1 Kings chapter 10 verses 1 to 15.
That's on page 348 of the Red Church Bible.
That's 1 Kings chapter 10 verses 1 to 15.
1 Kings chapter 10 verses 1 to 15.
1 Kings chapter 10.
1 Kings chapter 11.
2 Kings chapter 13.
1 Kings chapter 11.
of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.
The weight of gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, not including the
revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of
the territories. Thank you Sam. Well this morning we're going to jump straight into the text
and let me just outline very briefly the three things we're going to see from this this morning.
Here they are, life under God's king, blessings from God's king and gifts for God's king.
So life under the king, blessings from the king and gifts for the king. So let's pray.
Father would you please through your written word and by your spirit and through what I have
to say, would you speak truth into our hearts, transform us and change us so that we can see
the wonderful blessings there are in Christ and that he is all that we need. Teach us today we pray. Amen.
So first, life under God's king. Well life under God's king could really not have been better.
Have a quick look back to chapter 4 verse 20.
We have a wonderful picture of what life was like under King Solomon. Chapter 4 verse 20.
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They ate, they drank
and they were happy. These people had everything that they needed. Verse 25.
During Solomon's lifetime, Judah and Israel from Dan to Beersheba from north to south
lived in safety. Everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree.
Nobody was in need or in need. Nobody was in need or in want. They are a blessed people. They are satisfied
and fulfilled. It's life of peace and prosperity. It's really a picture of the world that we all long for.
A picture of the true kingdom that God gives to all those who live under God's king.
Now here's the good news for us. God's king is to be a king for all nations and all peoples.
Remember Solomon's prayer? Have a look at chapter 8 verse 41. Just flick on a little bit. Chapter 8 verse 41.
This was part of Solomon's prayer.
Chapter 8 verse 41.
As for the foreigner.
The anticipation is that people from other nations would come.
That they wouldn't be excluded.
But that God would welcome and accept them.
That they could come and enjoy life under God's king.
Well it seems as if Solomon's prayer has been answered.
Let's go to 1 Kings chapter 10 verse 23.
1 Kings chapter 10 verse 23.
1 Kings Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
Where did they come from?
Verse 24.
2 Kings Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
3 Kings chapter 13.
The nations are coming to the king.
3 Kings.
They are coming to live under the king.
Now this really shouldn't be a surprise to us.
Because remember God's promise to Abraham all the way back in Genesis chapter 12.
I have it on the screen for you.
In chapter 12, verse 3, it reads this.
I will bless you, God says,
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
You see, God had made this promise
that there would be blessing for all peoples,
no matter where you came from.
And that blessing would come through God's King.
You see, whoever we are today,
whatever our race or religion,
whatever our background or experience in life,
the invitation is to come,
for we are called to live our life under God's King.
You see, when we come to God's King,
all our deepest longings are fulfilled and satisfied.
So first, the call to live under God's King.
Second, blessings from God's King.
Now in chapter 10 of 1 Kings,
certainly the first half that we had read to us
gives us an example of the nations
or the kind of people that came to God's King.
We're introduced to her in verse 1,
Queen Sheba.
We don't know a lot about her
or the nation of Sheba,
wherever that was.
Some think it's in modern day Yemen
and it was about a thousand miles that she travelled.
We don't really know,
other than it was a long way away.
But she does teach us some things that we can learn.
First, look at her searching and longing.
The Queen of Sheba is a very, very wealthy woman.
If you look at verse 2,
arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan,
not the wheeled variety,
but a whole entourage of camels
carrying spices,
large quantities of gold
and precious stones.
And look down at verse 10.
And she gave the king
120 talents of gold.
That's the equivalent of 125 million euro
in today's money.
Worth of gold,
all for the king.
And large quantities of spices
and precious stones.
Never again were so many spices brought in
as those the Queen of Sheba gave
to King Solomon.
But yet, despite her vast wealth,
it seems she's not content.
She is unsettled.
Look at the end of verse 1.
We're told that she came to test Solomon
with hard questions.
Now, I don't think she's trying to catch him out.
No, this queen is seeking the truth
and she knows she does not have it.
Look at the end of verse 2.
She came to Solomon
and talked with him about
all that she had on her mind.
Well, what was on her mind?
What's troubling her?
Well, I think the clue comes for us
in verse 1.
When the Queen of Sheba
heard about the fame of Solomon
and his relationship to the Lord,
she came to test Solomon
with hard questions.
You see, news had spread
far and right,
right to the other nations of the world
that Solomon,
God's king,
was in a special relationship
with the Lord.
A God who not only spoke personally,
but a God who came to dwell
with his people intimately.
Those were the preceding verse chapters
about the temple
as God came to meet with his people.
Now, this queen has wealth.
She has everything she needs,
but she is longing
for something far greater
and more eternal
than just wealth.
She's longing to know
something of Solomon's God,
a God who has blessed the king
and has blessed all those
who live under the king.
Verse 3.
So Solomon answered
all her questions.
Nothing was too hard
for the king
to explain to her.
So in her searching
and longing,
she is satisfied
and fulfilled.
She's not disappointed
by what she hears
and sees.
Verse 4.
When the queen of Sheba
saw all the wisdom
of Solomon
and the palace
he had built,
look at all the food
on his table,
the servants
and the officials,
the attending servants
in their robes,
his cupbearers,
and the burnt offerings
he made at the temple
of the Lord,
she was overwhelmed.
She was staggering
in the amazement
of all that she could see.
It's far more
than she could have
possibly imagined.
It's beyond her wildest
expectations.
Verse 7.
But I did not believe
these things
until I came
and saw
with my own eyes.
Indeed,
not even half
was told me.
In wisdom
and wealth
you have far
exceeded the report
I heard.
And look at the people.
Verse 8.
How happy
your people must be.
How happy
your officials
who continually
stand before you
and hear
your wisdom.
You see,
this queen
has travelled
a long,
long distance
and here she is,
all her longing
and searching
and she is now
in the midst
of a blessed
people.
They are
wonderfully happy
people,
satisfied
and fulfilled,
content,
not lacking
anything,
wisdom and wealth
in abundance
all through
the king.
But what is
even more amazing,
Queen Sheba
gets to share
in the blessings
too.
We see this
in her confession
of verse 9.
Praise be
to the Lord
your God
who has delighted
in you
and placed you
on the throne
of Israel.
Because of the
Lord's eternal
love for Israel
he has made
you king
to maintain
justice
and righteousness.
It's like
Queen Sheba
has burst
into song.
Praise God
from whom
all blessings
flow.
she's come
to see
and now
she tastes
that God
is good.
In God
we experience
blessing.
In God
we find
eternal love.
In God
we find
justice
and righteousness.
Now I don't
think it's too
much to say
that Queen
Sheba
has come
to see
that under
God's king
we find
far more
than we could
possibly dare
to ask
or imagine.
Look at
verse 13.
King Solomon
gave the
Queen of Sheba
all that
she desired
and asked
for
besides
what he
had given
her out
of his
royal bounty.
Then she
left and
returned with
her retinue
all that
she received
to her
own
country.
The point
is
the Queen
leaves
more
blessed
than she
did when
she arrived.
She gave
lots
but she
received
far more
than she
could ever
give.
You see
under
God's
king
means a
life of
blessing
from
God's
king.
So she
comes
searching and
longing
she's
satisfied
and
fulfilled.
Things
are
better
and
greater.
So let
us ask
the question
for
ourselves.
What can
we expect
under
God's
king?
Well life
under
Solomon
the material
blessings
that were
enjoyed
by the
people
well they
were a
foretaste
a picture
of the
spiritual
and eternal
blessings
that would
come through
God's
ultimate
king
Jesus
Christ.
You see
under
Solomon
all the
blessings
well they
were primarily
material
and partial
and as
we'll see
next week
they were
all dependent
on the
faithfulness
and obedience
of the
king.
If the
king
failed
then the
blessings
stopped.
so they
were
material
and they
were
partial
they
never
lasted
but in
Christ
the
blessings
we
receive
from the
true
king
they
are
spiritual
and
eternal.
Have a
look at
Ephesians
chapter 1
keep your
finger
if you
can
in 1
Kings
chapter 10
we're
going to
come back
there
and have
a look
at
Ephesians
chapter 1
I know
you were
looking at
Ephesians
2
last week
well
let's
have a
look at
Ephesians
1
and
verse 3
as we
think
about
the
better
and
greater
blessings
we
receive
through
God's
king
Jesus
Christ
verse 3
praise
be to
the
God
and
father
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
who
has
blessed
us
in
the
heavenly
realms
with
every
spiritual
blessing
in
Christ
not
some
of
the
blessings
not
just
a
little
bit
of
the
blessing
but
everything
all
the
spiritual
blessings
that are
available
are
ours
in
Christ
what are
those
blessings
well read
on
verse 4
for he
that is
God
chose us
in
Christ
before
the
creation
of the
world
to be
holy
and
blameless
in his
sight
if
you are
in
Christ
today
God
is
looking
at
you
today
as
holy
and
blameless
he
treats
you
as
he
does
his
very
own
son
let's
read
on
verse
5
in
love
he
predestined
us
to be
adopted
to
sonship
through
Jesus
Christ
we
are
now
no
longer
outsiders
but
we
can
talk
to
God
as
father
brothers
and
sisters
of
the
Lord
Jesus
verse
7
in
Christ
we
have
redemption
through
his
blood
the
forgiveness
of
his
sins
in
accordance
with
the
riches
of
God's
grace
that
he
lavished
on
us
this
is
all
ours
today
these
are
the
blessings
that
we
can
enjoy
chosen
loved
treasured
adopted
redeemed
forgiven
we're
not
short
changed
by
his
grace
he
has
poured
out
his
riches
upon
us
but
that's
not
all
look
at
what
is
to
come
down
at
verse
13
and
you
also
were
included
in
Christ
when
you
heard
the
message
of
truth
the
gospel
of
salvation
when
you
believed
when
you
trusted
in
Christ
you
were
marked
in
him
with
a
seal
the
promised
Holy
Spirit
who is
a
deposit
guaranteeing
our
inheritance
until the
redemption
of those
who are
God's
possession
to the
praise
of his
glory
we
now
have
the
presence
of the
Holy
Spirit
a
reminder
to
tell us
that
we
are
looking
forward
to
an
eternal
kingdom
that
is
guaranteed
that
is
ours
not
because
of
our
faithfulness
but
because
of
the
obedience
and
faithfulness
of
Jesus
Christ
one
day
we
will
experience
our
full
redemption
filled
with
joy
eternal
pleasures
to
enjoy
forever
and
forever
Jesus
is the
better
and
greater
king
he
will
not
fail
you
or
let
you
down
he
is
infinitely
wise
and
abundantly
wealthy
in
Jesus
all
our
longings
are
satisfied
and
fulfilled
he
is
God's
chosen
king
through
whom
all
nations
and
all
peoples
will
be
blessed
so
life
under
God's
king
blessings
from
God's
king
and
then
third
gifts
for
God's
king
let's
go
back
to
1
kings
chapter
10
you
see
those
who
came
to
the
king
people
like
queen
sheba
received
wonderful
blessings
but
look at
how
the
nations
treated
the
king
look
at
their
response
to
the
king
verse
10
remind
ourselves
that as
the queen
came
she gave
the
king
120
talents
of
gold
large
quantities
of
spices
and
precious
stones
never
again
were so
many
spices
brought
in
as
those
the
queen
of
sheba
gave
to
king
Solomon
if
we
think
that's
a lot
well
look
at
verse
14
the
weight
of
gold
that
Solomon
received
yearly
was
666
talents
in
today's
money
that's
just
a little
under
a
billion
euro
worth
of
gold
verse
15
and it
doesn't
include
all the
revenues
from
merchants
and
traders
and
from
all
the
Arabian
kings
and the
governors
of the
territories
verse
25
year
after
year
this
doesn't
want
a
one
off
year
after
year
everyone
who
came
brought
a
gift
articles
of
silver
and
gold
and
robes
and
weapons
and
spices
and
horses
and
mules
and
everything
else
you
could
think
of
the
extravagance
of these
gifts
are just
mind
blowing
it's
wealth
beyond
comprehension
his
gifts
are so
great
verse
16
king
Solomon
made
200
large
shields
of
hammered
gold
600
shekels
of
gold
that's
about
7
kilograms
of
gold
in
each
shield
he
also
made
300
small
shields
about
one and a
half
kilos
of
gold
in
each
of
them
200
big
ones
and
300
small
ones
it's
like
us
decorating
our
house
in
500
euro
notes
just
because
we
have
it
and
making
your
foundation
full of
two
euro
coins
or
something
is this
not all
a bit
too
much
is this
not too
extravagant
like
come on
guys
would you
just hold
back on
all the
gifts
here
why do
those who
come
bring
such
extravagant
gifts
because
this is
God's
king
the
king
from whom
all
blessings
flow
for such
a king
no
gift
is too
much
his
fame
and his
wisdom
commands
it
how much
more
then
does
the
true
king
Jesus
Christ
who
didn't
come
seeking
any
gift
but
lavished
on us
the riches
of his
grace
who
has
blessed
us
with
eternal
blessings
who
satisfies
us
and
fulfills
us
who
sacrificed
his
life
so that
we
might
have
life
how
much
more
does
the
true
king
deserve
our
gifts
our
life
our
all
love
the
hymn
writer
poetically
put it
like
this
as he
calls
us
to
remember
and to
picture
the
cross
when I
survey
the
wondrous
cross
on which
the
prince
of glory
died
look
back to
the
cross
look
to
Jesus
see
from
his
head
his
hands
his
feet
sorrow
and love
flow
mingle
down
did
air
such
love
and sorrow
meet
or
thorns
compose
so rich
a crown
what's
our
response
were
the
whole
realm
of
nature
mine
that
were
an
offering
far
too
small
love
so
amazing
so
divine
demands
my
soul
my
life
my
all
even
if I
were
to
own
the
whole
of
the
universe
if I
were
to
be
owner
of
the
whole
world
that
is
an
offering
far
too
small
he
demands
my
soul
my
life
my
all
we
give
our
life
to
Jesus
not
to
earn
blessing
but
because
he
has
blessed
us
with
every
spiritual
blessing
so
I
should
have
had
that
title
up
a
bit
earlier
one
more
the
Queen's
warning
now
you
may
be
thinking
I'm
not
sure
if
I
can
do
this
can
I
give
my
whole
life
to
Jesus
I
don't
know
if
I
can
trust
him
with
all
that
I
have
if
I'm
to
believe
this
if
I'm
really
to
in
response
to
give
him
my
life
well
I
need
a
little
bit
more
than
a
story
about
a
queen
called
Sheba
and
a
visit
to
a
king
called
Solomon
what's
going
to
convince
me
that
God's
king
really
does
have
every
spiritual
blessing
and
that
he
is
worth
giving
my
whole
life
to
well
Jesus
has
something
to
say
to
us
have
a
look
at
Luke
chapter
11
the
whole
context
of
chapter
11
Jesus
has
been
in
debate
with
the
people
and
religious
leaders
about
well
that
he
is
God's
king
but
the
people
and
the
religious
leaders
refuse
to
believe
him
so
Jesus
has
some
very
direct
words
to
say
verse
31
the
queen
of the
south
that's
a
reference
to
queen
sheba
will
rise
at
the
judgment
with
the
people
of
this
generation
and
condemn
them
for
she
came
from
the
ends
of
the
earth
to
listen
to
Solomon's
wisdom
and
now
something
greater
than
Solomon
is
here
something
greater
than
Solomon
has
come
we
now
have
Jesus
the
better
and
greater
king
why
would
we
not
trust
him
we
have
his
words
we
can
read
all
about
him
in
the
scriptures
we
can
see
the
miracles
that
he
did
his
resurrection
from
the
grave
how
much
more
do
we
need
what
more
evidence
do
we
need
to
be
able
to
believe
and
trust
him
you
see
there's
no
point
any
one
of
us
standing
before
God
on
judgment
day
and
saying
I
didn't
know
nobody
told
me
I
didn't
quite
understand
look
at
what
Jesus
says
verse
31
the
queen
of
the
south
will
rise
at
the
judgment
with
the
people
of
this
generation
and
condemn
them
the
picture
Jesus
is
painting
is
serious
it's
as if
we
are
standing
on
the
day
of
judgment
before
God
and
he
turns
and
he
says
look
can
you
see
her
queen
sheba
she's
here
she's
received
the
inheritance
now
if
this
queen
who
had
far
less
truth
and
less
understanding
and
travelled
all
the
way
to
listen
to
Solomon
and
believed
and
trusted
God
and
was
blessed
how much
more
should we
believe
the true
king
who came
to us
and gave up
his life
for us
who is
abundantly
wise
and wealthy
beyond our
imagination
salvation
if
queen
sheba
believed
then
there
is
no
excuse
for
anyone
else
not
to
believe
we
have
everything
we need
in
Christ
will we
trust
him
later
in
Luke
Jesus
reassures
all those
who do
believe
this is
what he
says
in Luke
18
it's on
the screen
no one
who has
left
home
or wife
or brothers
or sisters
or parents
or children
for the sake
of the kingdom
he's saying
no one
who has
surrendered
to king
Jesus
no one
who has
submitted
their life
to the
true king
will fail
to receive
many times
as much
in this
age
and in
the age
to come
eternal
life
we will
not be
disappointed
when we
come to
king
Jesus
why do
we run
after other
things
and other
people
it is a
call to
turn our
hearts back
afresh
to the
true king
from whom
all blessings
flow
you see
one day
Jesus will
come
and for
one
it will
be a
time
of
blessing
filled
with joy
eternal
pleasures
at his
right hand
for
another
it will
be a
time of
judgment
the call
my friends
is for
all of us
to live
life
under
God's
king
and you
will discover
that you
are
blessed
and you
will know
that you
will be
blessed
beyond your
wildest
dreams
thank God
for our
Jesus
the king
let's pray
praise God
from whom
all blessings
flow
thank you
that in
Jesus we
have the
true
faithful
obedient
king
who
blesses
us
as we
trust
in him
who
satisfies
our
deepest
longing
who
fills
us
with joy
today
and the
promise of
eternal
pleasures
to come
father
help us
not to
turn to
other
things
or to
other
people
but to
keep
looking to
you
and trusting
in you
father
we give
our life
in response
my life
my all
we surrender
to you
and submit
to you
and say
may your
will be
done
in our
life
for your
glory
alone