Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-12-06
OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.
LESSON X, FOURTH QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, DEC. 8.

Text of the Lesson, I Kings X, 1-13-Com-
nit Verses 6-S-Golden Text, Matt. xii,
42-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
Stearns.
| Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
mission of II. S. Hoffman, publisher, Phiadel
phia.
This lesson presents to us Solomon at the
very summit of his prosperity, he had asked
for wisdom and God had given him wisdom
which excelled the wisdom of all the children
of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt, SO
that people came from all kings of the earth
to hear his wisdom. Il Kings iv, 30, 34.I His
great wealth and some of the uses he made of
it is described in the portion of this chapter
which follows our lesson and in Eccles. ii.
1. "And when the Queen of Sheba heard
of the fame of Solomon concerning the name
of the Lord, she came to prove him with
hard questions" The fact that this visit is
fully recorded both here and in II Chron. tx,
and that our Lord Jesus Himself referred to
it Matt. xii. 42) marks it as an event of more
than ordinary Importance; and our Saviour's
reference to it points to time and signii-
canoe yet future Sheba was evident
ly the uttermost part in one direction
of the then known world, a country
lying around the extreme south of the
| Red sea. To this remote land the fame
| of Solomon concerning the name of Je-
| hovah had been carried Observe here and
throughout the lesson that it was not Solo
mon, but Jehovah, whose name and glory
had thus spread abroad; Solomon being only
the human and visible channel of this great
glory.
9. ''She communed with him of all that
was in her heart" She came with a great
train of camels bearing spices, very much
gold and precious stones; somewhat as the
wise men from the east came long afterward
to the King of the Jews, bearing gold, anc
frankincense, and myrrh Matt. ii, /, 2, ~;
and as all nations will yet do when once the
glory of the Lord is risen upon Israel lisa
TX, 10.
g. "And Solomon told her all her ques-
TONS" The first verse says that she came to
prove him with hard questions, but now that
she sees and hears him, every question is an
swered. Seeing Jesus is the way out of every
difficulty; and the many things which now
seem to us so hard, dark and mysterious will
all be cleared up when see Him as He is.
4, s. And when the Queen of Sheba had
seen there was no more spirit in
her." She had seen the Wisdom of Jehovah
through him as he answered all her hard
questions, and now she beholds with her eyes
his house, his table, his servants, their stand
ing, tier apparel, his cupbearers, and his
ascent to the house of Jehovah; and as she
looks upon this seven hued rainbow of glory,
all sense of her own Importance is gone with
out effort. A sight of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus will effectually blind us
to the Importance of self and to the attract
iveness of this present world.
6. at was a true report that heard" Sc
must all those have said who, having heard
of the fame of Jesus, came to prove him.
T. "Howbeit | believed not the words y
She must have believed something, or she
would not have come on this long journey
but she did not believe all she heard, for it
seemed too grand to be true. Israel's oppres
sion by the enemy was always because they
believed not in God and trusted not in His
salvation"
Behold, the half was not told me, thy
wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame
, which heard 1t is impossible to tell the
half or the hundredth part of the goodn Of
God, either OF that which has been manifested
in the gift of His dear Son or of that which ii
laid up for those who fear Him Il John iv, 3
rs. XXI 80.
s. Happy thy men, happy these thy ser
wants which stand continually before thee
that near thy wisdom" This was her est
mate OF the privileges which they enjoyed
and we do not think she said too much; bu
whether those who enjoyed these privilege
thought as much of them as she did is another
matter. Many who for the first time hear o
the love of God say, "How long have yol
known this" "Why did you not come and
/ tell us sooner" while those who possess the
Bible and live within reach of Gospel privi
] lpcraS In RI hpf Z
anjoy them, much less think it worth Will
TO put themselves out to tell Others.
8. BLESSED be the Lord thy God, who de
lighted in thee, to set thee on the throne o
Israel" In ii Chron. tx, s, the throne i
called the throne of the Lord, and Solomon
is said to be king for Him.
because the Lord loved Israel forever,
or, as in III Chron. tx, s, ITO establish then
forever" The unsearchable and unchange
able Love of God is the reason of all His deal
ings with Israeli or with the church, or witt
nations.
10. There came no more such abundanc
of spices as these which the queen of Sheb
gave to King Solomon" Gold worth tire
million of dollars precious stones and o
spices very great store such was her Offering
to the king because of the name of Jehovah
IL, L. mo such almug Tor alguml tree
were seen ulllO tuls ia ne navy OF Illlal
brought not only gold and precious stones
but great plenty of these trees which Sole
mon seems to have used chiefly for musica
instruments III Chron tx, III. Thus We hav
the Gentiles supplying the materials 10
prayer and praise, inasmuch as incense wa
u symbol of prayer Ps. cxl, q, and .Ae mu
steal instruments were to praise God with
Another foreshadowing Of future times whe
prayer shall be made for Him continual
and daily shall He be praisedn Qs. Xxi, Is
perversion of these things wouli be il
cense TO idols or perfume for personal adorI
ment, and music for mere personal gratitict
ton; thus Solomon soon degenerated, an
thus it is largely today.
Ii. And King solomon gave unto til
queen OF Sheba all her desire, whatsoever sh
asked Besides that which he gave her c
his royal bounty he gratihed her every d.
sire. He gave "A king, royalty and cheer
fully. Do we in any measure realize that "
are joint heirs with Christ, that He will fu
fill the desire of them that fear Him. that II
is saying "lf ye shall ask anything in NJ
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