II Chronicles 9 (NIV)

Summary:

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
Verses 1-12

The queen had heard of Solomon's fame.  She went to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions.  She brought with her a great caravan: camels carrying spices, a lot of gold, and precious stones.  Solomon answered all of her questions without difficulty.  When the queen witnessed his wisdom, palace, food, the seating of his officials, his attending servants and cupbearers and their robes, and the burnt offerings he made at the Lord's temple, she was overwhelmed.  The queen said that the report she had heard of Solomon was true.  She wanted to see it for herself and found that he was greater than the report.  She claimed that his men must be happy to hear his wisdom.  She praised God, who delighted in Solomon and had made him king over His people.  She said that God had made Solomon king to uphold justice and righteousness.

The queen of Sheba gave Solomon 120 talents (~4 1/2 tons) of gold, more spices than anyone had ever given him, and precious stones.  In addition, Hiram and Solomon's men brought back gold from Ophir, algumwood, and precious stones.  Solomon used the algumwood to make the steps for the Lord's temple and the royal palace.  He also used it to make the harps and lyres for the musicians as none ever before in Judah.  Solomon gave the queen all she asked for and more than she had brought to him.  Then, she returned to her own country.

Solomon's Splendor
Verses 13-28

Solomon's yearly weight in gold that he received was 666 talents (~25 tons [don't let the number freak you out; it is merely man's number]), not including the revenue brought in by merchants and traders.  The kings of Arabia and governors of the land brought him gold and silver.  Solomon made 200 large and 300 small shields of hammered gold, with 600 bekas and 300 bekas (~7 1/2 lbs and ~3 3/4 lbs) per shield, respectively.  He placed them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon (sounds like something out of Robin Hood).

Solomon made a great throne.  It was inlaid with ivory and overlaid with pure gold.  He built 6 steps and a footstool of gold attached to it.  There were armrests on both sides and a lion next to each armrest.  There was a lion on each side of the steps, totaling 12 lions.  Nothing like it was ever made in any kingdom.  (Getting a visual?  Impressive, huh?)

All of Solomon's goblets were made of gold.  All the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were made of pure gold.  Nothing was made out of silver, because silver had little value in his day (because it was so common).  His fleet of trading ships was manned by Hiram's men.  They returned once every three years with gold, silver, ivory, apes, and baboons.  Solomon had more riches and wisdom than any other king on earth.  All other kings went to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.  They all brought a gift with them of silver, gold, robes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.  Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his horses and chariots.  He had 12,000 horses, which he kept in his chariot cities and in Jerusalem. 

He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to Philistia, as far as the border of Egypt.  He made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem.  Cedar was as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.  His horses were imported from Egypt and every other country.

Solomon's Death
Verses 29-31

His other events are written in the records of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer, regarding Jeroboam son of Nebat.  Solomon reigned in Jerusalem for 40 years.  He rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.  Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.

Lori's Thoughts:

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "  (Jeremiah 29:11)

I do not have a tenth of Solomon's great riches, fame, or wisdom.  However, I believe this verse in Jeremiah applies to me as much as it did to him.  I do not believe it was in God's plan to have my heart get broken for the nth time or for my grandmother to have breast cancer.  I do not believe it is in His will for the devastation caused by nature in southern U.S., Haiti, or Japan.  I do not believe it is His will for innocent people to open their homes' doors to get shot by the Syrian military.

I do believe He wants our lives to be more like that of Solomon's.  Sometimes I get weary with the woes of life and I start to believe the devil's lies that make me doubt the hand of God in my life.

But, it is by God's hand that I have any form of sanity after my abusive childhood.  It is by God's hand that I have joy after countless times of crushing heartache.  It is by God's hand that I have never been destitute in need.  And I believe that when I get to heaven, I will see my grandfather without diabetes, my grandmother without cancer, my mother with joy, my sister without anger, and my other sister with love.

One of my co-workers died in his sleep at age 31.  He left behind his wife and young daughter.  I ache for a life companion.  This ache cannot compare to what it must be like to lose one.

We should not fear death, however.  Based on yesterday's studies, death in this life is not the end.  I believe that we will be resurrected and brought to live with Christ in a kingdom far more splenderous (if that's a word) than Solomon's.

"For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever."  (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

So, do not worry about what the world worries about.

"...seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well."  (Matthew 6:33)  It worked for Solomon.

How do you seek God first?  Talk to Him before you get out of bed.  Tell Him what you have going on today.  Ask Him to guide your every step.  Read His word before you get to work or school.  It really sets the day's mood.