Then she [queen of Sheba] said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.” 1Kings 10: 6-9
Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. 1Kings 10:13
The queen of Sheba came from southwestern Arabia (current day Yemen) to observe Solomon. She was most likely an unbeliever seeking and searching for the truth! The Queen asked Solomon hard questions, and he was able to answer all of them. She was not only pleased with Solomon’s answers, but she was also impressed by his way of life.
The queen of Sheba understood that it was God who had placed Solomon in his position to do justice and righteousness. The wisdom of God in solomon’s life drew her and others to know about Solomon’s God. While the Bible does not tell us what happened to queen of Sheba after she returned home, it is possible that she had encountered the true God after spending time with Solomon. In answering her questions, he might have shared some of the wisdom and insight that he penned in the book of Proverbs. In addition, Solomon blessed queen of Sheba with many material things on her journey back to her country. However, the most valuable treasures that she must have taken with her were an understanding of the true God and that divine wisdom comes from fearing God.
How do we steward our leadership roles? When God sends people our way, do we point them to Jesus or do we relish on the fact that they are impressed with us? The Lord gives each of us a sphere of influence, and there are people who are drawn to us because they are hungry for truth. As people of God, we should take advantage of every opportunity to share the wisdom of God and point people to Jesus!
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2
The queen of Sheba observed that those who were under Solomon’s leadership must be very happy and satisfied with his wisdom. She understood that it was the God who picked Solomon to be the ruler over His people. She also remarked that God certainly had loved Israel by blessing them with such a man. While Solomon did not have the experiences of his father, God anointed him for the position and allowed him to be the wisest person ever known. Solomon set the standard for wise leadership, and leaders can gain must insight on how to lead and judge righteously from the wisdom Solomon shared in the book of Proverbs. We need to pray for wise leadership in every arena of our society.
The wisdom of God allows a person to live righteously, rule righteously, and judge righteously. We all need the wisdom of God to lead our lives, families, and ministries, and to be an influence to those around us.
How is it that most people appreciate wisdom but there is such a lack of wisdom in society and in leaders? Solomon’s life answers those questions as well. I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.
