The weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was 666 talents, Sermons
I. A SOURCE OF PRESENT GRATIFICATION. Undoubtedly Solomon, his courtiers, and his subjects did find a pleasure in the fact that all these objects were "of beaten gold," that gold and silver met their eye everywhere. At first that pleasure may have been keen enough. But it was one of those joys that pall and pass with time; familiarity with it made it to lose its charm; it must have become less delightful as it became more common, until it became literally true that "it was not anything accounted of" (ver. 20). Splendid surroundings are pleasurable enough at first, but their virtue fades with the passing years and even with the fleeting months; and it is not long before that which seemed so brilliant and promised so much enjoyment is "not accounted of" at all. II. A LASTING ENRICHMENT. Abundance of material wealth often proves a transient good. In the nation it becomes a prey for the spoiler, a temptation to the neighbouring power that can come up with a victorious army and go back with a well-stored treasury (see 1 Kings 14:25, 26). In the man it often allures the fraudulent adventurer and becomes his possession. No one can be sure that he will hold what he has gained. "Securities" are excellent things in their way, but they go down before some of the forces which no finite power can control. III. A REAL ENLARGEMENT. Great wealth does not go far to enrich a nation when it does nothing more for it than provide targets and shields, drinking-vessels and ivory thrones overlaid with gold with golden footstools: - nothing more than multiply splendours about the royal palace. When it promotes healthful and remunerative activities among the people, when it facilitates and quickens the expenditure of profitable labour in agriculture, in seamanship, in manufacture, in art, in literature, in worship, then it is really and truly serviceable. So with individual men. Wealth that only ministers to luxury does very little good to its owner. But when it enables a man to put forth mental and physical powers that otherwise would slumber for lack of opportunity, when it stimulates to worthy and elevating enterprise, when it opens the door of usefulness and helpfulness, then it is a blessing indeed, a real and true enlargement. IV. A SPIRITUAL PERIL. Serious and strong indeed are the Master's words (Mark 10:23-25). But they are amply verified by human history, both national and individual. Wealth tends to luxury; luxury to indulgence; indulgence to deterioration; deterioration to ruin. Much gold and silver may be attractive enough; but they need to be well fortified with sacred principles who would stand the test of them, and be quite unscathed by them. V. PICTORIAL OF A WEALTH THAT IS TRUER AND BETTER. ][t is possible to be endowed with those resources that make rich and that add no sorrow thereto; it is possible to be "rich toward God;" to have treasures within our keeping which the strong thief of time has no power to steal. These are to be had of the ascended Lord. He counsels us to buy of himself "gold tried in the fire, that we may be rich." Of him we may gain the riches of a reverence that ennobles, a faith that saves, a love that blesses and beautifies, a hope that strengthens and sustains, a joy that "satisfies and sanctifies" the soul. - C.
And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon. I. THE SPIRIT WHICH PROMPTED THE VISIT.1. A spirit of curiosity. 2. A spirit of inquiry. 3. A spirit of restlessness. 4. A spirit of self-sacrifice.She undertook a long and risky journey. A reproof, says Christ, to indifference and stupidity concerning Himself. II. THE MUTUAL INTER- COURSE DURING THE VISIT. 1. Solomon answered her questions. 2. Received her gifts. III. THE IMPRESSIONS RECEIVED FROM THE VISIT. 1. She was astonished at the magnificence of Solomon. 2. She was surprised at the wisdom of Solomon. 3. She was confirmed in her belief concerning Solomon.Faith exercised will be greatly strengthened. This just the result — 1. Of honest search after truth. 2. Of personal intercourse with Christ. 3. Of engagement in God's service. (J. Wolfendale.) (J. Parker, D. D.) II. THE BENEFICIAL EFFECT WHICH THE EXHIBITION OR THE WORKS OF NATIONAL INDUSTRY MAY HAVE UPON THE THOUGHTFUL AND WELL-GOVERNED MIND. The things seen by the Queen of Sheba did much to correct and enlarge her mind; far more than all her previous intelligence and inquiry. III. THE SPECTACLE OF WORKS OF ART AND MAN'S DEVICE, VAST, MULTIFORM, AND BEAUTIFUL, REFLECTS AS IN A MIRROR THE WONDROUS POWERS OF MAN'S MIND. As we turn from the statue to the mind that sketched and the hand that chiselled out the wonderful design, so let us turn from man with all his wonderful skill and give to God the glory. The Queen of Sheba returned to her home with higher thoughts of God than she had before. IV. THE IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE OF SOLOM'S DEVOTION. The Queen admired "the ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord." Some understand these words of a magnificent communication which Solomon had prepared between his palace and the courts of the temple; while others explain them of the cheerful and fervent solemnity with which he worshipped, showing that his heart was deeply engaged in the hallowed and hallowing service. (S. Bridge, M. A.) We have in Christ one greater than Solomon.I. WE OUGHT TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM OF ALL THAT IS IN OUR HEART. Neglect of intercourse with Jesus — 1. Is very unkind. 2. Betrays the sad fact of something wrong. 3. Shows a want of confidence in His love, sympathy, and wisdom. 4. Will be the cause of uneasiness in ourselves. 5. Will involve the loss of counsel and help. 6. Is greatly aggravated by eagerness to tell our troubles to others. II. WE NEED NOT CEASE COMMUNING FOR WANT OF TOPICS. 1. Our sorrows. 2. Our joys. 3. Our service. 4. Our plans. 5. Our success and failures. 6. Our desires. 7. Our fears. 8. Our lives. 9. Our mysteries. III. NOR SHALL WE CEASE COMMUNING FOR WANT OF REASONS. Intercourse with Christ — 1. Is ennobling and elevating. 2. Consoling and encouraging. 3. Sanctifying and refining. 4. Safe and healthy. 5. Delightful and heavenly. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) People Ahijah, David, Huram, Iddo, Jeroboam, Nathan, Nebat, Nehemiah, Ophir, Rehoboam, Solomon, TarshishPlaces Arabia, Egypt, Euphrates River, House of the Forest of Lebanon, Jerusalem, Ophir, Sheba, Shephelah, TarshishTopics Gold, Hundred, Received, Six, Sixty, Sixty-six, Solomon, Talents, Threescore, Weight, YearlyOutline 1. The queen of sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon13. Solomon's revenue in gold 15. His targets and shields 17. The throne of ivory 20. His vessels 23. His presents 25. His chariots and horse 26. His tributes 29. His reign and death Dictionary of Bible Themes 2 Chronicles 9:13 4303 metals Library The Great Gain of Godliness'And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon. 26. And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. 27. And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. 28. Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Chronicles Links 2 Chronicles 9:13 NIV2 Chronicles 9:13 NLT 2 Chronicles 9:13 ESV 2 Chronicles 9:13 NASB 2 Chronicles 9:13 KJV 2 Chronicles 9:13 Bible Apps 2 Chronicles 9:13 Parallel 2 Chronicles 9:13 Biblia Paralela 2 Chronicles 9:13 Chinese Bible 2 Chronicles 9:13 French Bible 2 Chronicles 9:13 German Bible 2 Chronicles 9:13 Commentaries Bible Hub |