The Queen of Sheba Visits
[ READ ] 1 Kings 10:1–13
The Queen of Sheba
1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 3 And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.
6 And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. 8 Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 10 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11 Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a very great amount of almug wood and precious stones. 12 And the king made of the almug wood supports for the house of the Lord and for the king's house, also lyres and harps for the singers. No such almug wood has come or been seen to this day.
13 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.
1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 3 And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.
6 And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. 8 Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 10 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11 Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a very great amount of almug wood and precious stones. 12 And the king made of the almug wood supports for the house of the Lord and for the king's house, also lyres and harps for the singers. No such almug wood has come or been seen to this day.
13 And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.
It is hard to imagine the great effort that the queen of Sheba made to come and see King Solomon in person. One can imagine a throng of people and a huge caravan of heavily laden camels and donkeys, making a long journey.
Why? Because the Queen had to know. Was this King all that?
And she wanted others in her sphere of influence to know as well…to see it with their eyes!
The Queen discovered that in fact the King was all that and more!
What lengths are you and I willing to go to see King Jesus this morning? Who might we bring with us? What might we find?
- Kim Williams
Why? Because the Queen had to know. Was this King all that?
And she wanted others in her sphere of influence to know as well…to see it with their eyes!
The Queen discovered that in fact the King was all that and more!
What lengths are you and I willing to go to see King Jesus this morning? Who might we bring with us? What might we find?
- Kim Williams
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Why did the Queen of Sheba come to see King Solomon according to verses 1, 2, 6, and 7?
+ Why did the queen need to see with her own eyes? How might you relate to this need?
+ What (and who?!) did the Queen bring? What did she observe? What was she given?
+ What surpassed the queen’s expectations during her visit?
+ How might King Solomon be a signpost pointing you and I to Christ in this passage?
+ Why did the Queen of Sheba come to see King Solomon according to verses 1, 2, 6, and 7?
+ Why did the queen need to see with her own eyes? How might you relate to this need?
+ What (and who?!) did the Queen bring? What did she observe? What was she given?
+ What surpassed the queen’s expectations during her visit?
+ How might King Solomon be a signpost pointing you and I to Christ in this passage?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is keeping you or I from a personal encounter with the King?
+ When you and I take the time and energy to meet with the King, how does He exceed our expectations?
+ How does our knowledge of who God is shape our affections and actions?
+ When is the last time you brought a very great retinue to the King?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What is keeping you or I from a personal encounter with the King?
+ When you and I take the time and energy to meet with the King, how does He exceed our expectations?
+ How does our knowledge of who God is shape our affections and actions?
+ When is the last time you brought a very great retinue to the King?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, you are sovereign over all things. Your wisdom, grace, and abundant generosity is unsurpassed. You alone are worthy of our worship. Give us the courage, curiosity and desire we see in the Queen of Sheba to go great distances to have a personal encounter with You, the Living God. Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see who we can bring with us as we seek You with our whole heart. Thank you for Your promise that when we seek You, we will find you and find You abundantly faithful, full of mercy and grace, wisdom and provision.
+ Pray with me:
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, you are sovereign over all things. Your wisdom, grace, and abundant generosity is unsurpassed. You alone are worthy of our worship. Give us the courage, curiosity and desire we see in the Queen of Sheba to go great distances to have a personal encounter with You, the Living God. Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see who we can bring with us as we seek You with our whole heart. Thank you for Your promise that when we seek You, we will find you and find You abundantly faithful, full of mercy and grace, wisdom and provision.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What one idea surprised you in this passage? What encouraged you? Challenged you?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What one idea surprised you in this passage? What encouraged you? Challenged you?
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