God's Exceptional Glory

Of all people, kings and queens might be among those most difficult to impress.  Their wealth, fame, power, possessions and land holdings are vast in comparison to their subjects.  They have the authority, ability and right to take anything they want for themselves, to demand even the lives of anyone who may be a threat to their rule and prosperity.  For this reason I find it remarkable how the queen of Sheba was amazed and overwhelmed by the wisdom and glory of king Solomon.  Reports of king Solomon had reached her ears and were intriguing enough to compel her to personally pay a visit to Jerusalem.

After the queen of Sheba was granted a tour of king Solomon's courts, she was overwhelmed by everything she saw--the architecture, clothing and service of his servants, and the grandeur of his entrance to the house of the LORD.  2 Chronicles 9:5-6 says, "Then she said to the king: "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. ⁶ However I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame of which I heard."  I have the sense that the queen of Sheba experienced what we do when we try to capture the beauty of a sunrise or windswept vista with a picture that cannot possibly contain it.  The energy and excitement we feel being in a crowd when the championship game is won cannot be conveyed fully second-hand or by a video.  The queen of Sheba heard great things about Solomon, but no one came close to telling her the full story.

The queen of Sheba came bearing gifts worthy of royalty that included gold, an abundance of spices and precious stones.  Amazingly, 2 Chronicles 9:12 tells us she and her servants left with more than they brought due to Solomon's wealth and generosity:  "Now King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, much more than she had brought to the king. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants."  This reminds me of when we come to Jesus as Saviour.  We come to Him having heard He loves us, that He died to save us sinners.  When we come to Him in faith and give our lives to Him, as time goes on in our relationship with Jesus we realise we have not been told or have begun to comprehend a fraction of how good He is.  There was no spirit left in the queen of Sheba because she was overwhelmed in Solomon's presence, and God has chosen to put the Holy Spirit within us when we come to Him, not as kings and queens, but as beggars who are undeserving to even speak with divine royalty.

In offering our lives to Jesus, we end up being enriched far beyond what we have ever given by God's grace.  What is lovely is the observation in the text that spices brought by the queen of Sheba were unlike any found in Solomon's kingdom before or since (2 Chron. 9:9).  This is also true concerning the way God has created human beings in His image and how He unites us individuals in the body of Christ, the church.  There is no one else in God's kingdom like you and me, and this is God's doing.  We each bring a unique personality, perspective and spiritual fruitfulness by the Holy Spirit that brings a sweet fragrance and flavour to the kingdom of God.  The almighty God does not lack anything, nor does He need us to accomplish His will, but He delights in us like parents do their own child.  When we offer to God freely what He has already given us, it is we who are enriched and blessed beyond reason.

It is true what is written:  that eye has not seen, ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him--and He reveals them to us through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).  The queen of Sheba was of another kingdom, so at some point she had to leave king Solomon and the glories of Jerusalem.  For Christians, our glorious Saviour will never leave or forsake us, and we can abide with Him forever starting right now!  How awesome is our wise and holy God who gives us all things to richly enjoy, who supplies all that is needed for life and godliness for eternity.  Whatever we know of God today, we only know a fraction of the greatness of His wisdom and the glory of His kingdom.  When we seek the LORD and His kingdom, everything else will be added to us because it is God's good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:31-32).  Rather than weighing us down, our glorious God draws us close and lifts us up.