Volume 45   Number 5                                                            January 2003

One of King David's valiant men, Benaiah, the son of Jehoida the priest, spoke this prophetic blessing concerning the successor to the great throne of David: "As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David." (I Kings 1:37)

The more we learn from the Holy Scriptures which make us wise unto salvation, the more beautiful they become in our hearts. King David was indeed a great man, the standard to which all of his successors would be compared concerning heartfelt devotion to God. The sweet psalmist of Israel is still, to this very day, one of the most highly respected Israelites that ever lived and his beautiful name is worn by many a Jew and Gentile throughout the world. How great is the manifold wisdom of God that the Almighty should actually raise up someone "greater" than David? Yet we see in the life of Solomon a man who was indeed greater in terms of wisdom, wealth, and power. The benediction of Benaiah came to pass!

The story of the Queen of Sheba illustrates this greatness of Solomon so well. The account is given to us twice (I Kings 10:1-13; II Chronicles 9:1-9) and we have to be impressed with this great woman of power who is so intrigued by the stories she hears of Solomon's greatness that she is compelled to travel "from the uttermost parts of the earth" to hear his great wisdom. How impressed was she by the son of David? "It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard." (I Kings 10:6, 7).

She went on to bless the Monarch of God's people in verses 8 & 9: "Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice." Worship and blessing overflow from the heart of one who is impressed with greatness, and the gracious words of the Queen of Sheba are still beautiful in our ears.

Today, we serve the Lord Jesus Christ who has been raised up to sit on the Throne of David (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:30.). Our risen Lord and King said this of Himself: "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:42). The worldly greatness of Solomon is simply a type of the spiritual, eternal greatness of the One Who now sits at the Father's right hand. Will you and I be as wise as the Queen of the South and heed, glorify, and worship the King of Kings; greater than both David and Solomon.?