Should we allow fabulous wealth and wisdom to take our breath away, or seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness above all else? Let’s begin in 2 Chronicles 9.
Was the Queen of Sheba amazed to witness Solomon’s wisdom and opulent wealth?
When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s reputation, she traveled to Jerusalem and tested him with difficult questions. She brought along a large retinue, camels laden with spices, and lots of gold and precious stones. Upon her arrival, she spoke with Solomon about everything that was on her mind. Solomon answered all of her questions. Because nothing was hidden from Solomon, he hid nothing from her. When the queen of Sheba had seen Solomon’s wisdom for herself, the palace that he had built, the food set at his table, his servants who waited on him, his ministers in attendance and how they were dressed, his personal staff and how they were dressed, and even his personal stairway by which he went up to the Lord’s Temple, she was breathless! (2 Chr 9:1-4 ISV)
What did the Queen of Sheba say about Solomon’s great wisdom?
And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom: Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard. Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice. (2 Chr 9:5-8 KJV)
Was there a mutual exchange of gifts between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba?
Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold and a very great amount of spices and precious stones. There had never been spice like that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. Also, the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones. And the king made of the algum trees steps for the house of Yahweh and for the king’s house, and lyres and harps for the singers; and none like that was seen before in the land of Judah. Thus King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire which she asked, besides a return for what she had brought to the king. Then she turned around and went to her own land together with her servants. (2 Chr 9:9-12 LSB)
If one talent or kikkar represented great riches, how incredible was Solomon’s wealth (1 talent is 3,000 shekels)?
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, besides what the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold, using six hundred shekels of beaten gold on each large shield. He made three hundred shields of beaten gold, using three hundred shekels of gold on each shield; and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. (2 Chr 9:13-16 NASB)
How magnificent was the furniture around Solomon’s throne?
Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with pure gold. The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s day. The king had a fleet of trading ships manned by Hiram’s servants. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons [or peacocks]. (2 Chr 9:17-21 NIV)
What other items of great wealth did Solomon accumulate?
So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year. Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem. So he reigned over all the kings from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar trees as abundant as the sycamores which are in the lowland. And they brought horses to Solomon from Egypt and from all lands. (2 Chr 9:22-28 NKJV)
Where else were the events of Solomon’s reign recorded? Who reigned after him?
The rest of the events of Solomon’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Record of Nathan the Prophet, and The Prophecy of Ahijah from Shiloh, and also in The Visions of Iddo the Seer, concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat. Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. When he died, he was buried in the City of David, named for his father. Then his son Rehoboam became the next king. (2 Chr 9:29-31 NLT)
Did the life of this wise and wealthy man end in faithfulness or apostasy?
When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father was. (1 Kings 11:4 WEB)
Should we seek first wisdom and wealth or God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness?
Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mat 6:33 CEB)
Should we allow fabulous wealth and wisdom to take our breath away, or seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness above all else? You decide!
