Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, (fame due to the name of the Lord), she came to test him with hard questions.”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, November 1, 2018
Queen of Sheba sculpture.
by Daniel D. Maurer, Clergy Stuff
If you’re going to impress someone, it’s always great to impress a visiting queen from a powerful nation! Solomon’s wisdom had become renown throughout the ancient world. However, it wasn’t something he could brag that he came up with himself. No. His wisdom was a gift from God.
It makes me consider all the times I think of my “own” skills and realign my gratitude to understand that everything comes from God. Our very lives are a gift.
Certainly, Solomon in all his wisdom knew this, and in impressing the Queen of Sheba, he made effective inroads in cooperating with trading partners and powerful nations.
Narrative Lectionary Daily Reading:
1 Kings 10:1-13
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, (fame due to the name of the Lord), she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. When the queen of Sheba had observed all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his valets, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. So she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. Not even half had been told me; your wisdom and prosperity far surpass the report that I had heard. Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king to execute justice and righteousness.” Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again did spices come in such quantity as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which carried gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a great quantity of almug wood and precious stones. From the almug wood the king made supports for the house of the Lord, and for the king’s house, lyres also and harps for the singers; no such almug wood has come or been seen to this day. Meanwhile King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba every desire that she expressed, as well as what he gave her out of Solomon’s
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