[0:00] Welcome to our service today, and as we come together around the Word of God, let us seek his blessing upon his Word. Let us pray.
[0:14] Eternal and ever-blessed Lord, we give thee thanks that when we are restrained from meeting together in public worship in thine own house, nevertheless that we are not restrained from the privilege of coming unto thee by prayer, that we can enter into the very throne room of God, that a way has been provided for us, not by our own merits, but through and in the merits of thy Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
[0:53] We give thee thanks, O Lord, for his finished work and for his continual ministry at thine own right hand, in the intercession that he makes for those that were given to him by thee in the covenant of redemption, and for whom he has purchased eternal redemption.
[1:15] We give thee thanks, O Lord, for that great promise of his return, that he shall return not to offer himself again as a sacrifice for sin, but that he shall return to and gather his redeemed people, and to bring them to be with himself forever in body and in soul.
[1:37] We give thee thanks that all those promises have been sealed for us through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Today we remember those who are serving thee, those who have gone forth with thy word, and we pray, O Lord, that thou would give them the unction of thine own spirit, enabling them to proclaim thy truth with all boldness and with all confidence, knowing that thy word shall not return unto the empty, but that it shall accomplish that for which thou hast sent it forth.
[2:16] We remember those who are ill, and pray that thine own healing hand will be upon them. We pray for those who are sorrowing, those who are grieved in their hearts, those who are mourning over the passing of loved ones.
[2:32] We remember them, O Lord, and pray that thou would be with them and near to them, that they may know that thou art the one that sticketh closer than any other.
[2:46] We remember the lonely, those who are confined to their homes, those who may be feeling the day long. We pray, O Lord, that thou wouldst be near to them, and that they would know that there is one in whom they can put their trust, who promises that he will never leave them nor forsake them.
[3:07] We give thee thanks, O Lord, for thy faithfulness tells us, in the midst of all our failures, that thou doth remain faithful, that the words of another is so true, that it is of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
[3:30] They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. We pray, O Lord, that thou would bless our communities, that it may please thee to come in a day of thine own power, and to breathe upon us with thy spirit, bringing us to repentance, bringing us to seek the mercy of God in Jesus Christ.
[3:55] We give thee thanks, O Lord, for the promise of thine own word, that if we come, and if we confess our sins, that thou are faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[4:12] Remember the careless and the indifferent, O that thou through thy spirit would draw them to thyself, that they may see the emptiness of their ways, and that they may come to see the sufficiency of Christ, to meet with all their needs.
[4:30] We pray, O Lord, that we would use every opportunity that thou hast given to us to gossip the gospel, the opportunities to tell people of the Lord Jesus Christ.
[4:44] We pray, O Lord, that thou would open such avenues for us. We pray, O Lord, that thou would bless the Queen and the Royal Household, that thou would bless the Prime Minister and all those who have been set up in authority over us.
[5:00] We pray, O Lord, that they may seek thine own wisdom, that they may know that righteousness alone exalteth a nation. We pray, O Lord, that thou would bring days of revival into thy church, and days of awakening among those who are dead in trespasses and in sin.
[5:22] We pray, O Lord, that thy new name may be honoured and lifted up. O Lord, we pray that thou would bless thy word to us at this hour, as we come to read thy word and to meditate upon it.
[5:36] Open our understanding and open our hearts to receive thine own word. We ask, O Lord, that thy blessing may rest upon our homes and families, upon all our communities.
[5:51] O Lord, that thou would shield us and protect us. That thou, O Lord, would be among us, that in order to bless and to show thyself to us in merciful ways.
[6:09] O Lord, we pray that we would wait upon thee, and all that we ask with the forgiveness of our many sins. It's in Jesus' name and for his sake.
[6:20] Amen. Let us now read the word of God, as we find it in the Gospel according to Luke and chapter 11. And it came to pass that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
[6:46] And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
[7:01] Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
[7:16] And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend? And shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves.
[7:27] For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not.
[7:39] The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
[7:59] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth.
[8:11] And he that seeketh, findeth. And to whom that knocketh, it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?
[8:25] Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, beneath, will know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
[8:46] And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake, and the people wondered. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Berselius, the chief of the devils.
[9:02] And others tempted him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falleth.
[9:20] If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because ye say that I cast out devils through Bethelzebub. And if I by Bethelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out?
[9:36] Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When a strong man aren't keepeth his plans, his goods are in peace.
[9:51] But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour, wherein he thrusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
[10:07] When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none. He saith, I will return unto my house once I came out.
[10:19] And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself. And they enter in, and dwell there.
[10:31] And the last date of that man is worse than the first. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bear thee, and the pumps which thou hast sucked.
[10:46] But he said, Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. And when the people were gathered together, he began to say, This is an evil generation.
[11:00] They seek a sign, and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of Man be to this generation.
[11:13] The Queen of the South shall rise up, in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them. For she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
[11:25] And behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh shall rise up, in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it. For they repented at the preaching of Jonas.
[11:37] And behold, a greater than Jonas is here. And so on. May the Lord bless unto us the reading of that portion of his word. Now, seeking his blessing and help, let us turn to the book of 1 Kings, and chapter 10.
[11:55] 1 Kings, and chapter 10. And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.
[12:11] And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels, and that bear spices, and very much gold, and precious stones. And when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
[12:26] And Solomon told her all her questions. There was not anything hid from the king which he told her not. And when the Queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministries, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.
[12:54] And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words until I came, and mine eyes had seen it.
[13:07] And behold, the half was not told me, thy wisdom and prosperity exceeded the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
[13:22] Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel, because the Lord loved Israel forever. Therefore made he thee king to do judgment and justice.
[13:37] There are certain remarkable journeys brought before us in the Bible, and in the Old Testament, we have the journey of Abraham, who by faith left Ur of the Chaldeans.
[13:50] We are told in the New Testament that by faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place, which he should after receive for an inheritance of Bae, and he went out, not knowing whether he went.
[14:06] Then we have the journey of Jacob, leaving home, and then after many years, his return journey. We have the journey of the children of Israel for 40 years, through the wilderness, to the land of Canaan.
[14:22] But here we have probably the next most famous journey, the journey of the Queen of Sheba, which is now the country of Yemen. And she made this journey over the thousands of miles to Jerusalem to meet with King Solomon.
[14:40] We are told that when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.
[14:53] The Queen of Sheba was a wealthy woman. In verse 2, we read that she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bear spices, and very much gold, and precious stones.
[15:07] And in verse 10, we read that she gave the king and hundred and twenty talons of gold, and of spices, very great store, and precious stones, that there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
[15:26] Not only was the Queen of Sheba a wealthy woman, but she was also one of the most powerful and influential women in the world. However, in her distant land, she heard about King Solomon and the fame of King Solomon concerning the name of the Lord.
[15:46] She had heard about King Solomon and his wisdom, and she wanted to see if all that she heard was true, and so she came to prove him with hard questions.
[15:57] Today, we have Solomon's wisdom exhibited for us in the book of Proverbs, in the Song of Solomon, and in the book of Ecclesiastes.
[16:11] Now, this famous visit is mentioned in the New Testament by Jesus, and as we read it there, it is recorded for us in Luke chapter 11, where Jesus throws a comparison between the Queen of Sheba and those around him who were seeking a sign that he was the true Messiah.
[16:33] There we read that the Queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them. For she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
[16:52] Therefore, in that event, what is said before us is given there a pattern for us of how to respond to Jesus.
[17:05] The first thing I want us to notice is that the Queen heard about Solomon and his wisdom. We are not told how she heard, but the word came to her ears, and when she heard, it aroused in her a curiosity, and she wanted to see and to know for herself if all that she heard about this king was true.
[17:36] At the beginning, she entertained some doubts about what she had heard, for she confesses, Howbeit I believed not the words until I came and mine eyes have seen it.
[17:48] If what the Queen heard about Solomon aroused her curiosity, what about yourself and what you have heard and been told about King Jesus?
[18:00] How many said once have you heard? You have heard that he came into this world to seek and to save the lost. You have heard about his life.
[18:11] You have heard about his sufferings. You have heard about his death and resurrection. You have heard about his ascension. You have heard about his promise of coming again.
[18:24] But have your ears become dull of hearing? Have you ever felt aroused or stirred to know more about Jesus? Have you ever felt awakened to prove Jesus for yourself?
[18:40] To come to Jesus and know him more, the Bible tells us that this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
[18:55] Can you today say, as Simon Peter said, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.
[19:05] that take us to the second point, her response to what she had heard about Solomon. What she heard about Solomon and his wisdom, she did not delay.
[19:22] She did not linger, but she took her journey. The Queen of Sheba left her palace and homeland and travelled thousands of miles to know more about Solomon.
[19:37] There are many in North Tolstair who in better times would not leave their hearth and walk the short distance to gospel preaching to hear about Jesus and salvation.
[19:49] And today, they are unable to do so. And there are many who do hear and yet they remain where they are, not stirred up in their hearts and minds to make the journey to hear more about Jesus.
[20:07] They forever remain just hearers of the word. To them, James in his epistle gives this warning, Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
[20:24] And this takes us to the third point, the reason why she came. For we are told she came to prove him with hard questions. We are not told what the hard questions were, but whatever was on her mind, whatever hard questions she had, she brought them to King Solomon.
[20:47] Possibly, there were questions of her personal nature that she could not share with anyone. Maybe there were hidden questions of the heart, questions that nobody could answer.
[21:00] But after hearing about Solomon and his wisdom that was given to him by the Lord, she came to Solomon with her hard questions. She's a good example for me and you.
[21:14] I am sure you and I have our hard questions, but where do we take them? I am afraid that many people hold them up and they become contentious and antagonistic.
[21:31] Although the Queen of Sheba was cynical or doubtful of what she had heard, she was always open to believing the truth. She came to King Solomon with the right kind of attitude, not the kind that refuses to believe anything at all, but the kind of attitude that is committed to believe only what is really true.
[21:56] It is important for me and you that when we come to the Lord without hard questions, that we come in the right frame of mind, with the right attitude.
[22:09] The Queen of Sheba was convinced that nobody could answer her hard questions but King Solomon alone. Maybe you are listening today and you have your hard questions, those hidden questions of the heart, those questions that leave you restless, those questions that stir up your conscience.
[22:36] I probably cannot answer them to your satisfaction, but you can bring them to the Lord who will answer them. Not only is the Lord able to answer your hard questions, but you know he is the answer himself.
[22:53] Are you convinced of that? Maybe your hard questions today is, who is Christ? Or maybe your hard question is, what can I do to be saved?
[23:07] On one occasion, Jesus asked his disciples, who do men say that I am? And they answered, John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others one of the prophets.
[23:20] Then Jesus asked them, but whom say ye that I am? And Peter answered and said to him, thou art the Christ. Peter and the other disciples were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was the one who was promised, that Jesus was God's anointed servant.
[23:43] What about you? Jesus on another occasion said to the Jews that were ready to kill him, such the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.
[24:00] You see, the testimony of scripture is the most powerful evidence that we have regarding the person of Jesus Christ. The religious elite in the days of Jesus acknowledged the scriptures as the highest authority.
[24:16] However, they came to the scriptures with a wrong attitude. They did search the scriptures, but they thought that the mere possession of the scriptures gave them eternal life.
[24:32] While they searched the scriptures, they completely missed their central message of the scripture, which is Jesus Christ. Remember how after his resurrection, Jesus met two disciples on the way to Emmaus, who had been at this crucifixion, and now they were making their way back home in sadness and in despair.
[24:58] And Jesus came upon them and inquired as to their sad countenance. And after they explained their situations, which we can read in Luke chapter 24, Jesus said, O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
[25:16] Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
[25:31] When Jesus spoke here of the scriptures, he meant the Old Testament. And this shows us that the chief message of the Old Testament is about the person and work of Jesus Christ.
[25:44] The testimony of those disciples who heard him said, did not our heart burn within us while he taught with us by the way and when he opened to us the scriptures.
[25:59] If you want to know who Jesus is, if you want to know the way of salvation, come to the scriptures, come to the word of God, and come with the right attitude.
[26:10] Just like the Queen of Sheba came to King Solomon with her hard questions, she came with the right kind of attitude. Not the kind that refuses to believe anything at all, but the kind of attitude that is committed to believe only what is really true.
[26:28] through studying the scriptures, many adherent unbelievers have come to faith. One such a man was by the name of Frehu, who was one of the most famous classical scholars whose translation of Homer is well known.
[26:51] He was asked to provide a translation of the Gospels, and it is said that when his son heard this, that he commented, it is going to be interesting to see what father will make of the four Gospels, but even more interesting what the four Gospels make of father.
[27:12] And though this man had been a lifelong agnostic, his experience translating the Gospels brought him to faith, and he became a committed Christian.
[27:26] This takes us now to our fourth point, for we read that she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bear spices, and very much gold, and precious stones, and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
[27:48] When she came to Jerusalem, that great city with all its splendor, and yet we find that the Queen of Sheba was not distracted with the majestic city, but that she was fully resolved to reach King Solomon.
[28:06] She had come a long distance with only one resolve, and that was to meet the king himself. Even the attractions of Jerusalem were not going to deter her.
[28:20] Here again, she is an example for us. How many may be yourself today, or maybe you recall a time in your life when you were convicted of your sin, and became convinced that Jesus Christ was the answer.
[28:37] You may have resolved that you were going to follow Jesus. You may have begun your Bible reading, began praying, attended the prayer meetings, you attended upon the preaching of the gospel, your attendance on the preaching of the gospel improved, but then you became distracted, and your resolve was weakened, and eventually, and sadly, it disappeared.
[29:08] The common distractions are always embedded in the thoughts. What will my family and friends think? What about my sinful past?
[29:19] What about the future? I have heard of so many who began well and fell away. I may be a demons who forsook all because he was attracted by the things of the world.
[29:33] I have this particular sin in my life and I cannot set myself free from it. My friend no you cannot but the Lord can set you free.
[29:47] It might require discipline in your life but the Lord is able to give the sufficient grace. Paul was given the answer when the Lord said to him my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
[30:05] Then Paul replied most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. If you begin to seek Jesus Christ as your saviour do not be surprised by the amount of things that will come your way and tempt to distract you.
[30:28] Jerusalem was an immense source of distraction for the Queen of Sheba but she was firmly resolved to meet with the king. Her mind was not to stay in Jerusalem and be content that she had at least arrived in the city and that she would be content with that.
[30:48] No, no. She had to meet with the king. May you today be just as resolved to meet with Jesus. Do not be content with your devotions.
[31:01] Do not be content with your church attendance and so on. But strive to go through Jerusalem and be fully resolved what you want to meet is with King Jesus.
[31:17] Strive to go through your attendance at church and be resolved that what you want is to meet with King Jesus.
[31:30] Many souls are lost because of the lack of resolve. Will you resolve now to come to Jesus? No matter what others may say.
[31:43] No matter what others may think. Resolve today to get right with God. To be at peace with God. To be reconciled with God.
[32:00] This takes us to our fifth point. How she was received by King Solomon. We'll read when she was come to Solomon she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
[32:14] She was graciously received by the King. She was not made to wait. There was no hesitation or unwillingness on the part of the King to accept and receive her.
[32:28] And if that be true of King Solomon how much more it is true of King Jesus. He is asking you not to wait for he is willing to graciously receive you now.
[32:44] The way to him is open. We have access to the King of Kings. King Solomon did not invite the Queen of Sheba she simply came.
[33:00] But King Jesus invites me and you to come to him. He graciously invites us come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
[33:15] And we have the guarantee the assurance that if we come he will receive us. For he has said him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
[33:28] The Queen of Sheba had no assurance that King Solomon would receive her. But we have the guarantee we have the assurance that King Jesus will receive us if we come to him.
[33:42] So whatever your situation today if you come to Jesus he will not cast you out. It has never been heard because it has never happened that anyone who comes to Jesus has been cast out.
[34:02] Whatever have been in your past and whatever is in your life today whether you are enslaved with a besetting sin whether today you are an alcoholic or a drug addict and slayed by vice of whatever description if you come to Jesus he will not cast you out but he will graciously receive you.
[34:29] This takes us to the sixth point that in coming to Solomon what she discovered for we are told and Solomon told her all her questions there was not any hit from the king which he told her not and when the queen of sheep had seen all Solomon's wisdom and the house that he built and the meat of his table and the sitting of his servants and the attendance of his ministers and their apparel and his cupbearers and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord there was no spirit in her she asked and Solomon answered all her hard questions and by what she heard and by what she saw she was left speechless the queen of Sheba was overwhelmed by what she saw as great as she was she recognized that she was in the presence of someone who was far superior for we are told there was no spirit in her it completely took her breath away when we come to
[35:45] Jesus what we see is that in him as Paul writes to the Colossians and says that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge there is nothing to be known that Jesus does not already know on one occasion after he had healed the man that was sick of the policy we read that there were certain of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts why did this man speak blasphemies who can forgive sins but God only and immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that the soul reasoned within themselves he said unto them why reason ye these things in your hearts Jesus knows our hearts Jesus knows our thoughts but
[36:52] Jesus also knows all our needs therefore we are told in the Bible not to be over anxious the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew chapter 6 therefore I say to you take no thought for your life what you shall eat or what you shall drink not yet for your body what you shall put on is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment behold the fowls of the air for they sow are ye not much better than they you see he knows our thoughts and he knows what we have need of and he tells us not to be over anxious and we consider also what Jesus did for our salvation we are unable to save ourselves but Jesus came to do everything that had to be done in order for us to be saved
[37:53] Paul writes to the Corinthians and he says Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God he lived the perfect life that we could not live and he offered his life as a sacrifice for our sins to give eternal life to everyone who trusts in him but we behold the wisdom of the cross of Golgotha and when we believe in the wisdom of our king has exhibited for us in his life and work we cannot look upon these things without being speechless we cannot look upon the cross of Golgotha without being lost in wonder and amazement for the person that comes to Jesus that person will rejoice with joy and speak upon and full of glory because in coming to Jesus you will receive the peace of God that passeth all understanding you will receive peace with
[38:55] God you will receive peace of heart and of mind after learning about Solomon's wisdom and after seeing his wealth and worship which was so breathtaking she spoke and she said it was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and thy wisdom how be it I believed not the words until I came and my eyes had seen it and behold the half was not told me thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard in other words after hearing all these stories and listening to these stories she says continue and it would have never impacted her life it all changed because she came to king
[40:16] Solomon just like the prodigal son that we studied recently what changed his life was the fact that he arose and came to his father and what will change your life is that you come to a greater than king solomon that you come to king jesus but what are you going to do are you going to sit listening to the stories or will you rise up and come to jesus in coming to king solomon her whole life changed she said it was a true report that i heard in mine old land of thine acts and of thy wisdom how be i believed of the words and i came and my eyes have seen it whatever has been your opinion about the stories you have heard about jesus about the preaching of the gospel you may have set them aside as fairy tales you may have set them as a pie in the sky as an outdated story an irrelevant story but when you come to jesus you will confess like the queen of sheba that the report that you through for not only did she hear but her eyes had seen solomon's acts and wisdom she experienced what she heard and dear friends it is so important for us to experience what we are told about jesus for ourselves and the only way we can experience this is by coming and learning of jesus she confesses that although her heart was stirred up by what she heard so that she took this long arduous journey to jerusalem and to king solomon that behold the half was not told me thy wisdom and thy prosperity exceeded the fame which i heard you know when you come to jesus you will discover that you will find more in him than you have ever been told in the gospel of john it is recorded for us that when john the baptist pointed jesus out as the lamb of god that two of the disciples followed jesus and jesus turned and saw them following and said to them what seek and they said unto him rabbi where dwellest thou and jesus said to them come and see and that is what i say to you today come and see see for yourself do not take my word for it or the word of anyone else prove it come and see and if you come to jesus your confession will be like that of the queen of sheep regarding king solomon i have received him in him now more than any preacher or anyone has ever told me then she praised god she recognized that solomon was god's gift to the people happy are thy men happy are these servants which stand continually before thee and adhere thy wisdom blessed be the lord thy god which delighteth in thee to set thee on the throne of israel because the lord loved israel forever therefore made he thee king to do judgment and justice by setting solomon on the throne god was establishing justice and righteousness in israel she acknowledged that god delighted in solomon and set him up on the throne of israel because he loved israel how much more so is that true of the one who is greater than solomon in
[44:16] isaiah chapter 42 which speaks of jesus as the father servant we have these words recorded for us behold my servant to my appalled my elect in whom my soul delight in in the gospel we have the father saying this is my beloved son in whom i am well pleased god has given jesus to be our king and he has given him a kingdom of redeemed sinners because he loves us god delighted in his son and through his son he delights in us my final point today is this we are told in the new testament as we read the queen of the south shall rise up in judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them for she came from the outmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater than
[45:18] Solomon is here you know we are going to meet this queen for this queen shall be at the judgment seat of Christ when Christ shall finally judge us all well will the queen of Sheba rise up to condemn you on that day for she came a long distance to see Solomon she came from Sheba which was a place outside the covenant community she did not belong to Israel she was outside the place of covenant blessings she was outside the place of great spiritual privileges nevertheless she came to hear the wisdom of King Solomon she came to prove King Solomon but behold a greater than Solomon is here Jesus Christ the
[46:20] King of Kings you know she came from the place outside of the covenant blessings and of great spiritual privileges but you have the blessings of God resting upon you you have these great spiritual privileges resting upon you but where does that leave you where does that leave you today are you satisfied just of hearing about him are you satisfied of just listening to the stories that you are told about him or will you be like the queen of Sheba and come to prove that what you hear is truth will you come and see for yourself that what you have heard about Jesus is true will you come and experience it for yourself that what you hear and are told about Jesus that it is true well what are you going to do with the stories that you have heard about
[47:26] Jesus may may may the Lord bless his thoughts to us may he bless his word to us and may he bless you today let us pray eternal and ever blessed Lord we seek that thy blessing would rest upon thy word and our meditation upon it oh that we would take these thoughts to our hearts today and like the Queen of Sheba that we would come to prove that what we have heard about King Jesus is true that we would not be distracted by the splendors of the world that is around us that we would not be deceived by the splendor of the things that are around us but that we would be firmly resolved to come to King Jesus to know more of him and to experience his salvation to experience the riches of his grace we pray oh
[48:35] Lord that thou would continue with us as we wait upon thee that thou would open the way for us that thou would keep us in the way that thou would oh Lord forgive us for all our failures and for all our sins and now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit rest upon you all now and forever more Amen