(1 Kings 10)
The Queen of Sheba presents to us the condition of soul of one, who finds that however great and extended may be his own resources, they are wholly inadequate to meet the questions which arise within the heart—questions which none can meet or satisfy but One, even He whom “God hath made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption.” 1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30).
The case of the young man in Mark 10, who sought the Lord for that which he knew not how to obtain for himself, is one both of analogy and contrast. Both seek a Solomon; both feel that they need Him; but the one finds in Him all that satisfies her heart, so completely, that there is no spirit left in her,” while the other, though conscious of His greatness, feels it too great a sacrifice to renounce all that he had trusted and rested in for Him. That is, he does not see in Him that supreme blessedness and glory, that all his own was (like Paul’s) “dross” in comparison, or that the survey of that glory, left him, like the Queen of Sheba—without spirit—overwhelmed—lost in it!
Practically, we all feel that we need Christ, whatever be our natural resources; but the question is how do we seek Him? Is it as the Queen sought Solomon; or as the young man, the greater than Solomon? The answer to this question determines the result. If like the Queen I begin by conferring with Him of all that is in my heart, her blessing will be mine; but if I do not confide in the wisdom which I seek to engage on my behalf; if I cannot confide my whole mind, there will be an imperfection in the relief, and in proportion to that imperfection of relief, will there be an inability on my part to fix my heart and attention on the One who can relieve me fully; and consequently to find an interest in His ways and doings? for this last can only be the result of the “questions” of the soul being met and satisfied. True, the Lord knows all my mind and state, but in presenting myself before Him in order to receive from Him, and to have all my “questions” and anxieties resolved by Him, I must spread them before Him consciously to myself (so to speak) that I may feel where His counsel and wisdom can touch and color each of them. In this the young man failed; there was no conferring of heart with him. The woman of Samaria was drawn into conference with Him, and the discovery that He knew “all things that ever she did,” inspired her with confidence as to His ability to meet the sense of need which He had awakened in her soul. Peter was touched by it, John 21, “Lord, thou knowest all things”, he exclaims, and then he is fully restored. The young man asked what he was to do. The Queen, the woman of Samaria, and Peter, felt how dependent they were on the wisdom of God, not on their own, like the young man.
On Him, “God manifest in the flesh,” my soul depends; I confer with Him, of all that is in my heart, whether as a sinner, now first awakened, like the woman of Samaria, or as a disciple, like Peter; in either case the conferring of heart must be full, or the appreciation and attraction of His blessedness will not be revealed to me; neither shall I be fixed and concentrated on Him, unless I find how entirely and wondrously He has seen into the lowest depths of my heart, and met every “question” arising from the confusion and evil there. If I fall short in knowing His wisdom, I fall short in appreciating Himself, and if I do not entirely and surpassingly appreciate Him, above all my resources here, I shall, like the young man, go back to them, though doubtless, “sorrowful.” But if the soul is consoled and satisfied with His wisdom—a wisdom adapted to its own needs, and questions, all that concerns Him will then engage it. It was no effort for the Queen of Sheba to enter into all the doings and interests of Solomon; nay, they so engrossed her, that self had no place, there was no spirit left in her; and in like manner, Peter, having learned the Lord’s sufficiency for himself, can enter into His interests in His sheep and lambs; and not only so, but he can find it easier to follow Him than to leave Him. And need I add, that a soul that is following Him must know that joy and gladness of heart which spring from the happy communion with Him in His interests, which it has entered into, through the light that has disclosed to it the wisdom and fullness of Himself to meet all its questionings, its needs, and its distress.