s glory and prosperity, the very evidence for and vindication of Solomon’s submission to God, sadly became as enticing for Solomon as for any human before or after him.
It is far too easy to find security in what we have. It causes us to desire independence from God—to become our own little gods who decide what is good. God had given Solomon great wealth in addition to the wisdom he had asked for, but eventually, his wealth became a snare that led him to choose his way.
Yet the Chronicler’s account focuses our attention on the greater truth. Even the cynical outsider could see that Solomon had come from a God who wanted to bless His people. Solomon’s success gives us, as it did with the Queen of Sheba, a glimpse into the effects of acknowledging the true source of our possessions.
Jesus, the better Solomon, waited for the Father to honor and glorify Him before others rather than bestowing glory upon Himself as we so often do. Jesus submitted entirely to His Father, fully accepting His incarnate humanity. He waited for God to glorify Him in His way and in His own time.
In following Jesus, we learn from the greatest Teacher, whose wisdom and kingdom of justice and righteousness reaches farther than Solomon ever dreamed.
Like the Queen of Sheba, let’s bring Him all that is on our minds. I think we will find, through every hard question, He is the real deal.
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42 thoughts on "The Queen of Sheba Seeks Solomon’s Wisdom"
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“For He will rescue us he poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. “
Thank you for this- I was wondering the same! And yes, I’m
@Margaret: thank you for checking in on Angel. I will continue to pray for her and family. Amen, Solomon was the next mercy son of Bathsheba and David that survived. Thank you for your clarification❤️ I might have added some layer of confusion lol.
Oops…accidentally hit send. Solomon was not born of David’s original union with Bathsheba; that baby died. He was born later, sort of a sign of God’s mercy and forgiveness, IMO.
Mercy: Thank You for continuing to remember Angel. No new updates. I do want to point out, though, that Solomon was not born of David’s original
Appreciated your comments on this verse. In reading through the text this important pause could be missed. In my mind Im hearing a door creak open and a foot slip in to hold it open. The beginning of compromise. I have been equally as careless. Wise in my own eyes.
How wonderful Grammiesue! I am so happy to hear this! ♥️. Thank you Lord!
GrammieSue Praise Be!!!
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Steve’s scan was clear! No evidence of disease!
Praise the Lord!
I pray I wouldn’t fall away from God or get distracted by the what the world has to offer as Solomon did. The blessings are meant to lead us toward God, not to distract us from him.
❤
What a privilege king Solomon was given, hearing the glimpses of his “net worth”, such an amazing honor that God granted him, both wisdom and money (For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it, Ecclesiastes 7:12). And Solomon was a child born from a sinful relationship/union of King David and Bathsheba. How merciful God was to this situation. I couldn’t imagine young Solomon growing up with step siblings, suffering from being taunted and despised. Yet God saw and singled him out from many sons of King David. It must be very lonely for him, when you’re on top and so young, it’s hard to know who your real friends are- maybe none, perhaps people just want to be your friends because of your wealth and influence. There exists such sadness and dissatisfaction Solomon conveys in Ecclesiastes. This is the man who had everything (seemingly), trillionaire status of our modern day, yet he didn’t really have everything.
PRAYING….
@Ash H: speedy healing for your husband’s emergency surgery, grace for you and the kids.
@Margaret (?): continued prayers for Angel in hospital, and deliverance/repentance for her husband, grace for the kids. I kept thinking about her this morning when making breakfast for my little ones. And reading Psalm 72 today I thought of her again (For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight)..may these verses be fulfilled in Angel’s situation for God’s glory and testimony.
@Dorothy: for Carol and no cancer.
@Victoria E: happy to see you back
@Michelle P: prayers for you, your sister Bernadette and other siblings. Video game addiction is a real attack, that causes lots of stagnancy, confusion and loss for direction. May God deliver.
@Gwineth52 @Searching: amen, wise words you shared.
Be blessed dear sisters.
When God asked Solomon what he wanted, he asked for wisdom. And God promised to give him riches and power too. How lavishly God kept to His word. All the gold, the wealth and fame we read about today, it is unimaginable. It makes me think of the verse that is starting to become my verse for the year: “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” He will supply out of His riches, everything I need. Far more than is strictly necessary, He is providing me with.
Michelle Patire – Continuing to pray for you
Oh the story of Solomon…a man of God, lots of potential, great wisdom, loved and served, yet. Wealth and wrong choices became an utterly bad downfall. How can that happen? It seems impossible while reading thus far. He was so honorable; King David’s son, following in his dad’s footprints, to put the God Almighty first. But yet we DID see it with David, and now it is repeated. We must take heed and recognize.
How do we backslide? Do we become lukewarm or do we turn cold from one temptation that inadvertently leads to more? We see it in the nation of Israel, they believe, then they fall away, on preputial repeat. It scares me because I don’t want to fail. The test I’m going through now, will I fail? If we get attacked more by the enemy when we are doing more for God’s kingdom, how do we suckerpunch him and run? To God. God give me strength, wisdom, and encouragement. I can only succeed if I constantly turn to you for guidance. I don’t want to sin, but I know I will, but I want to never get out of your hand, your will, your love. I cry out to you to grant me forgiveness, and no matter how far I might fall that you bring me up again in your favor. (I feel like Paul crying out that the flesh wants to sin…)
In Christ alone,my solid ground
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
On that rugged cross, Jesus paid it all
Because He lives, This is my song.
“This is my Song”
North Point Worship
Father God, Keeper of ALL Knowledge remind me that You are the One to come to for ALL THINGS small and big. NOTHING is too menial or too humongous for You to handle. Though we tend to forget, You are the KEEPER of all knowledge. Please be with us and enrich us with Your presence and knowledge today and every day. Amen.
Sisters, please pray for my sister, Carol, I took her to an appointment yesterday for a specialize ultrasound of her pancreas and the doctor said there were some odd things going on that he couldn’t necessarily explain. Before we left they drew blood to check for pancreatic cancer.
Be blessed and turn to God, Christ and the Holy Spirit for ALL your needs.
Hello Shes. Was hung up today by 2 Chronicles v 8:11
“Solomon and the daughter of Pharaoh”.
Now Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.”
This verse sent me scrambling to find some context, commentary, interpretation.
A single verse that could slip by unnoticed. Come on. What’s up our wonderfully wise King Solomon? Like a child thinking no one would see or really miss the cookie stolen from the cookie jar.
Some believe Solomon took an Egyptian princess as his wife for perhaps political reasons. But the acclaimed King knew it was wrong from the beginning. In his King David’s palace or his own. He knew with, with pious reflection, she should not reside in proximity to the holy of holies. He knew it held the potential to open doors to the Pharoah’s gods. Yet our King did it. And tried to dress it up. What was a bad decision from the beginning!!
How often have I done something knowingly wrong, then thought I could cover over my sinfulness by some other hasty or seemingly repentant behavior? Clever me? Not so terribly bad me? Oh, really???Father, forgive me in my weakness. Free me from my self-deception. Find me in my brokenness. Amen & Amen
LEHUA K, SEARCHING, FOSTER MAMA, KRISTEN, and others – love your insights! Great to see you back, LEHUA K and VICTORIA E!
SEARCHING, these words are so true and wise -“If we take our eyes off Jesus, if we ignore the Holy Spirit’s check in our heart when contemplating sin, if we close our minds to the truth in God’s word – it spells trouble every time. Praying that we keep our focus on God’s truth, and not let our pride get in the way.” (Verses in Deuteronomy outlining guidelines for the kings show us how Solomon strayed and how on point your comment is.)
As I read these verses today, I was reminded of Adam and Eve and how God so lavishly provided for them, yet they desired more and thought they could do better – the heady feeling of power overcame the call to obedience. Psalm 72 reminded me of this Chris Tomlin song. Our praise team at church does such an awesome job with it!
Holy Is the Lord
Chris Tomlin
We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great, how awesome is He
And together we sing
Holy is the Lord, God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord, God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory
We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great, how awesome is He
And together we sing
And everyone sing
Holy is the Lord, God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord, God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory
Yeah, it’s rising up all around
It’s the anthem of the Lord’s renown
It’s rising up all around
It’s the anthem of the Lord’s renown
Together we sing
And everyone sing
Holy is the Lord, God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord, God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty
Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty
Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty
Holy Holy
Songwriters: Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio. For non-commercial use only.
Good Morning ☀️ sweet SHE’s. Great devotional this morning.  Thinking and praying for you all. Thank you,(Kelly) NEO for praying for me. I talked to my counselor on Friday and she really helped me plus I am camping on Philippians 4:13.
It is far too easy to find security in what we have. It causes us to desire independence from God—to become our own little gods who decide what is good. How true is this statement?! Oh Father, let me always look to Jesus and follow His wisdom and teachings.
SEARCHING – I remember a time in my 30’s when I actually said out loud, I’m being reckless, and went ahead with it anyway. It brought me so much trouble and pain. I have regretted that decision since. Although, I will say that it taught me things I may have not otherwise learned. My biggest regret is turning away from my relationship with God.
Solomon, the richest and wisest man that ever lived and yet his life ended on the dark side. He let his fame, riches and many wives lead him astray and ruin him. He started off so well and ended so badly. May there be a lesson in this for all of us – money, wealth, things, do not bring us happiness or satisfaction. We may think that if we only had a little more we’d be OK, we’d be happy – but would we? The only thing that can truly satisfy us is a person – Jesus Christ. He can fill every longing heart. He is our peace. He is our all in all. Father God, help me to look to You alone for peace, joy, satisfaction and fulfillment. For only You can satisfy. We thank You and praise Your glorious name.
@Michelle @Taylor @Sarah D @Grammiesue @Fostermama @Sharon Jones @Rhonda – praying for your requests and all others as I come across them. May God’s will be done in every situation and may you have peace and rest as you wait for His answer.
Have a wonderful Wednesday my dear SRT sisters. Know that you are loved, appreciated and prayed for! ❤️
thank you so much for all your prayers. I love reading them all. I feel so covered by your love and support. I appreciate each of you yesterday and this morning lifting me up – @Foster Mama, Taylor, Rebecca, Kelly Neo, Mercy <3 your prayers were all so on point, yesterday. Thank you, Holy Spirit.
Tuesdays are typically my chore day, so while cleaning such, I listened to a few sermons and podcasts on anxiety. One of which the dear @Lehua recommended. That helped me get in honest prayer and really give some of my worries to God. I cried. I spoke life over myself. I recalled who God was to Him out loud. I sang songs of Scripture quietly over myself. I spoke victory… and peace came…
There are still worries I'm battling. My sister Bernadette spoke harshly to me yesterday about asking her to complete a task she's been avoiding for months. I tried to be civil when she spoke so rudely to me and name called. She's not in a healthy place, though. Out of work and lays in bed most of her days playing video games… I can't expect healthy conversations, though I seek them… Thank you for those who pray for her by name. She needs it.I
It hurts to see my siblings go out to dinner without me or just straight up stop responding to me bc they are angry. One of them is having a birthday today but I'm scared to even say happy birthday. Honestly, an answered prayer was just having two of them not in the house last night. I had the space to process. I called a friend and she helped me feel less insecure for trying to communicate with my family.
Idk. God will get me through this. I have to believe that. I have to believe He hurts with me. I told Him I won't give up. What choice do I have? I was sent to my family in 2020 with His purpose in mind. May it be accomplished. Thank you again for the prayers. That is just a bit of what I'm going through.
@Ash H you are in my prayers. God strengthen your family tenfold and support you greatly. May He heal swiftly.
Amen
“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” John 6:68 NLT
Good morning everyone! Praying for you all. I have found it hard to get up in the mornings this week, and I had a bad dream last night so that wasn’t fun (was about an angry parent haha). I am definitely trying to lengthen my patience, but I am so ready to leave my current job. There is a lot I do not agree with and it makes us feel like robots rather than people when we are answering calls all day. Would love you continued prayers that a job would open for me. I am ideally hoping to leave this job by April so that I do not have to work the later shift (they are changing it to 9-6). Thank you all. Trying to trust that God knows what he is doing…but my flesh wants him to do it fast!
It’s far too easy to find security when we get everything we want .
Lord Jesus, Please put a hedge around your daughter @ MICHELLE PATIRE, and each of us during this Lenten season.
May we be wrapped in overflowing love, unbreakable peace, unwavering faith, and patience…give us all we need to hold on tight to You, even when it feels so hard.
We love You. ❤️ You are faithful…greater than Jonah or Solomon or even David. Hold us close Lord.
(Prayer request: The single mother of my goddaughter…ugh! I praise God that she has been resilient and is now learning about Him and wanting to reach for Him but, she is continuously getting punched by life…so many people, circumstances, mental health challenges, rejections, housing issues, etc… I pray she can hold on to this bud of her faith to see it grow but, also, that some actual circumstances change… particularly good housing.)
Thank you Sisters ❤️
Lord let me always seek Your wisdom in my life! In Jesus name, Amen
God be with you @ TAYLOR as you go into your day!
@MARI V – I woke up thinking of you this morning.
I am praying for all the requests as I read them. ❤️
Again, I’m (only) a day behind :S
Good reminder to acknowledge the true source of all my blessings and possessions. How easy it is to put myself on a pedestal and be prideful. Running behind this morning, but I am here! Love you all <3 Lifting up the prayer requests especially @Michelle Patire, @GramieSue, @Lehua K, @Victoria E, @Rhonda J, @Kimberly Z, and @Sarah D and others I may have missed
This stirred my heart and I will be praying for your sister and family, Sharon.
I love this story. ❤️
I love how this study is showing me things I haven’t noticed before. Today is the end of Psalm 72– “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.” It’s interesting because the finality of this gave me a sense of quietness, but also that here ends part of God’s plan for humanity, so another one can start. A plan to get us closer to Jesus— a shoot from the stump of Jesse— arrival one day.
When faced with a dilemma of some sort, a decision where at first look (and sometimes the second, third or one hundredth look) there is no clear right choice, the pros and cons bounce around in my mind like ping pong balls as I work and pray to discern the best path. Solomon’s wisdom is much more decisive and difficult to fully comprehend, and I suppose rightfully so, as it came from the Lord God Almighty himself. The Queen of Sheba, even as she was blown away by the extent of his wisdom, knew that the wisdom came from the Lord, Solomon’s God.
And yet, 2 Chronicles 8:11 shows us one of Solomon’s seriously unwise decisions – marrying Pharaoh’s daughter. And he knew it was wrong, clearly evidenced in this verse:
11 Now Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David to the house he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places to which the ark of the Lord has come are holy.” NKJV
Did he think he would sneak that marriage and relocation by God? That God would overlook the sin and give him extra credit for honoring the holiness of God’s house? He knew in his heart it was wrong or he wouldn’t have moved her, and yet he did it anyway.
Wow. How many times have I decided to sin, knowing full well it was the wrong thing to do? And then tried to justify it in some way, much like Solomon’s little maneuver. Lord, please forgive me. If we take our eyes off Jesus, if we ignore the Holy Spirit’s check in our heart when contemplating sin, if we close our minds to the truth in God’s word – it spells trouble every time. Praying that we keep our focus on God’s truth, and not let our pride get in the way.
Sorry for the long post, sisters – I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
ASH H – oh goodness! praying for your husband’s healing and the health of your little one, strength and energy as you navigate through the recovery.
VICTORIA E – so good so see you.
And you too LEHUA K – I missed your prayer request yesterday, thankful the talk went well.
MERCY – beautiful prayer yesterday ❤️
CEE GEE – ❤️
GRAMSIESUE- praying for Steve and you today
Praying for your requests and that all of us can see God’s hands at work in our lives ❤️
When I read this above: Like the Queen of Sheba, let’s bring Him (Jesus) all that is on our minds. I think we will find, through every hard question, He is the real deal, I thought about Peter in John 6. Jesus spoke truth. The people said it was a hard teaching, who can accept it, and many walked away. “So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Jesus is our hope! He is the Way, Truth, and Life!
Praying for you all today!
Personal family issues loom and it greatly effects my unbelieving sister. God’s hand she sees in how things have moved so far. My prayer is that Jesus steps in and makes a way where there seems to be no way. That this situation is met honestly but that the result is continuing forgiveness- in a situation where forgiveness could be seen as the wrong thing to do. Is forgiveness ever wrong? Ugh Lord have your way, please make a way and bring my sisters heart through this back in relationship with you!
The queen said, “How happy are your men. How happy are these servants of yours, who always stand in your presence hearing your wisdom.”
We have the full council of God in the Bible and the indwelling Holy Sporit. How much more blessed are we than even Solomon?! “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him” (1Jn1:5).
It is my proud heart that resists asking. Praying today to want the Lord’s wisdom more than my own or the world’s.
ASH H – sorry that vacation was a bust! Praying for your husband’s speedy recovery, your little one to rebound quickly, and an extra dose of patience and strength as you care for your family.
MICHELLE PATIRE – praying the Lord would fill you with His strength and give you a vision of your purpose in staying in your current living situation. Keep seeking, knocking, and asking, He is faithful to bring you through it.
LEHUA K – rejoicing that your boss was open to hear your concerns. Keep the lines of communication open. I’m praying that the Lord will give you solutions to offer as options for your boss to consider.
MARI V – praying you are filled with God’s peace for your court date tomorrow.
Y’all, I am so thankful for your warm welcome and online “hugs.” I truly felt the warmth behind your words of encouragement and could feel your prayers. God got me through the day, and I did get to talk to one of my bosses about my concerns. He was glad I opened up and shared, and he said I don’t need to worry about the issue moving forward. I’m not out of the woods just yet but I’m glad I opened up and said something while I could. It’s out of my control but I know God’s got me. Praise God for the victory in Christ ❤️
Praying for the requests shared ❤️❤️
“It is far too easy to find security in what we have. It causes us to desire independence from God—to become our own little gods who decide what is good. God had given Solomon great wealth in addition to the wisdom he had asked for, but eventually, his wealth became a snare that led him to choose his way.
Yet the Chronicler’s account focuses our attention on the greater truth. Even the cynical outsider could see that Solomon had come from a God who wanted to bless His people. Solomon’s success gives us, as it did with the Queen of Sheba, a glimpse into the effects of acknowledging the true source of our possessions.”
How amazing that even Solomon, with all that he had, became an example in two ways: (1) the great wealth and wisdom he had were, in themselves, not enough (as he outlines in Ecclesiastes, if I remember correctly); and (2) a way for an outsider to glorify God, how marvelous that she was able to discern the true source of Solomon’s wisdom. What a great reminder for me to humble myself, no matter the circumstances, and thank God for the blessings and for Him being the source of everything.