Middletown transcript., 1915-07-31

1OlAOILN 1hAl-WlSQOIn Is DeLIer LnAn
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 its glory. There
were no wars, Israel's borders were
extended and the temple and those
other 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 a type
and who seized upon all of this glory
to teach us a great lesson (see Matt.
6:2S-34). Caesars famous phrase,
slightly altered, is in this connection
quite applicable-"I came, l saw,
(was) conquered"
l. "Hard Questions" w. 1-3. Solo
mon Is here great type of Christ: (a)
His greatness could not be hid MARK
1920. Solomons fame filed the
known world Il Kings, 4:34). The
fame of Solomon's wisdom, philosophy,
proverbs, poems and knowledge of God
". y drew to his court this queen,
and we must recall that it was proba-
bly, a 1,500-mile toilsome camel-back
Journey for her to come to his court.
ID She brought very great store"
". 1O) of gifts, which, according to
oriental RuGtnun hn -, -
omon. Our best gift to our King is
ourselves q Cor. $3.50. (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. 1242). Solo
mon had a 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
70 the true God and to Jesus. his son?
This queen did not believe what she
had heard ". y and resolved to find
out for herself. In this she is a rebuke
to those more favorably situated who,
though constantly beholding the work
or God in human hearts and lives, still
say, Il do not believe" The queen
OF Sheba will rise up in Judgment
against all who refuse to come and
see" John 1889, 45-51; Matt. 12:42).
td) This visit is a prophecy of that
day when the kings of Sheba and
Seba will come with their gifts for
the greater son Of David psalm 72:1O.
10; lisa. 6O:6-9). The wisdom which
our king bestows is eternal life. "to
know him" prov. 1926; John 17:3).
te) Our king is ready to answer hard
questions" provided they are honest
and sincere John 4:29; 7:10. He
courts Investigation. In exchange for
her gifts the queen carried away much
treasure ". 10; lisa. 55:1; Luke 4:1S).
In like manner her servants were prof
tied. Even so men today are profited
In basket and store by their associa-
tions with those who pay court to our
lord and king. She also "communed'
with Solomon "all that was in her
heart. Such communion with Christ
our king is the privilege of every seek.
ing, trustful heart.
u. "Had Seen ALL" w. At. When
she had listened to Solomon's wisdom
and heard the answers to her cues
1ons, the solutions to her problems
and had witnessed the wonders of his
temple, court and ministers, there
was no more spirit (breath) in her."
(Cf. Josh. SID And similar experi-
ence came to those three who went to
the Mount of TRANSFORMATIONS with Je-
sus. Solomon's wisdom is fulfilled in
Christ CCol 2:3). "The house that he
built" is a type of that temple he ia
building of living stones Il Peter ga.
.; Matt. 1919 "The meat of his
table" is excelled by the food on our
kings table, the word of life (Jer.
1915; Ps. 119; 103, his own body
John 6:55). Our king, too, has his
servants (Eph. 2:6; Rev. 3:21). Their
appeal" is not to be compared with
the robe of his righteousness" and
our Standing" e Cor 5:21) 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" (Rev. $50; l Pet. 2:9)
Various translations suggest ". 81.
and his burnt offering which he Of.
Tered in the house Of the lord" We
nave one whose offering of himself
was far more comprehensive (Heb
9:11-14; 10:10-14). The queen was
compelled to admit that the evidence
OF her eyes of the glories were even
more Incredible than the fame which
mad reached her far off court for said
she' the half has not been told me"
All VINO really come to know Christ
make these words their testimony II
was true report and she noblv ar
knowledges the same without envv
Such testimony is pleasing to onr
king O"l
III. Praises, W. S-19, 10. III Bv
testimony, w. 8, o. Happy are thv
1len VINO listen to such wisdom who
uWell In the midst of such achieve.
mehts' One of the greatest lows is
10 converse with the wise and tho
good. Our happiness is in onr nrivi.
lege OF standing before Christ and TO
near MS wisdom (Luke 10: 0:39-42: Prov.
i'' ~; 3;lS, 1D; no servant is de.
barred (John 1925. The queen glori.
neu tne source of Solomons glory.
Mhicn was all the gift of Jehovahs
grace (see Sam 1924. 25 R. V.
narsp Matt. 3:17; lisa. 42:1). She did
Iot m see the oppression of the people,
ne ne temptation to luxury and the de-
,iine IN religious life which SO soon
gu 20 decay after Snlnmnn,s death