I Kings 10 1-29The Verses:
01. Sheba was south of Israel, probably in the south of Arabia. The Queen came to find out about Solomon’s wisdom and perhaps to discuss trade. She had heard stories about Solomon’s wealth and wisdom. She found out that the truth was even greater than the stories. She praised the God who had made Solomon king. She brought great presents with her. Solomon gave great presents to her.
02. The Queen of Sheba travelled a very long distance to visit Solomon. She very much wanted to see him. Jesus contrasted her with the people in his own time. ‘The Queen of the South and the people who are living now will stand up together on judgement day. She will show that they are guilty. She travelled a long way to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. Now someone who is greater than Solomon is here.’ (See Matthew 12:42.) We will have no excuse if we do not obey the words of Jesus. He is much greater than Solomon was.
03. 14-15 This passage shows Solomon’s great wealth. A great deal of it came from taxes that merchants paid. It also came from countries that his father had conquered.
04. 24-25 Much of it came from merchants who explored abroad. Some came from people who paid him for his advice.
05. 28-29 He also obtained wealth from trade in horses and chariots.
Solomon made some gold shields that he used in ceremonies. These showed that he protected his people. He also made a royal seat on which he sat to give laws and advice.
The dishes and cups in the palace were gold. Silver seemed as common as stones. Note that he asked God for wisdom not wealth. God told him that he would get wealth also. This is because he asked wisely. Some people think that he wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes. If so, he learnd that wealth has no real value. Life has no meaning without God.
The great wealth of Solomon’s kingdom reminds us about the great wealth of God’s kingdom (Revelation 21:18-21). But unlike Solomon’s wealth, nothing will ever spoil the precious things in God’s kingdom (1 Peter 1:4). And the things that God provides are beautiful. Even on this earth, those things are much more beautiful than anything that Solomon could make (Matthew 6:28-29).
But the wealth of Solomon’s kingdom also reminds us about human desires, and about sin.
God’s law contained rules for the kings of Israel (Deuteronomy 17:14-17). They must not collect silver and gold. They should not marry many wives. And they should not own great numbers of horses. Solomon did not obey these rules. At this time, Solomon was still serving God. But Solomon had begun to care more about his own wealth than he cared about God’s law.
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