One Greater Than Solomon
This morning I read about the queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon in 1 Kings 10. In the past, I've often been struck by the astounding descriptions of Solomon's wealth. I mean, the guy used eating utensils made of gold and sat on an ivory and gold throne. Wow! I can't even imagine that kind of wealth. The Lord certainly kept His promise to give Solomon riches (1 Kings 3).
However, that's not what struck me today. What struck me was the queen of Sheba's reaction to all this and to Solomon's ability to answer all her difficult questions. Check out what she says:
"How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."
(1 Kings 10:8-9)
Many centuries later, Jesus referred to this incident after the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked him for a miraculous sign (as if he hadn't already been giving them many of those!). After telling them about the "sign of Jonah", Jesus said, "'The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.'" (Matthew 12:42)
Who was this one "greater than Solomon"? Jesus himself. How was he greater than this wealthy and wise king, who provoked such an awed response from the queen of Sheba?
Solomon sat on the throne of Israel, one nation among many on earth. Jesus sits on the throne of heaven, ruler over the true Israel, both Jews and Gentiles--and ruler of everyone and everything else.
In spite of all his wisdom, Solomon sinned; the very next chapter of 1 Kings tells of how Solomon married foreign women, a direct violation of God's Law, and was led astray by them so that he started to worship their gods rather than being wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord. Jesus, in spite of great temptation, never sinned.
Solomon's reign lasted 40 years, and then he died (1 Kings 11:42-43). Jesus also died, but he rose again three days later (the "sign of Jonah" he referred to in Matthew 12). Now Jesus lives and reigns forever.
Jesus is the one whom the Lord referred to as "my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) He is the true Son of David and King; Solomon was just a type.
Lord Jesus--praise be to the Lord God the Father, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of heaven. Because of the Lord eternal love for his people, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.
"Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King. . . He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love."
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. . . Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. . . Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." (Psalm 86:1, 4, 10)
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26)
However, that's not what struck me today. What struck me was the queen of Sheba's reaction to all this and to Solomon's ability to answer all her difficult questions. Check out what she says:
"How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."
(1 Kings 10:8-9)
Many centuries later, Jesus referred to this incident after the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked him for a miraculous sign (as if he hadn't already been giving them many of those!). After telling them about the "sign of Jonah", Jesus said, "'The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.'" (Matthew 12:42)
Who was this one "greater than Solomon"? Jesus himself. How was he greater than this wealthy and wise king, who provoked such an awed response from the queen of Sheba?
Solomon sat on the throne of Israel, one nation among many on earth. Jesus sits on the throne of heaven, ruler over the true Israel, both Jews and Gentiles--and ruler of everyone and everything else.
In spite of all his wisdom, Solomon sinned; the very next chapter of 1 Kings tells of how Solomon married foreign women, a direct violation of God's Law, and was led astray by them so that he started to worship their gods rather than being wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord. Jesus, in spite of great temptation, never sinned.
Solomon's reign lasted 40 years, and then he died (1 Kings 11:42-43). Jesus also died, but he rose again three days later (the "sign of Jonah" he referred to in Matthew 12). Now Jesus lives and reigns forever.
Jesus is the one whom the Lord referred to as "my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) He is the true Son of David and King; Solomon was just a type.
Lord Jesus--praise be to the Lord God the Father, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of heaven. Because of the Lord eternal love for his people, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.
"Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive her King. . . He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love."
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. . . Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. . . Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." (Psalm 86:1, 4, 10)
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26)
posted by Lisa @ 3:50 AM
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