The story of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba is a fascinating account of ancient international relationships found in the Old Testament, in 1 Kings 10.
The Queen was the ruler of the kingdom of Saba (or Sheba) in southwestern Arabia.
She was, according to the Old Testament first Book of Kings, a woman of great wealth, beauty, and power.
Having had heard about the wisdom of King Solomon, and of his relationship with God, she decided to visit his court.
She arrived in Jerusalem with a large entourage carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones.
The purpose of her visit was to test Solomon’s wisdom by asking him hard questions. But Solomon answered all her questions acceptionally well, leaving her highly impressed with his wisdom.
She was in fact quite overwhelmed by his knowledge and the prosperity and grandeur of his kingdom.
Perhaps because she had been looking for insights into how to better mange the practical and spiritual aspects in her country at that time?
This encounter between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba highlights the diplomatic relationships, trade connections, and cultural exchanges that existed during this period of time, and that they are still important in the world today for international harmony.
It also highlights the importance of discernment. The Queen had heard of Solomons wisdom and relationship with God, and travelled a great distance, (from the end of the earth it is described in Matthew’s gospel 12:42) to learn for herself about his God.
Three important lessons can be learned from the meeting between Solomon and Sheba;
Firstly, like King Solomon, believers should willingly demonstrate evidence of God’s presence in their lives, however great or lowley their role, profession, or environment may be.
Secondly, like the Queen of Sheba we should search for God’s wisdom in our life, and we do not have to travel to the far corners of the world to find it as she did, so we can be ready to fully embrace it as we uncover eternal truths right in front of us in our daily lives.
Finally, like both Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, all believers are Christ’s ambassadors for peace in the modern world we now live in and must live out our lives as a beacon of hope for all. (2 Corinthians 5:20).
