Bibledoorajar joins with the Queen in praising God for His Greatness

     In 1748, George Frideric Handel wrote his oratorio, Solomon. One movement is called "the entrance of the Queen of Sheba." It is majestic in nature and I still love it when brides choose to include it in wedding entrances. But as regal as her entrance was, when the queen saw the king in all of his glory her spiritual nature was moved. The account says she gave God praise for taking such delight in Solomon and for placing him on the throne. There was no greater throne on earth. It was unique. It was made of ivory and there were six steps up to it. A lion guarded each side of the steps and the footstool was made of gold. If you have a chance, do what I did recently, listen to this section of Handel's piece and let your imagination go. Solomon took the many possessions that God had given him and used them to glorify God. A multifaceted Personality, Solomon had a royal mission and a good name. One could say he was a vessel filled with valuable content. His wisdom was beyond description, perfectly summing up ALL matters. But most importantly, he was God's friend. When the nations came to him, he spread the good news  of the God of Universe. This was the amazing news the Queen of Sheba heard. Some (believers in Ethiopia among others)  say she converted and took the faith back to her own country.
     The queen was impressed with how Solomon had caused the name of his God to be famous. Solomon had built the temple for the name of the Lord so that His name would be sanctified in the earth. The queen had known heathen kings and queens who had built temples for their gods, but Solomon had built a temple for a God claiming to be the one true One. And, she was moved to give Him praise when she saw the works of His hands. Remember God had required a place for His name (Deut. 12, 16). He desired the following from His O.T. people: 1) temple worship, 2) offerings, sacrifices, tithes, contributions, vows and choice gifts, 3) eating before Him and finding joy in whatever was undertaken, adults and children alike, and, 4) obedience so things might go well.
     Solomon built the temple on the threshing floor of a man named Ornan on the top of Mt. Moriah. God had appeared to Solomon's father, David, who was consumed with the thought of building a temple for Him, on that very floor. It was after David had committed the terrible mistake of counting his strength (numbering the people) without following God's redemptive plan (Ex. 30). So, here on the floor, David lamented his terrible oversight which had brought on a severe plague. God commanded David to build an altar there and to make a sacrifice. So, David purchased the floor and oxen from Ornan for 50 shekels of silver (the redemption money) and made the sacrifice. The plague lifted. Then David purchased the whole site for 600 shekels of gold. (And who says the temple mount has never belonged to the Israelis?)  The temple would be built on redemption ground! The plan and the design of the temple was given to David in a vision and included every detail. David was told he could not build the temple because he was a man of war, but he presented the plans to Solomon, a man of peace and a master builder. David provided his son with many resources with which to build and with an abundance of skilled workers.
     In the fulness of time, Jesus, God's son, came to earth to bring the eternal temple of God to all men. It is being built on redemption ground. Jesus is a man of peace and is a master builder, anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power (Acts 10:38). His Father has given him many resources and  skilled workman to complete the work. If David was pleased with his son, Solomon, just look how pleased our heavenly Father is with Jesus:
      "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs. About the Son, He says, YOUR THRONE, O GOD, WILL LAST FOREVER AND EVER, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM." Heb. 2:3-4, 8
     It's humbling to think that God loved us enough to make it possible for us to make the grand entrance into the eternal throne room. I, for one, am VERY IMPRESSED and He has ALL of my praises.