In this chapter we see how the greater than Solomon, the Lord Jesus, was treated. He was the wisdom of God, and the power of God in perfect goodness—God revealed in love. How did His own nation treat Him? Did they own Him as the Son of David, the true Solomon? They said, " This fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." Could human wickedness go beyond this? Yes, it did; Jews and Gentiles combined to spit upon Him, and put Him to a cruel, and shameful death.
What a witness then against them is this Queen of Sheba. Our object is, however, to turn to the inspired history of this person—and examine its deeply instructive details, lest she should also be found to be a witness against us. For these things are written for our instruction.
We turn then to 1 Kings 10
The first thing we find is this. " And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions." No doubt this may be used in the sense of the first awakening of a sinner; but let us rather at this time examine it as testing, and instruction for Christians.
Are you, reader, a Christian in the full, real sense—one whose sins are forgiven—one who has eternal life? Have you heard of the fame of the heavenly Solomon? Have you heard that He has said, " For where two or three are gathered together to my name, there am I in the midst of them "? Yes, we have heard the report of this wonderful fact; what is our real experience in this matter? It is a fact; as surely as Solomon was at Jerusalem, so surely Christ is in the midst of Christians gathered to His name. Have we, like the queen, come to Him to prove Him with hard questions? The Jews would not come to Him when in the flesh. They said He did good by the prince of the devils. Do "we come to Him now in spirit? Or do we treat Him now as a sheep-stealer, if souls come from far-off lands to Him?
Yes, let us be clear about this. It is not, have we to come to learned men—to doctors of divinity, or sects, or churches of men. But have we come to Him? Have we brought every hard question of the conscience, or of the heart to Him, to Christ? Are you resting on what man has told you, or on what He has unfolded to you, by the Holy Ghost in the word of God? We may bring every question of the past, the present, and the future to Him.
Verse 2. She came to the place where Solomon was, to Jerusalem, with great abundance; but mark she gives nothing to Solomon before she has communed with him of all in her heart. Jonathan also was a rich young man, the king's son, yet there was a fitting moment to strip himself, and give all to David. Do not be in a hurry, dear reader, wait the right moment. For Solomon wants the heart first. " She communed with him of all that was in her heart." What a privilege I Have you clone it? Have you communed with Christ of all that is in your heart? Perhaps we could not do this with any other person. We may with the heavenly Solomon. Yes, all. Have we really opened our whole heart to Solomon? Tender, gracious, loving, heavenly Solomon: is there any wisdom to com• pare to Him?
" And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hid from the king, which he told her not." There is nothing hid from Christ. If we really come to Him every difficulty is solved. And the Queen of Sheba saw all Solomon's wisdom. It is one thing to have heard about Christ, it is quite another to have the eyes open to see Him, the wisdom of God. What a change from darkness to light!
Let us notice carefully what she saw. " The house that he had built." Glorious as it was, it was but a figure of the assembly. Have you seen the house that Christ has built? He said, " On this rock will I build my assembly." What a heavenly building of living stones—great stones and costly; " Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." The apostle could say to all believers, " In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-2219Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19‑22).) Have we seen the house that He has built? Are we quite sure we are thus builded by, and in, Christ? There is no other habitation of God; no other building of Christ. Have you seen it? Many professing the name of Christ have never seen it.
And the queen saw " the sitting of his servants." Sitting is expressive of rest and peace; yes, peaceful rest in the presence of the king, beautifully expressed in the Song of Solomon. " I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." Here we have not only the house that He has built, but He has brought me there. Can you say this? Have you any taste for Christ? Have you ceased from yourself and sat down amongst the servants of Christ, to be served first, and then to serve? Under His shadow: are you there? There is a storm of sorrow about to sweep this poor guilty world. Are you sheltered "under his shadow "? Can you say, " with great delight"? The children of this world are seeking delight in pleasure, and only find in the end wormwood and death. Oh there is the house, can you see it? The house that our heavenly Solomon has built, and there are the true pleasures for evermore. There His servants sit under His shadow with great delight: His fruit is sweet to their new taste. Can you say, I did not come of my own free choice; no, He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me is love, Have you seen it? And more.
The queen saw "their apparel:" Have you seen the best robe, the apparel, on every one sitting at the banquet of Christ—" Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe '×'? Surely there should be also' practical righteousness that all who come may see. Oh, the great banquet above, when He shall have come for His saints, there will not be a guest that is not whiter than snow—presented glorious, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish. Is it not blessed to be now made meet to be partakers of the inheritance? In favor in the beloved? Do you see the apparel? Is it on you? Are you a happy guest thus meet for the banquet?
But there was not only the sitting of the servants at his table; there was also the attendance or standing of his ministers or servants. Yes, there is the sitting at the table of the Lord in perfect rest, in perfect peace with God—announcing that, through which they have eternal redemption; but there is also the scene of fierce conflict with the world, the flesh, and the devil. And here we need to stand, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, having on the whole armor of God. (See Eph. 6:10-1810Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:10‑18).) In this war it will not do to have one part of the armor of God wanting. Do you see this, and have you got it on?
And when Î the queen saw his " cup bearers," or butlers. (Margin.) There are many butlers of Satan dressed up as angels of light. See their description in 2 Corinthians xi. 13-15: false apostles, deceitful workers, &c. Beware of these for they are legion in our day. But have you seen the butlers of Christ? He says of them, " Peace unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." (John xx. 21.) What a cupbearer, to bear the message of salvation to a lost and guilty world. Have you seen the butlers of Christ? Are you quite sure you know them from the butlers of Satan? What did she see more? Ah, that which surpassed all beside.
When the queen saw "his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her." Have you seen the ascent by which the heavenly Solomon has gone up above all heavens? " Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." When as man " he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things." See that once humbled, hated, crucified Jesus, now crowned with glory: seated at the right hand of the majesty on high. If you see that man in the glory, you. will see it is all over with the first man. " There was no more spirit in her." Now what was the glory of Solomon compared with the glory of Christ?
Do you see the risen Christ? Now is the stripping time. Now you may give all to Him. She did not give a three penny piece: but let her tell her story first. " And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts, and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard." No doubt this is a vivid picture of the remnant of Israel when they shall come from the ends of the earth, and of their glad surprise at! the glories of their Messiah; or of the untold ecstasy and surprise of the church, when taken to meet, and forever he with the Lord.
But does it not describe the surprise and joy of many a weary child of God now? They heard the report when far off in Christendom, of the presence of the Lord, and the blessedness of the few really gathered to sit beneath His shadow. They were everywhere, and by everybody spoken against; still they heard the report. There was a report of the person of the true Solomon, and they came, and what have they found? Let us compare the report and the reality as illustrated by this beautiful history of the Queen of Sheba.