When last of all, the queen of Sheba saw the ascent by which Solomon went up into the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit left in her. I like to think of this as the time when our joy will be complete —when the Lord comes and calls us home to the Father’s house. What an ascent that will be!
“When we with them ascending,
Shall meet Thee in the air,
To gaze upon Thy glory,
And all Thy likeness bear.”
No wonder there was no more spirit left in the queen of Sheba here. No wonder she exclaimed, “The half was not told me!” Surely when we see the Lord Jesus face to face in glory we will feel as she did, only in a much deeper and fuller way.
She said, “It was a true report I heard in mine own land... Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came...” If there is an unsaved one reang these lines, may we ask you if you have believed the true report in God’s Word of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus. When He was here upon earth, He said, “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost part of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” Matt. 12:4242The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42). And you too, dear unsaved reader, will remeer the Word of God which has been presented to you. What effect has it had upon you? Are you indifferent about it? The queen of Sheba was not. Do you say you do not know if it is true or not? Neither did she, but she came a long way to find out! Remember, you will be judged for how you have treated God’s message. You are far more responsible than she, for Solomon was only a man, but the Lord Jesus is truly God, and if you reject Him it is serious. “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, bause he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
The queen of Sheba then said to Solomon, “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.” Do we who are saved realize how wonderful is our place and privilege, and above all how wonderful it is to be able to sit at the Lord’s table? Do we show the happiness we have found?
Happiness leads to praise too, and so in the next verse we have the queen of Sheba praising and blessing the Lord and giving freely of her wealth. May we praise the Lord more for what He has done for us. How the Lord values this! (Psa. 50:2323Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23); Heb. 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15).) Even though Hiram, king of Tyre, brought such a great supply of gold, precious stones, and almug trees to Solomon, the queen of Sheba’s gift is mentioned first. Hiram was paid for what he did, but with the queen of Sheba it was the worship of a heart that had been won to the Lord.
“And King Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty.” How touching this is! And surely the Lord repays us for anything we do for Him. He always gives more in return than we could ever give to Him. How wonderful are His ways! “Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think... Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Eph. 3:20, 2120Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20‑21).
ML 02/19/1956