The Queen of Sheba

June 1

(Luke 11:31-32 NIV) “The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. {32} The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.”

(1 Kings 10:1-9 NIV) “When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. {2} Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan--with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones--she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. {3} Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. {4} When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, {5} the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. {6} She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. {7} But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. {8} How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! {9} Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.”

The Queen of the South (a.k.a. the Queen of Sheba) once came to visit King Solomon. When she realized what great wisdom he had, saw the splendor of the land, and experienced worship at the temple, she recognized that this had to be the blessing of God. She realized that no one could accomplish all this by themselves, and that God had to be in it. Her eyes were opened to the greatness of the God of Israel, and she believed. With her mouth, she praised the name of the Lord for His love, His righteousness, and His justice. Jesus told the doubters who were seeking a miraculous sign, that because of her faith, this same queen would one day rise up and sit in judgment of their unbelief. He said the same about the “men of Nineveh”. The “men of Nineveh” and the “Queen of the South” would have been considered unclean infidels, but they repented and turned to God because of the witness of Jonah and Solomon. Jesus told these skeptics that One greater than Jonah or Solomon was now with them. The Messiah had come and was speaking in their presence. He is still speaking! Open your ears. Repent and turn to God. Jesus is Lord! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day