A lot of 1 Kings 4 – 9 is devoted to describing Solomon’s wealth (plus the building of the Temple). Chapter 10 is the last such chapter, beginning with the visit of the Queen of Sheba:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and his connection with the Name of GOD. She came to put his reputation to the test by asking tough questions. She made a grand and showy entrance into Jerusalem\u2014camels loaded with spices, a huge amount of gold, and precious gems. She came to Solomon and talked about all the things that she cared about, emptying her heart to him. (1 Kings 10.1, 2, MSG)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The queen was a wealthy woman in her own right, but…<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the queen of Sheba experienced for herself Solomon’s wisdom and saw with her own eyes the palace he had built, the meals that were served, the impressive array of court officials and sharply dressed waiters, the lavish crystal, and the elaborate worship extravagant with Whole-Burnt-Offerings at the steps leading up to The Temple of GOD, it took her breath away. She said to the king, “It’s all true! Your reputation for accomplishment and wisdom that reached all the way to my country is confirmed. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself; they didn’t exaggerate! Such wisdom and elegance\u2014far more than I could ever have imagined. (1 Kings 10.4 – 7, MSG)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The chapter ends with a description of Solomon’s wealth (see 1 Kings 10.14 – 29<\/a>). Here’s a summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wow…except there’s an oops in there – do you see it? Look at Moses’ instructions about their future kings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you enter the land that GOD, your God, is giving you and take it over and settle down, and then say, \u201cI\u2019m going to get me a king, a king like all the nations around me,\u201d make sure you get yourself a king whom GOD, your God, chooses. Choose your king from among your kinsmen; don\u2019t take a foreigner\u2014only a kinsman. And make sure he doesn\u2019t build up a war machine, amassing military horses and chariots. He must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because GOD told you, \u201cYou\u2019ll never go back there again!\u201d And make sure he doesn\u2019t build up a harem, collecting wives who will divert him from the straight and narrow. And make sure he doesn\u2019t pile up a lot of silver and gold. (Deuteronomy 17.14 – 17, MSG)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Solomon did what the Law of Moses told him not to do, and there’s no record that he did what the Law told him to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his GOD, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them. He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons. (Deuteronomy 17.18 – 20, MSG)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s tough. God promised him wealth, but the wealth became a distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8.36, ESV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of 1 Kings 4 – 9 is devoted to describing Solomon’s wealth (plus the building of the Temple). Chapter 10 is the last such chapter, beginning with the visit of the Queen of Sheba: The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and his connection with the Name of GOD. She came to put … Continue reading The Last Hurrah<\/span> \n
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