2 Chronicles 9:3
When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, the palace he had built,
Sermons
Hard QuestionsJ. Parker, D. D.2 Chronicles 9:1-12
Heart CommuningSpurgeon, Charles Haddon2 Chronicles 9:1-12
Solomon in All His GloryW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 9:1-12
Solomon's Queenly VisitorT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 9:1-12
The Queen of Sheba's Visit to SolomonJ. Wolfendale.2 Chronicles 9:1-12
The Queen of Sheba's Visit to SolomonS. Bridge, M. A.2 Chronicles 9:1-12














Nothing so strikingly illustrated the glory of Solomon as the visit of the Queen of Sheba, coming from "the uttermost parts of the earth to hear his wisdom," conferring great gifts upon him and receiving valuable presents in return (see Matthew 12:42). We have, among many things -

I. ISRAEL FULFILLING ITS FUNCTION, viz. magnifying the Name of the Lord. One great end, the great end of its existence as a nation, was to bear witness to the Name and character of Jehovah. By the wisdom and the energy combined with the piety of Solomon, this was being accomplished. The works of the Lord were known and celebrated even in remotest lands.

II. GOD FULFILLING HIS WORD TO HIS SERVANT SOLOMON. He promised him wealth and honor, inasmuch as he had asked for something better than these (see 2 Chronicles 1:11, 12). In this most gratifying episode Solomon must have felt that the promise made him at Gibeon was graciously redeemed. So shall we find also. To those that seek first the kingdom of God he ensures all needful earthly good, and they may count confidently that he will make good his word (see Matthew 6:33).

III. THE TRUE BLESSEDNESS OF POSSESSION - TO COMMUNICATE. Solomon had great knowledge, large faculty, much penetration, as well as extensive worldly wealth. He probably had some enjoyment in the consciousness of their possession. But he found a better and wiser use of them in communicating to others. When he enlightened the mind (ver. 2) and enriched the hands (ver. 12) of the queen, he was then and thus experiencing the true excellency of possession. It is not as we are able to retain, but as we succeed in employing and in imparting our wealth, whether of truth or treasures, that we are really and truly rich (Acts 20:35).

IV. THE WORTH OF WISDOM. The queen was no doubt partly prompted by curiosity to see the magnificence of Solomon; but what largely induced her to take that long, tedious, expensive journey was her desire to learn what "the wise man" could teach her. She desired "to commune with him of all that was in her heart" (ver. 1), and she did so; and she gathered from him a great store of knowledge and of truth. She doubtless learned for the first time the fundamental truths of religion - perhaps also the elements of pure morality. It is probable that she went back to her own country mentally and even spiritually enriched far beyond her highest expectations. As she crossed the desert a second time she would feel that she had been repaid a thousand times for all her toil and outlay. Wisdom is always worth our purchase, whatever we may expend upon it. "Buy the truth," even though it cost much in travel, in money, in patient laborious study, even in fellowship and friendship. It is well worth while to "sell all that we have" in order to become possessed of "the pearl of great price," heavenly wisdom, the knowledge which is eternal life (Matthew 13:46; John 17:3). Many earnest pilgrims have traversed land and sea, many anxious students have searched books and inquired of sacred teachers, many hungering and thirsting souls have wrought and wrestled in thought and prayer for many years, that they might find rest in truth, that they might find a home for themselves in the knowledge of the living God. And when they have found what they sought (see Matthew 7:7, 8), they have gladly and gratefully acknowledged that the blessedness of acquiring heavenly wisdom is a most ample recompense for all they have expended in its pursuit. Wisdom is more precious than rubies; it is the absolutely incomparable good (Proverbs 3:15). - C.

And apes, and peacocks.
(to children): — We learn from this passage —

I. THAT A RICH MAN CAN GET, AS FAR AS WORLDLY GOODS ARE CONCERNED, ALMOST WHAT HE LIKES IN THIS WORLD.

II. WHAT EVEN WISE MEN WILL DO, WHEN THEY HAVE MORE MONEY THAN THEY KNOW HOW TO USE. Such was Solomon's position; apes and peacocks were costly, and so he had a special desire to have s goodly number about him.

(D. Davies.)

I. THE APE IS SOMETHING LIKE US, AND YET HE IS VERY MUCH UNLIKE US.

1. He cannot speak.

2. He cannot learn.

3. He has no foresight or forethought. It is wonderful how deceptive appearances can be.

II. THE APE IS ONLY A CARICATURE OF A MAN, AND DOES NOT IMITATE HIM IN HIS BETTER MOVEMENTS OR HABITS; SO YOU GENERALLY FIND THAT IF A CHILD OR MAN APES ANOTHER, HE APES HIM ONLY IN HIS FAILINGS. I saw a boy the other day, who could not have been more than eleven, vigorously puffing the end of a cigar that he had picked up somewhere. He evidently thought he looked like a man, but I need not tell you how disgusted I felt, and wished that he could imitate the man in a more manly way. He stupidly aped a gentleman whose failing was that he smoked at all. Learn to be natural. Let the one desire of your life be to be true. Never put on a false look or try to live under false pretences.

(D. Davies.)

The peacock has a beautiful tail, and in this respect no bird can match him. But the more you know about him the less you think of his tail. He can only screech hideously when he tries to sing. He is also a very gluttonous and a very selfish and destructive character. The beautiful bird has nothing to commend it except its beautiful feathers. Its characteristic failing is vanity.

I. I want you to remember that THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIKE THAT PEACOCK. Everything depends upon their dress, or their outward appearance. But if you get to know their disposition and their conduct, you will very often cease to be charmed with their dress.

II. I want you TO GUARD YOURSELVES AGAINST ATTACHING TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO APPEARANCES. God does not. Learn that the truest ornament is "a meek and gentle spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price."

(D. Davies.)

People
Ahijah, David, Huram, Iddo, Jeroboam, Nathan, Nebat, Nehemiah, Ophir, Rehoboam, Solomon, Tarshish
Places
Arabia, Egypt, Euphrates River, House of the Forest of Lebanon, Jerusalem, Ophir, Sheba, Shephelah, Tarshish
Topics
Built, Palace, Queen, Sheba, Solomon, Wisdom
Outline
1. The queen of sheba admires the wisdom of Solomon
13. 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 9:1-9

     5487   queen
     5849   exaltation

2 Chronicles 9:1-12

     5745   women

2 Chronicles 9:3-4

     5437   palaces
     5573   table

2 Chronicles 9:3-6

     5554   status

2 Chronicles 9:3-7

     8367   wisdom, importance of

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
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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