When the Queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon as well as the palace,. . . the food on his table, . . . his officials,. . . servants,. . . and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. She said to the king, . . . “Praise be to the Lord your God. . . Because of the love of your God for Israel. . . He has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.” ( 2Chron.(9:3-8)

The Queen of Sheba was not among the chosen people of Israel. She lived far to the south, perhaps on the continent ofAfrica, in what is Ethiopia today. The exact location is disputed, but it was at least a forty day journey with a caravan of camels such as accompanied the Queen. It was a treacherous undertaking, motivated entirely by reports of a king who spoke with the wisdom of God.

Many generations later Jesus spoke to some Pharisees and teachers of the law: 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 something greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42) The Queen’s visit to Solomon was a signal to Jesus and to all believers that though the people of Israel were the chosen people of God, His Spirit was not confined only to them,but given to all believers. The Queen of the South believed, or perhaps at first only hoped, that the God of Israel was true and real. Her visit to Solomon was confirmation that her trip had not been in vain, that the extraordinary wisdom was divinely inspired and even transparent in the qualities of justice and righteousness. In an almost entirely pagan world, and from so great a distance, the Queen’s resolution and determination to see for herself the validity of the accounts she had heard, was itself inspired, for centuries later Jesus recognized her visit as the work of his Father.

The Queen of Sheba’s visit, and her recognition of the divine origin of Solomon’s wisdom and reign, can be an inspiration to us, who sometimes feel as far as the ends of the earth away from God. Nevertheless, we have at our disposal gifts, such as the Queen brought to Solomon , and that he in turn gave to her. We have the wisdom and sheer inspiration of justice and righteousness contained in our Bibles. We have lives to submit to God. More than all of these, we have the One who is “something greater” than Solomon in our lives. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Queen of Sheba is able to inspire us as well. How rich we are!

Love in Him,

Prue