For the umpteenth time, I reading “Pilgrim’s Progress” on my Kindle. I have no idea how many times I have read this wonderful story by John Bunyan. I used to have a hard copy, but it has disappeared; if I could borrow one, I would really appreciate it. Every time that I do, I see things that I didn’t see before, or at least things that I didn’t consider. That isn’t because of the genius behind the book, but because it is an allegory. Just about every person and every event are meant to depict something else – something spiritual. “Pilgrim’s Progress” is not a book to be read quickly.
As a result of my reading, my mind is thinking allegorically, if that makes sense. And in that allegorical frame of mind, I recently read I Kings 10. This depicts an actual event, but my mind wants to read more into the details than are actually here. What does this woman teach women today – anyone today?
I begin by pointing to her kingdom, the details of which there is some debate. Was she queen of an area of on the southwestern side of Saudi Arabia? Or was it across the gulf in Abyssinia, where Josephus places her? It is certainly not impossible that it was on both sides of the Red Sea. Some go so far as to say that she was Queen of Sumatra in Indonesia, which is called “Sheba” on some ancient maps. Some day we’ll know for sure, but at this point we can only make some educated guesses. Without a doubt she was a rich and magnificent queen. I’m sure that Bunyan would suggest that, like her, we all have our own little kingdoms and queendoms. We all have influence and sometimes even a bit of authority over a few others. At the very least we should have rule over our own hearts – despite its wickedness and rebellion.
In the Queen of Sheba we have a glimpse of all the queens who’ve been wise enough to come to the King of Kings. Where did she get that wisdom? We know nothing of this woman’s husband; perhaps he had earlier passed away. Whether this was so or not, it makes the relationship to her spiritual Solomon that much more important. Did you know that Jesus often referred to David, but only twice to Solomon? He spoke of the glories of Solomon’s attire, which were mute compared to the beauty of the lily. And the second reference was to compare Himself to Solomon, and again Solomon came in second. Jesus Christ is the theme of the Bible whether we are studying Solomon, David, Genesis or Acts. “Kings shall come to the brightness of his rising” – Isaiah 60:3. “In Him we live and move and have our being.” “He is the fullness of the God-head bodily,” and without Christ we have nothing. Jesus spoke of the third king of Israel only twice, but He spoke of the Queen of Sheba almost as much as He did Solomon.
This woman’s journey illustrates what we must sometimes endure to come to Christ.
She had heard a report of the distant northern king, but she couldn’t believe her ears. Remember that in conjunction with Hiram, King of Tyre, Solomon had sent out ships to gather some of the great riches of the world. The country of Sheba was a logical stop, not only for shopping but for supplies. Some say that it was the spice capital of the world. And these sailors and merchants were, in a sense, evangelizing the world with the gospel of Solomon. And what they said excited and intrigued this woman.
This queen heard of Solomon’s RICHES. His palace and city – the Celestial city – were oozing with gold the way some beehives bleed honey. He not only could afford, but actually possessed the finest and most astounding treasures of the earth. “The King made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance” – verse 27. “So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth” – verse 23. But it’s not Solomon whom we wish to honor, rather He who is greater than Solomon. People today need to hear the testimony of the Apostle Paul: “That they may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe” – Eph. 1:18-19. Paul calls the blessings of Christ – “unsearchable riches.” The riches of Christ Jesus cannot be measured by computer or time.
This Queen heard of Solomon’s WISDOM as well. And in all probability, she thought of herself as an intelligent and highly educated woman, which made the stories that she was hearing even more interesting. “King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. All the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart” – verses 23-24. The scriptures seem to indicate that there was a constant parade of foreign dignitaries visiting Jerusalem. But the fact that there is only one who was specifically described indicates that this woman was extra special in some way. Perhaps it was in the gifts that she left, or perhaps it was in her own personal wisdom. But then again, perhaps it was in her faith, and that she returned home a worshiper of Jehovah.
Solomon was a king, a very wise judge, a physician, a botanist, a writer, a scholar and a saint of God. But he was nothing compared to the Lord whom he worshiped. Christ Jesus is – literally – “our wisdom” according to I Corinthians chapter 1. “Never did any man speak like this man,” who was at the same time God. Blessed are those who have ears to hear – just like the Queen of Sheba.
So she packed her bags, packed her camels or whatever, and she came to personally meet this Solomon. History and fiction tell us of lots of great pilgrimages and voyages – Magellan, Columbus, Lewis and Clark, the Kon Tiki, Marco Pollo. But only one great journey approaches this: the Magi following the star of Bethlehem. Most people of the world make fun of stories like this: “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth servants to call them that were bidden to wedding: but they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it” – Matthew 22:2-5.
There are many in “Pilgrim’s Progress,” who hear about the Celestial city, about the Saviour and about their sins, but their reactions were negative. Not this woman – she came at great expense to herself and her realm. That journey was perhaps about 3,000 miles, like the distance from here to Florida. Christ Jesus said that she came from the “uttermost part of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.” Then again, perhaps it was only 300 miles. But distances weren’t measured in miles in those days; they were measured in time. This journey likely took a minimum of a month; or perhaps it was three months or more. And that was just one way. For a time, she gave up her family – in order to benefit her family and her nation. This woman sacrificed the luxuries of her home and palace in order to meet this earthly king. As Bunyan tells us – this is one factor in keeping a lot of people from meeting Christ. They know that such a meeting will cost them their beloved sins, and their pride. She even put herself in danger. She brought with her a great deal of wealth, which would have been very tempting to thieves.
And she came inquiring – not with just a couple of cute puzzles – but with genuine interest in what made this man and his kingdom so great. She was not satisfied with hearsay and things that she had read in a book, or the sailors’ stories. And why? Why do people come to the Lord Jesus? Had she lost a child and been confronted with the realities of death? Was she wracked with pain herself, realizing that her body was not immortal? Was there something that made her fear the guilt of her sins? Perhaps she had learned, just as Solomon had learned, that “wisdom is better than rubies.” Whatever it was, she emptied her calendar, emptied her heart, and emptied her purse to meet him.
Her confession expressed the feelings of those who’ve met the Lord Jesus.
“And she said to the king, 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. 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.”
Isaiah, when prophesying about the Lord Jesus, asked: “Who hath believed our report?” This lady asked whether or not the reports that she had heard were true. She found out that not only were they true, but they only began to describe Solomon and his court. “The half cannot be fancied on this side the golden shore…. “Eye had not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things…. The report about Solomon was true, but it doesn’t compare with the realities of Christ.
She had to admit that her FAITH was very weak. Thank the Lord for people who admit their failures, opening up the way for the Lord’s solutions. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” This lady came to the House of the Lord to hear the preaching of God’s Word.
And although she didn’t say it, she came in a HUMBLE fashion. When she saw Jerusalem, she had no grounds of boasting in her little kingdom. Sheba had seemed so large and self-sufficient before she left home. Now it was like a vapor, or a dream; a mere tale to be told. She became like Saul of Tarsus – knocked down by the brilliance of the Lord. She became like John in Revelation 1:17 – falling at this feet as dead.
And she testified that there was no better place on earth than here – serving the King of Kings. “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.” And the key to her confession was her acknowledgment of Jehovah. “Blessed be the LORD thy God.”
Her gifts suggest the Christian’s sacrifice for Christ.
She gave what she had – which in this case was all that she brought. She gave in abundance. The editors of my Bible believe that the Queen of Sheba gave Solomon $21,450,000 in gold and other things. That may be a stretch, so let’s just say that she gave her all.
A lot of modern day pilgrims think that they don’t have any gold, frankincense, or precious stones. Fret not yourself, for “the Lord knoweth what things that ye have.” Don’t you have a pair of lips with which we can sing and speak forth his praise? And how about silky, slim hands like Dorcas, who made coats for widows and orphans in Christ’s name. Don’t you have a house like Lydia, which can become a place for preaching and prayer? And don’t you have friends like the Samaritan woman? Perhaps you have a scarlet cord that you can hang from the window to tell the world that you are a Christian. Do you have house that you clean as Martha did? Don’t you have a son whom you can raise and give to the Lord like Hannah?
This woman’s gifts shows that she meant business with the Lord.
And that this queen was entertained by Solomon reminds us of the Greater King.
Solomon answered all the questions of her heart. I believe that King Jesus does – or will do this – as well. And for the time being He gives us peace about the questions for which we don’t have specific answers.
Solomon treated her like the royalty. Every saint of God is a king or a queen in the eyes and plan of the Lord. “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” – I Peter 2:9. We shall all be kings and priests unto the Lord.
Solomon revealed his glory to this woman just as Jesus will to all his saints. But not only will it be revealed TO us, but it will also be revealed IN us and UPON us.
And Solomon rewarded her with blessing after blessing – he gave of his best to her. And thank God that Jesus’ least is greater than Solomon’s best. The pilgrimage to Christ will be worth it all, when we see Him. “Daughter, neither do I condemn thee, go in peace.” “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you.” The Lord has said, “Ask of me that your joy may be full.”
May this queen rebuke our laziness and our unbelief. As our Lord Jesus has said, “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 or the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”