The Half Was Not Told

Sunday, February 1, 2009

“The Half was not told”

I Kings 10: 1 – 10

One of the most intriguing stories that combine our Afro-Centric history with a story of love is the meeting and conversation between King Solomon and The Queen of Sheba.

This story reminds me that “Black History is our History” and that the half was not told.

Some might say I know its Black History month given the work of W.E. B. Dubois, Carter G. Woodson, John Hope Franklin, Benjamin Quarles, Lerome Bennett, and V.P. Franklin.

However, how does Cupid get into all of this, in our Men’s League Meeting yesterday. I reminded the men in the midst of Black History month don’t forget about Valentine’s Day – love still makes the world go round.

I wanted them to know that if you forget, you’ll be just like that the commercial where a lady has a new floor cleaner, and you hear a knock at the door with a delivery man bringing flowers and in the corner of the screen standing behind a tree you see the old mop, and you hear the words singing.

Baby comes back.

Baby comes back you can blame it all on me,

I was wrong, and I just can't live without you”

This story combines history and mystery.

Black History is our history, and the half was not told.

You are introduced to King Solomon at the height of his fame. He is carrying out the vision of God and the dream of his father, David, built the Temple and placed the Ark of the Covenant in the inner sanctum: this was a fine temple and Solomon used the highest quality of materials to build it: cedar, gold, ivory; the finest craftsmen, exquisite details.

His building program didn’t stop there within a span of twenty years he not only built the Temple; Solomon also built a house for himself that was grander and larger than the Temple.

He had a throne made of ivory covered with gold, all of this cups and plates and eating utensils where gold. This was a fine palace.

Solomon’s fame has spread throughout the entire known world.

He was wealthy. He was wise. And he had wives.

Some 700 of them; he used marriage as a diplomacy tactic. To prevent fighting with a neighboring enemy, he would marry their King’s daughter. For example, he married Pharaoh’s daughter of Egypt. It could be said that he was the practical originator of the term we use to hear in the sixties, “make love, not war.”

The Queen of Sheba was drawn by these stories. She wanted to meet this King, who was wise and who was wealthy.

The Queen wasn’t looking of a mate; she could carry her own weight.

She had her own caravan, band of servants and scouts. She brought gold and spices.

Maybe we should tell our sons and daughters, not to hook up until you can stand up!

You must be careful that as you read this text you are not led to believe that the Queen just walks off the street and into the Palace to meet with the King.

No, Solomon’s State Department had already vetted the Queen of Sheba. His security service had seen her from afar. Do you believe that some strange caravan could travel to the walled City of Jerusalem without scrutiny?

You can’t be a King and not know when a Queen is coming.

The Queen prepared herself to meet the King. She bathed in the finest oils and perfumes. Her hair was combed. Her scalp was massaged. Her fingernails and toenails were manicured. She was prepared to meet the King.

However, the King was also prepared to meet the Queen. His gold was polished. His finest robes were laid out for him. His crown was shined.

His fingers were jeweled. His inner chamber was cleaned, and the finest aromas were in the air.

A King was getting ready to meet a Queen.

It is interesting to note that when our history is taught it begins with the Middle Passage. The emphasis is placed upon the fact that we were once slaves and the story is all about our struggle for freedom.

Little is really known about the great civilizations that were founded by Africans from which we are descendants. That’s one of the reasons we are so proud of President Barack Obama because sitting in the special seating with him on Inauguration Day was his grandmother from Africa illustrating to all that we are proud people with a rich legacy.

Our story is greater than slavery, Jim Crow, Civil Rights. Our story is a world story of African people who built Pyramids, traveled across the seas, traded in gold and precious stones, maintained rich libraries and academies, astrologers, mathematicians and medical practitioners.