The Brinkley argus., 1915-07-30
INTERNATIONAL SlJNlYSQlOOL
 LESSON (By E. o. SELLERS. Acting Director of Sunday School Course, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR AUGUST I
QUEEN OF sHEBA VISITS SOLO,
 MON.

LESSON. TEXT-I Kings 101-10. B. GOLDEN TEXT-Wisdom Is better than rubies. Prov. S:11
 The visit of this wealthy queen from the region of southern Arabia has always appealed to the imagina- tions of men. Solomon's kingdom was at the apex of it's glory. There were no wars, Israels borders were extended and the temple and those ether wonderful buildings had all been completed.
 The chief value of this lesson is not in Solomon's wisdom nor in what this queen saw and heard, but rather it is in what has, is being and will be done by Christ, of whom Solomon is type and who seized upon all of this glory to teach us great lesson tsee Matt. 6:2S-34). Caesars famous phrase. slightly altered, is in this connection quite applicable-'I came, saw, l (was) conquered"
 I. "Hard Questions" w. 1-3. Solo, mon is here great type of Christ: (a) His greatness could not be hid (Mark 7:24), Solomon's fame filled the known world q Kings, 4:34. The fame of Solomon's wisdom, philosophy, proverbs, poems and knowledge of God (v. 1) drew to his court this queen. and we must recall that it was proba- bly, a 1,500-mile toilsome camel-back tourney for her to come to his court. (b) She brought very great store" (v. 10) of gifts, which, according to oriental custom, she presented to Sol omon. Our best gift to our King IS ourselves e Cor. 8:5). (c) She came to learn of the name of the Lord" who had done so much for Solomon and his people; to learn wisdom for the guidance of herself and her peo- pie. We come to a King who pos sesses all wisdom (Matt. 12.42). Solo, mon had wonderful missionary op- portunity. God is today sending heart hungry people to this land from the most remote parts of the earth. Are we using our privilege to point them to the true God and to Jesus, his son? This queen did not believe what she had heard (v. ? and resolved to find out for herself In this she is a rebuke to those more favorably situated who, though constantly beholding the work Of God in human hearts and lives, still say, T do not believe" The queen of Sheba will rise up in judgment against all who refuse to come and see" John 1:39, 45-51; Matt. 12:42). (d) This visit is prophecy of that day when the kings of Sheba and Seba will come with their gifts for the greater son of David Psalm 72:10, 15; lsa. 606-9). The wisdom which our king bestows is eternal life. ito know him" (Prov. 2:2-6; John 17:3).
 II. Had Seen AL" w. Al. When she had listened to Solomon's wisdom and heard the answers to her ques- tions, the solutions to her problems, and had witnessed the wonders of his temple, court and ministers, there (Cf. Josh. S:1) And similar experi- ence came to those three who went to the Mount of Transfiguration with Je- sus. Solomon's wisdom is fulfilled in Christ (Col. 2:3). The house that he built" is type of that temple he is building of living stones q Peter PA, ! 5 Matt. 16:1S). "The meat of his ] table" is excelled by the food on our kings table, the word of life Ger. 15:16; Ps. 119:103), his own body John 6:55). Our king, too. has his servants (Eph. 2:6; Rev. 3:2D. Their appeal is not to be compared with the robe of his righteousness" and our standing" e Cor. 5:2I is more exalted than that of any at Solomon's, or other earthly courts. We are not servants but friends" yet we are his ministers" tRev. 5:10: Pet 2:9) Various translations suggest (v. 5, and his burnt offering which he of fered in the house of the lord"
 III. Praises, w. s-19, 13 CD By testimony. w. 8, g. Happy are thy men" who listen to such wisdom, who dwell in the midst of such achieve ments. One of the greatest joys is to converse with the wise and the l good. Our happiness is in our privi- I lege of standing before Christ and to hear his wisdom Luke 10; 39-42; Prov. 1920; 3:13. 1D; no servant is de- barred John 12:26). The queen glori- | fled the source of Solomon's glory, which was all the gift of Jehovah's | grace (see ? Sam. 1924. 9 R. V. marg., Matt. 3:17; Isa 42:D. She did not see the oppression of the people, the temptation to luxury and the de- l cline in religious life which so soon led to decay after Solomon's death. 1 When our king shall reign he will do | judgment and justice"
 l Even so our king blesses us abund- antly above all. we can ask or think (see John 10:2S; 17:22). The king dom of heaven is greater than Solo mons (Matt. 12:42) (a) in wisdom q Cor. 1:2D; (b) in riches (Eph. 3:S); (c) in power (Heb 2:8); (d) in blessings e Chron. 1:15, of. Phil. 4:19) and this kingdom is among you"
 Men see" what they are searching 1 after; they receive true knowledge through experience. We may see this kingdom and its working if we let him who IS the Tight of the world" epter our hearts and lives