The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-07-31
INTERNATIONAL
LESSON
LESSON FOR AUGUST |
QUEEN OF sHE5A VISITS SOLO.
MON.
(By f.. o. SELLERS. Acting Director of
Sunday School Course, The Moody Bible
Institute of Chicago.)

GOLDEN TENT-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 magma
tons of men. Solomon's kingdom
was at the apex OF its glory. There
were no wars, I~srael's borders we're
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 VINO 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. l
Cwas) conquered"
l. "Hard Questions" w. 1-3. Solo,
mon is here a great type of Christ: (a)
His greatness could not be hid MARK
1920. Solomon's fame filled the
known world Il Kings, 4:34). The
fame of Solomon's wisdom, philosophy,
proverbs, poems and knowledge of God
". u 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.
(b) She brought a very great store"
". 100 of gifts, which, according to
oriental custom, she presented to Sol
onion 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. 12.42). Solo
mon had a wonderful missionary OPP
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 ". 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
of 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, 1851; Matt. ~: 42).
I'D 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 1910,
10; lisa. 60:6-9). The wisdom which
our king bestows is eternal life, ito
know him" prov. 1926; John 1873.
(e) Our king is ready to answer hard
questions" provided they are honest
and sincere John 4:29; 7:17). He
courts investigation. In exchange for
her gifts the queen carried away much
treasure ". 10; lisa. 55:1; Luke 4:1S).
In like her servants were prof
tied. Even so men today are p%rofited
in basket and store by their associa.
lions with those who pay court to our
lord and king. She also "communed'
with Solomon "all that was in heI
heart" Such communion with Christ
u king is the privilege of every seek
ing, trustful heart.
II. Had Seen ALL" w. At. Whe1
she had listened to Solomon's wisdom
and heard the answers to her ques
lions, 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. 5:1.) And similar expert
nee came to those three who went tC
the Mount of TRANSPORTATION with Je
sus. Solomon's wisdom is fulfilled il
Christ (Col. 2:3). THE house that HI
built" is a type of that temple he IL
building Of living stones Il Peter ga
8; Matt. 1919. 1.-THE meat of hi
table" is eXcelled by the food on GU
kings table, the word Of life (Jer
1916; Ps. 119:103), his own bod!
John $3.50. Our king, too, has hi
servants (Eph. 2:6; Rev. 3:21). Thei
appeal is not to be compared will
the robe of his righteousness" an,
our standing" e Cor. 5:21) is NOR
exalted than that of any at Solomon's
or other earthly courts. We are no
servants but Friends" yet we ar
his ministers" (Rev. $40; l Pet. 2:9)
Various translations suggest ". 81
"and his burnt offering which he o.
fered in the house of the lord" w
! have one whose offering of himsel
was far more comprehensive (Hel
9:11-14; 10:10-14). The queen wa
compelled to admit that the evidenc
Of her eyes of the glories were eve
more incredible than the fame whic
had reached her far off court for sal
= she, "the half has not been told me
All who really come to know Chris
I make these words their testimony.
= was a true report and she nobly a
. k~nowledges the same without env,
!. Such testimony is pleasing to OF
! king.
! III. Praises, w. S-19, 10. "a E
testimony. w. 8, 8. Happy are tn
men, who listen to such wisdom, wi
dwell in the midst of such achiev
. ments. One of the greatest joys
: to converse with the wise n IL
: good. Our happiness is in our pri,
!, lege of standing before Christ and
: hear his wisdom Luke 10: 39-42; Pro
1920; 3:13, 14); no servant is d
u barred John 1920. The queen gioi
! fed the source OF Solomon's glor
which was all the gift OF Jehovah
- grace (see 2 Sam, 1924. 2D r..