Good day dear friends.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: 1 Kings 10:1-13 tells an interesting story of a visit from an important official to the King of Israel. Read this story and ponder the significance of this visit. This official comes with questions. Were they answered? This official also comes with gifts. Were these given? Why do you suppose this official was tempted to visit this King?
(NRSV)1 Kings 10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon (fame due to 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 Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba had observed 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 valets, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. 6 So she said to the king, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. Not even half had been told me; your wisdom and prosperity far surpass the report that I had heard. 8 Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend 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 to execute justice and righteousness." 10 Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again did spices come in such quantity as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11 Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which carried gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a great quantity of almug wood and precious stones. 12 From the almug wood the king made supports for the house of the Lord, and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers; no such almug wood has come or been seen to this day. 13 Meanwhile King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba every desire that she expressed, as well as what he gave her out of Solomon's royal bounty. Then she returned to her own land, with her servants.
King Solomon was quite the special king for Israel, but it was because of God. Read verse one again. When he ascended to the throne of Israel, God visited him and asked him what he would ask for, if he had his choice. Very similar to the game we played as children, "Man, if you could wish for anything in the world, what would you wish for?" Instead of long life, or riches, Solomon asked for wisdom with which to rule Israel. God was pleased with this answer and because of it promised him riches and honor all his life. (1 Kings 3). His wisdom was soon known throughout the world and this visit was by the Queen of Sheba who had questions she thought were too difficult to be answered by anybody and so she comes to see Solomon. Solomon has no problem answering the questions and in the end, both God and Solomon are blessed by this woman.
The grace of God was upon Solomon as it is upon us if we seek it. With this grace we can choose great things for ourselves or we can seek to bless God. As we continue in our stewardship season we must prayerfully make difficult decisions about what we are to give in terms of our money, our time, our talents, our presence. How will the grace of God assist you in making these decisions? As we've discussed Sunday we're free to what we want with what God has given to us but with grace we should desire to be a part of God's ministry as was evidenced by the churches in Macedonia.
Solomon's life serves as a model of one richly blessed because his heart's desire was to serve God and God's people. May we seek the same for our lives with what God has given us.
PRAYER:God of great and good gifts, visit me today with Your grace. May that grace be received in my heart in a way that I can bless You and Yours. I pray for all who seek to fight with You that You would lovingly speak to them in ways that bring honor and glory to Your name. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
