Daily Devotional for Saturday, March 22

Solomon’s Reputation

“And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart,” (2 Chronicles 9:23).

In the day and age of instant news from across the globe, it is easy for people to become famous literally overnight. This was not the case three thousand years ago when Solomon reigned in Jerusalem. There was no internet, radio or television, and yet, Solomon’s fame spread throughout the entire world. Solomon’s wisdom was told by every merchant passing through Israel and every sailor in search of more treasures for the kingdom. Kings from across the globe came to hear the unsurpassed wisdom that God had given to King Solomon of Israel.

            The most famous of the royal visitors was the queen of Sheba. There is debate as to the location of Sheba, perhaps southern Arabia or along the coast of eastern Africa, but Jesus said, “She came from the uttermost parts of the earth” (Matthew 12:42). Wherever this queen’s kingdom was located she had heard of the wisdom of the king in Jerusalem. The Scriptures record that she had “heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, and she came to prove him with hard questions” (1 Kings 10:1). The queen’s heart was no different than any other heart. She had a need that longed to be filled. She was determined to find the answers to her deepest questions no matter what the cost. She desired to hear and know the truth. The Scriptures tell us that Solomon held nothing back from her. He answered every question. Unlike the other women in Solomon’s life, this one had a desire to know the truth, and when she had seen and heard, she praised the Lord, Jehovah, the self-existent one true and living God (2 Chronicles 9:8).

REFLECTION

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

Karen Meigs