Bibledoorajar joins the Queen in noticing the attendance of Solomon's Ministers

     A while back, I received an invitation to attend the wedding of a dear friend. In sharing her happiness, I came to understand her disappointment in the way her Maid of Honor had not carried out the expected responsibilities that went with her position. While she wanted to be in her wedding, she did nothing to help the bride or to meet her needs. For me, her lack of service overshadowed her standing with the bride during the ceremony. Questions came to mind. What was it? Did the Maid not know what was expected of her when she agreed to the position? Did she not care enough to find out how she could serve her friend, the bride? Did she wish to ignore all the social conventions assigned to her role and just enjoy the glory of being on display at the wedding? Did she not see that her actions were not a befitting way to honor the bride?

     The queen of Sheba noticed how Solomon's ministers attended to his needs. They were dedicated to the king and assisted him in carrying out his noble and honorable purposes. They took their standing in the presence of the king seriously and made sure it was befitting his position and in no wise brought dishonor to him. Here, in this rendering by Sir Edward John Poynter entitled "The visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon" (1890), we see the attendants in the king's presence.

    
     In the songs of ascent recorded in the Psalms, there is one which calls on the ministers of God to bless Him. They are to be ministers who serve each night in the house of the Lord. They were to lift up holy hands toward His sanctuary and bless His name. (Ps. 134). James (3:9) encouraged his listeners to guard the mouth and resist letting anything come forth that would not speak well of the bridegroom. Christians have been placed in the body as ministers of the Lord. We lift up holy hands and praise His name. At all times, our challenge is to stand in our places attending to the needs of our Lord and serving Him. In so doing, we bring honor to our Father, the God of Heaven. Ministers of Jesus Christ are called to be devout and honorable men and women in their communities. As such, they would never consider activities which are less than that befitting our King. Mrs. Charles Barnard wrote:
                                                    "Give of your best to the Master;
                                                      Give Him first place in your heart;
                                                      Give Him fist place in your service,
                                                      Consecrate every part."
    
Hear our prayer, O God, we want to function in the roles and ministries You have given us in such ways that we always bring honor to Your Name and to your Kingdom. Thank you for giving us the power to do so. We as for Your favor so that what others may see will be attendants bent on honoring our King through service to Him and others. In His Name, Amen.

Bibledoorajar joins with the Queen in admiring the seating of Solomon's officials

     When the queen went in to be seated at Solomon's table she noticed all of his officials; they were seated together at the king's table. The Bible account says that King Solomon had desires to build certain cities and buildings and make other improvements for his constituents. It was necessary for him to have officials to supervise the completion of these works. The queen sat at table with two hundred and fifty officials who were dedicated to the efforts of the king. While she did not know what each one was responsible for,  she was impressed with their devotion to the king and his works.

     I sometimes think about the men that Christ selected to help Him start building the church kingdom. They often ate together; the most famous meal being the Last Supper. Here they are depicted in a painting by Jacobo Bassano which was done in 1542. They did not come to him with long resumes of how they had previously carried out official duties, but somehow, they sensed their new leader was going to be able to transform them into officials. They were intrigued with the kingdom which He proclaimed. The queen drew near to Solomon's kingdom, but Jesus told these men that His kingdom had drawn near (Mark 1:15). The challenge for these men was much greater than that of the queen. She could open her eyes and see the splendor and could see the officials who managed it all. But the men Jesus called were grappling with how they could help build a kingdom that Jesus said was "within" (Luke 17:20-21). and unseen. And, when Jesus told them that their most prestigious and official religious building would be destroyed they were really confounded. But still the responsibilities were given--"the Father has sent me, so I am sending you". However, Jesus had a master plan and a means to its' end. He would turn them into officials through the power of the Holy Spirit. And that is exactly what He did. Later, when the apostle Paul visited Jerusalem, he met with some of these officials of the church and they sat at table together. They soon would capture a worldwide vision with constituents everywhere. The same Spirit that empowered them would empower others to continue building the kingdom. Their message was "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many". And so, these officials welcomed Paul and his band that would build in faraway places and welcome the gentiles into the kingdom. Uncharted territory was the goal. These officials gave their all to carry out the desires of the King and died (many by torturous means) in His service. They will have special seating at the Great Feast of Heaven which we will all share together. I, for one, will be greatly impressed with their seating. And there will be so many others whose seating will be impressive. How many times will I say thank you? Thank you for your class, thank you for your sermon, thank you for taking care of the orphans, thank you for all your supervision and leadership. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Bibledoorajar looks at the provisions in the house which Solomon built

The queen of Sheba had seen things about the house Solomon built and about his kingdom that others were yet to see. But sooner or later even queens get hungry and must have what is necessary to sustain life. The queen had an opportunity to see and taste the food which Solomon had set for his table. The meat was particularly excellent and was the main part of the meal. Other food and drink was available which complemented and amplified the meat. It was the most excellent cuisine and was served in abundance. One can easily conjure up a mental picture of the queen coming to table and finding food, the right food, and seeing it presented in a most appealing way. When she experienced the taste of the food, it was rich, sumptuous and inexhaustible. Solomon had seen that the food was more than would have been expected and that it would be totally satisfying to all partakers. The queen could eat item by item and be delighted, but still see that there was so much more to eat and enjoy. The food could not only be enjoyed by the queen personally but she could also discuss its' excellence and merits with others because she had tasted it herself. She was impressed and found it all very fulfilling. That was good, because any of us can be sorely disappointed if food does not meet our needs or give us enjoyment. Good food, pleasantly presented is a very uplifting experience which contributes to growth and adds a deeper dimension to life. The Queen tasted (perceived) that the king's food was good but the tasting (experiencing) took things even further. She KNEW it was good.

God has always been interested in His people getting excellent food. In the Garden, He encouraged Adam and Even to eat of the good trees in the garden, the ones that were pleasant to the sight and good for food including, most importantly, the Tree of Life. But God strongly said they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because their perception would be that it was not pleasant and they would experience all manner of hatred, murder, mayhem and sinfulness. But they did eat of it and they died spiritually in that garden. God then had to insist that they eat of the heavenly gift of the Tree of Life. In tasting it, they would see that it was good (Ps. 34:8). Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, would get a little beside himself when Christians did not want to leave the "milk" and move on to taste the "meat" which God had provided. He said in the book of Hebrews that tasting the heavenly gift was enlightening and would help Christians understand the powers of the world to come (which, after all, is where we will be spending a great deal of time). He said in effect, "eat the meat and grow up to perfection".

Today, a sinner can look on the cross, the terrible tree that man made to kill Jesus, and recognize his own sin and death. But praise God, if the sinner accepts the work Jesus did there, he gets to feast on Him in an unending way and see that HE IS GOOD! God wants His people to have good food and much more than milk! Paul said that teachers had a great responsibility to make sure that they were providing God's people with good food presented in an appealing way. Jesus has made the feast ready. Let's eat with gusto!

Bibledoorajar explores the completeness of God's work on Moriah

The queen observed the marvelous temple upon its' foundation. She saw its' 120 trumpets and all of its' glory. It was the culmination of God's work of provision on Mt. Moriah which means "seen of the Lord". Eventually, all of God's work at Moriah would BE SEEN in the temple. But first there were foundational things that must occur at Moriah. There we see Abraham preparing to sacrifice his only begotten son and we see God's means of resurrection. The temple's foundation which would eventually be seen had to be built on the death, burial and resurrection of a begotten son. Isaac is the only other "only begotten son" beside Jesus mentioned in the Bible. Through what happened to Isaac and the use of an animal sacrifice, Israel was able to receive the covenant of increase in population and in possession of enemy land. And later, God would atone for David's sin on the threshing floor, separating the wheat from the chaff. Satan hated God's people and tempted David to number the people out of national pride. But we saw the atoning work of God there on Moriah following that event. The ransom was paid!!!!! Now the way was paved for the Queen to observe the temple, the glory, the excellence of His Name, His habitation and the famous Ark in the city (Jerusalem) which God had chosen to show forth the wonder of His Name. Solomon waited twenty years for the temple to be perfected and for his throne room to be built but it was worth the wait!

Who could not help but see the importance of these Old Testament events. On Mt. Calvary, Jesus, God's only begotten Son, lay in the grave for three days and arose to lay the foundation for the Church. There on Calvary, the wheat and chaff were separated. Satan was defeated and man's sins were atoned. The redemptive plan for the ages was complete. And the Church stands. It is the New Covenant temple of the Lord--the place of His glory and His presence and His Name. It is the witness of the manifold wisdom of God. It is the witness of the manifold wisdom of God. The church is the habitation for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:19). We may have to wait for its' perfection, but it will definitely be worth the wait! As Stone said in his famous hymn, The Church's One Foundation) :
      " Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, She waits the consummation of peace forevermore; Till with the vision glorious, Her longing eyes are blest, And the great church victorious Shall be the church at rest."
     AMEN!

Bibledoorajar studies how the King prepared to take the throne

Why was it that God awarded so much majesty to a very young Solomon (early twenties)--more than to any other king? Before he assumed the throne, Solomon, with a contingent, went to Gibeon to the tabernacle of Moses. He sought God there and offered ONE THOUSAND burnt offerings on the brazen altar. These well thought out actions show how Solomon humbled himself before his God completely according to the Mosaic covenant. God appeared to Solomon in a dream at Gibeon and told him to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon asked God for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of how to govern the people of Israel. God granted Solomon's request and also lavished him with riches, wealth and honor. But this experience with God was not enough for Solomon. He then went to Jerusalem to the tabernacle his father, David, had established and to which David had brought back the Ark. There in the presence of God (at Ark), Solomon VOLUNTARILY offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Whether required by law or from the heart, Solomon made his personal redemption and proper place with God sure before he assumed the throne and before he built God's future dwelling place. Not every royal had demonstrated such interest in spiritual matters and God could not have helped but be pleased with this king and his devotion. God reveals his secrets to the humble, for a contrite heart is his desire and He will not reject a repentant heart (Ps. 51:17). 

     The queen was greatly impressed with how Solomon, the master builder, had mobilized resources to complete his tasks. We all enjoy and admire people who can get things done. Solomon knew exactly where the treasures were that he needed to be able to build the House of God and he never gave up the vision of seeing the House filled with the glory of God.

     In the fulness of time, Jesus humbled Himself before God and left His lofty estate to come to earth. Once here, He maintained a posture--"not as I will, but as Thou wilt". Jesus balanced the sovereignty of God with His love. Ad He did so VOLUNTARILY! Thus, we seek to follow the example of the greater son, Jesus, who dims the glory and splendor of Solomon. He leads us to always exalt the Father who so lovingly extends His grace to us. Rich Mullins penned (1988) his exaltation this way: "Our God is an awesome God; He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an awesome God!" The Word says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We must stay in balance. Yes, His love is great, but it is not cheap, and He demands our exaltation. Even the heathen gentile Queen of Sheba understood that as great as Solomon was, it was all about his God and she responded appropriately.

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.

Bibledoorajar observes the Queen of Sheba enter the peaceful kingdom of Solomon

     Josephus, in his history of the Jews (circa 90 A.D.), wrote of the queen's visit to Solomon's courts. The historian described the queen as being very bright and inquisitive by nature. Solomon was so famous that the queen heard reports of his virtue every day. It was these reports and her inquisitive nature that induced her to visit. She particularly liked philosophy and proposed to test Solomon on questions of great difficulty which demanded understanding of hidden meanings. This sounds just like my Jesus who was always amazing (and confounding) people with His deep understanding of things spiritual and secular. Josephus said that the queen asked Solomon questions in "multitude and grandeur".
     The queen had no fear of visiting Solomon's kingdom because it was so peaceful. The very last enemies of Israel had been conquered and Solomon had a relationship with the God of the Universe. Everything about Solomon and his kingdom at the time of her visit fit the meaning of his name ("peaceful"). Fame with nothing lacking and yet Solomon was still virtuous! The queen was wise indeed to load a caravan and set out to meet him. Here is the way her arrival is recorded in 1 Kings 10:2: "And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart".  Solomon was able to answer all of the questions she had on her mind. Nothing was too difficult for him and he knew all of the hidden deeper meanings. What she had previously wondered about---should she believe?--proved to be true. Now there was absolutely no reason to doubt. Solomon was more than she had expected. He was so splendid that the queen said that what she had previously heard about him was not even half of what she saw and heard once she was with him in person. There was nothing the queen desired that he did not generously bestow on her.
     The queen presents a challenge for us. Do we approach our King with incense (prayer) and gifts of joy and express to Him how wonderful it is to be in His presence? Do we commune with Him and ask Him about the deep mysteries of God's kingdom? Do we believe nothing is too difficult for Him? Paul says that Jesus is the pattern Son who provides answers to all our questions so that all our doubts vanish.
That's what he did for the Samaritan lady. Jesus has all the resources of heaven available to help those of us who believe to succeed. We are continually reminded that He is much, much more than we expected. He opens our eyes to the right philosophy of life. Loving Him, we enjoy hearing reports of His greatness every day and He never ceases to amaze us. Such amazement leads to joy and that joy becomes our strength to continue the journey. Gather up your gifts; go see the King! Praise Him!

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."   Ps. 16:11